Jun 20, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; UC Santa Barbara Gauchos second baseman JJ Muno (9) scores a run and celebrates with teammates against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. UC Santa Barbara won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
OMAHA, Neb. – UC Santa Barbara avoided elimination on Monday afternoon with a 5-3 victory over No. 3 Miami. A tight contest swayed in the Gauchos’ favor after a 62 minute weather delay. UCSB broke a 1-1 tie with Ryan Cumberland’s pinch-hit, two-run single.
Zack Collins connected on his 16th homerun of the season in the top of the first inning to give Miami (50-14) an early edge. The Gauchos answered in the bottom half with Clay Fisher’s one-out single followed by Devon Gradford coaxing a walk. JJ Muno tied the contest with his 31st RBI of the season as he ripped a single through the right side of the field.
Danny Garcia (9-5) looked to be laboring in the second inning as the bases were loaded with one-out. However, Garcia got Fisher to hit sharply into an inning ending double play. Garcia found his rhythm as he retired the next 10 consecutive batters heading into the sixth inning.
The skies opened and produced a 62 minute weather delay with one-out in the bottom of the sixth, but Garcia came back out as play resumed. Santa Barbra (43-19-1) scored four runs courtesy of three hits and an error in the frame to take a 5-1 lead. The big blow came from Ryan Cumberland who knocked a pinch-hit single down the right-field line that scored a pair. Back-to-back sacrifice bunts from Billy Fredrick and Ryan Clark each added another tally in the frame.
Noah Davis’ (7-4) day ended with the weather delay as Kyle Nelson finished the last three innings. Davis allowed one run on two hits with three strikeouts to earn his seventh win of the season.
The Hurricanes ripped line-drive after line-drive in the eighth as they edged closer, scoring twice. Randy Batista started the scoring with a one-out single to center. Collins earned his second RBI of the game with hard hit single into to right. With a runner on and two outs, Nelson squashed the threat by striking-out Johnny Ruiz.
Miami got the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but a double play ended the contest. Gradford finished the game two for four with a double and run scored.
UC Santa Barbara will play Wednesday at 6 p.m.
