When Edgar Michelangeli stepped up to bat on Saturday, there was pressure. So much pressure. There was the pressure of the players from Miami’s past. The teams of its past. And, more than anything, the success of its past.
Miami baseball is always successful. The program hasn’t missed qualifying for the NCAA tournament in a record 44 years. So for Michelangeli, a redshirt senior, at-bats like the one he faced on Sunday are rare for Hurricanes hitters in the regular season.
Nevertheless, there he stood with runners on base, his team trailing and needing a run to save its chances at an at-large bid to the 2017 tournament.