Miami's baseball team entered Omaha as one of the favorites to win the College World Series.
But the Hurricanes exited the tournament after just two games after a 5-3 loss to UC Santa Barbara on Monday at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha. The game marked the first time Miami had failed to win a game in an Omaha appearance since 1979.
This is Miami's 25th CWS appearance all-time. Only once (1979) have they gone 0-2 in Omaha. In 1979, they also lost their opener to Arizona.
— Rob Anderson (@_robanderson) June 20, 2016
Miami's Zack Collins — picked 10th overall in the MLB draft — crushed a home run to right in the top of the first and the Hurricanes appeared to be rolling.
Power on Display! ?
Miami's Zack Collins goes YARD to get the scoring started... 1-0 Canes in the 1st. #CWS pic.twitter.com/WCX5dCOc0A
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 20, 2016
But the Gauchos — the home team for the game — came right back when second baseman JJ Muno hit an RBI single.
Gauchos Respond!
JJ Muno stays ? with an RBI single and it's 1-1 in the 1st. #CWS pic.twitter.com/dmaUrQWmdw
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 20, 2016
The game stayed tied at 1 through a 62-minute rain delay in the bottom of the sixth.
Aaaaannnnndddd...... It's raining. pic.twitter.com/1lwKbG9VNO
— Sean Kelly (@skelly54) June 20, 2016
Here's what fans should do if there is a severe weather event during the College World Series.
What happens if #severewx hits the #CWS? https://t.co/kc7tSRDYUI @stormshieldapp
— Omaha Sports Insider (@OSIsports) June 20, 2016
The sixth inning could not have gone worse for the Hurricanes, who gave up four runs in the inning. Miami starting pitcher Danny Garcia returned to the mound after the rain delay but struggled. Two of the runs came on safety squeeze plays, and the Gauchos were excited.
Safety Squeeze x 2!
Consecutive bunts bring in two more runs for the Gauchos... 5-1 in the 6th. #CWS pic.twitter.com/ZLwsea8H6V
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 20, 2016
Miami made things interesting in the eighth inning with a couple runs to make the score 5-3.
Here come the Canes!
Miami strings together 4-straight hits and the UCSB lead is down to 5-3 in the 8th. #CWS pic.twitter.com/6SMvgg4mGo
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 20, 2016
UC Santa Barbara had a defensive gem to cap the game with a double play. Jim Rome, an alum, was pretty excited.
Awesome! Proud as hell of the Chos. https://t.co/i1IvLXwIUA
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) June 20, 2016
