At one point in the fourth inning, the Miami Hurricanes found themselves up by eight runs against the Florida Atlantic Owls. Some might say the lead still did not feel safe. 

The two teams scored a combined 21 runs, with 16 of those runs coming from a combined eight home runs. But it was Miami that came out on top, 12-9. 

The fourth inning saw three consecutive home runs by the top of the Hurricanes’ lineup –Yohandy Morales, Zach Levenson, and Blake Cyr. The inning also began with a CJ Kayfus home run– his second of the game after hitting a leadoff home run in the first inning. After dust settled in the fourth, the Hurricanes were leading, 12-4.

The top five hitters in the Miami lineup went 7-for-20 with six home runs, 11 RBI, nine runs, and just two strikeouts.

Somehow, the offense had the chance to be even more potent than the final line score showed. 

After FAU starting pitcher Dylan Oborne allowed the leadoff home run to Kayfus, he proceeded to walk four consecutive batters, allowing a run to score on the fourth walk. With no outs and the bases still loaded, Oborne struck out Ian Farrow and induced a double play against designated hitter Dominic Pitelli.

“We could have added a few more runs there,” Miami head coach Gino DiMare said after the game. “And I told the guys ‘who knows what that does to (FAU’s) psyche.’ I know one thing: when (FAU) goes strike out double play, FAU came to the dugout fired up, even though they're down two runs. As opposed to, if we scored a few runs there, it’s four to nothing, they don't come into the dugout quite as excited. And that changes the mood and everything. Believe me, that carries over to the plate, the next inning, all those things.”

While Miami went 5-for-14 with runners on and 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position, they failed to get a hit both times they had the bases loaded Tuesday. 

Miami freshman Chris Scinta made his first career start, allowing one run on a single to outfielder Spencer Rich. But Scinta, who has made 21 relief appearances this year, was simply the line leader in a long parade of relievers Tuesday. With a short week due to a rare Thursday game at Louisville, DiMare said it was necessary to make sure each pitcher didn’t pitch too long. After Scinta left the game in the second inning, Miami used seven relief pitchers.

Alex Walsh and Rafe Shlesginer each gave up two runs in less than one inning, while Ben Chestnutt gave up three in 1 ⅓ innings. 

Ronald Gallo and Carlos Lequerica each had scoreless outings. But there was no performance more gutsy than closer Andrew Walters.

After Alejandro Torres walked the bases loaded with two out in the eighth, DiMare called upon Walters – one inning sooner than he wanted to, he said. 

Facing catcher John Schroeder, who represented the go-ahead run at 12-9 and had already homered in the third, Walters challenged him with a 1-2 changeup – a pitch that he said he doesn’t use that often. Schroeder swung right through the pitch, and suddenly the Hurricanes were back in the driver’s seat.

“The bottom line is he handles himself excellently,” DiMare said of Walters. “No matter what’s churning inside of him, he has got the perfect mentality for a closer. He never gets too high, and he never gets too low.”