CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Randy Batista scored the go-ahead run on Walker Sheller’s wild pitch in the eighth inning, and top-seeded Miami survived a strong challenge and beat fourth-seeded Stetson 4-2 in the Coral Gables Regional on Friday night.
The top four batters in the order for Miami — Carl Chester, Batista, Zack Collins and Brandon Lopez — all had a hit and scored in the NCAA opener for the Hurricanes (46-11), who made the College World Series last year.
Danny Garcia went 7 2/3 innings for Miami, allowing four hits and two runs. Frankie Bartow (5-0) got the final out of the eighth to preserve what was then a 2-2 tie, and Bryan Garcia pitched the ninth for his 16th save.
John Fussell and Will Mackenzie each had two hits for Stetson (29-30), which faces Florida Atlantic in an elimination game Saturday afternoon.
Miami plays Long Beach State in a winners’ bracket game Saturday night.
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