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Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Gabby Giffords ignite change in a dynamic roundtable on gun violence with student advocates

Trenton Campbell
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Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Gabby Giffords ignite change in a dynamic roundtable on gun violence with student advocates

At a roundtable with former congresswoman Gabby Giffords and ex-House Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, students discussed pressing issues like gun violence and resilience. The urgency of the topics emphasized the need for proactive dialogue and decisive action from more than just individuals in Congress, calling on students to help fight for gun law reform.

Giffords is a living testament to resilience after surviving a gunshot to the head in 2011 at an “On Your Corner” constituent event in Tucson, Arizona; she had to learn how to walk and talk all over again.

At age 24, Powell lost her father to gun violence when he was shot and killed outside his home in Ecuador.

“It was that traumatic incident that changed our lives forever and led me and Giffords to continually fight for gun law reform in Congress,” said Powell.

As they joined forces in a roundtable discussion on Feb, 28th, there was a sense of urgency to share their mission to confront the alarming surge of gun violence in schools. Together they shared a compelling narrative of survival, advocacy and determination, binding these two women in a powerful partnership against a backdrop of societal unrest.

The Gun Safety Roundtable welcomed over 20 students and student organizations to listen and voice their concerns about the dangers of gun violence.

“I think this was a great way to start talking about gun safety on college campuses because I feel like it’s not talked about enough. This roundtable discussion is a first step in starting the conversation about gun violence at the University and what students at UM can do to help this cause,” said Karrington Lawson, a sophomore double majoring in political science and history.

Also in attendance were faculty members including political science professor and head of the UM Hanley Democracy Center, Dr. Gregory Koger, as well as members of the Young College Democrats at the University of Miami, who helped plan the roundtable.

Powell is currently running for a U.S. Senate seat against former Florida governor and current senator, Rick Scott, while Giffords runs an organization in her name dedicated to saving lives from gun violence.

Giffords and Powell also had the opportunity to ask the student guest speakers about their experiences with gun violence.

Powell asked Emily Dazinger, a junior political science student and finance intern for Powell’s ongoing Senate campaign, to describe how gun violence has affected growing up in their generation and culture.

“It comes down to something as simple as someone popping a bag in the cafeteria and everyone freezing and being subjected to monthly shooting drills,” Dazinger said. “”In addition, there’s the issue that, although you sometimes hug your parents good-bye before leaving for school, you never know if you’ll get to see them again because of tragedies like mass shootings.”

Powell asked the same question of Lawson.

“I am grateful to go to school every day because I know not every day is promised or guaranteed. I was in private school my whole life,” Lawson said. “And after the Marjory Stoneman Stoneman Douglas shooting in 2018, I remember having resource officers on campus, which made me question why schools can’t be a safe space for students to grow and learn anymore.”

Dazinger and Lawson’s comments were followed by a discussion among other students about what individuals like Powell and Giffords can do to help make students’ voices feel seen and heard surrounding the gun violence dilemma.

“Having student-led meetings and discussions with elected officials would help me and my peers feel seen, as we can discuss issues about gun violence together,” said Miguel Blas, a freshman computer science major.

“Listening to students’ voices and concerns by magnifying their voices,” were more common answers from many of the other students in the room who were in attendance.

Powell recommended that a way for students to help take part in their campus safety is to report anything that seems suspicious and let anyone know about any safety concerns they might have by using their voices.

Before the roundtable ended, Giffords wanted everyone in the room to leave with a powerful message that students could use when fighting for reform.

“Stay passionate, courageous and be your absolute best,” and to continue pushing for gun violence reform through the power of voting and informing other students on campus” said Giffords, as she explained to students that they should continue being resilient.

Visit the Giffords website and Powell’s website for more details on gun violence reform and events happening on and off campus.

Hurricanes men’s tennis falls to No. 27 Louisville

Blake Stern
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Hurricanes men’s tennis falls to No. 27 Louisville

Concluding an ACC road trip that included an away win over Boston College, Miami Hurricanes men’s tennis fell to the No. 27-ranked Louisville Cardinals, 4-3, this past Sunday afternoon in Louisville. The match drops the team’s record to 8-5 (1-2 ACC).

Louisville won the doubles point with quick wins on courts one and two. On court one, UL’s #20-ranked doubles pair of Etienne Donnet and Natan Rodrigues defeated UM’s #27-ranked doubles pair of Vladislav Melnic and Adrien Burdet, 6-1. The Cardinals’ Will Mayew and Andre Steinbech took down the Hurricanes’ Nacho Serra Sanchez and Sam Baumgartner, 6-3 on court two.

The home team continued to push the advantage with a 6-1, 6-2 win for Donnet over Melnic on court one.

But the Canes did not take long to respond, tying the match 2-2. Miami’s victories came from Antonio Prat, who defeated Louisville’s Andre Steinbach, 6-1, 6-3, on court three, and Sam Baumgartner, who beat UL’s Kosuke Nakanishi, 6-1, 6-4, on court six.

With the match tied, the teams split the next two singles matches. On court two, Louisville’s Natan Rodrigues defeated UM’s Martin Katz, 7-6 (3), 6-1. On court five, Miami’s Adrien Burdet responded with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win over the Cardinals’ Piet Steveker.

On the deciding court, Miami’s Nacho Serra Sanchez got off to a strong start with a quick first-set win. However, Louisville’s Will Mayew came storming back, topping Serra Sanchez in a three-set battle, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

The Hurricanes will return to the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in a non-conference affair with Penn on March 7.

Hurricanes to send three to NCAA indoor track and field championships

Shea Mcdonald
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Hurricanes to send three to NCAA indoor track and field championships

The University of Miami will have three representatives in Boston for the indoor track and field national championships. After a season of elite performances, sophomore Edgar Campre, sophomore Kennedy Sauder, and senior Russell Robinson will have a chance at glory at the highest level.

A Lisbon, Portugal native, Campre has been a standout all season for his versatility and ability in the heptathlon. More importantly, as the season has gone on, he has only continued to get better.

In Kansas earlier this season, he set the school record in the event with a score of 5,778. Only a couple weeks later, Campre beat his own record by 125 points against the ACC’s best, taking first and setting new personal bests in five of the seven events. Making his first NCAA Championship appearance with a score of 5903, Campre will come in as the No. 11 seed.

Liberty transfer Sauder also ended the season with his strongest showing. A height of 2.21 meters (m) at the ACC indoor championships moved him from second all-time to first all-time in the indoor high jump and gave him first in the event.

Sauder has been crushing it throughout the season, constantly topping the field in the high jump, and now he has a chance to prove himself at the highest level. This isn’t the first time for Sauder, as at Liberty last year in New Mexico, Sauder earned his way to the national championship, finishing in 15th and being named a second-team All-American. With the No. 10 seed this year, Sauder will have a chance to make a statement.

Robinson will represent Miami in the triple jump. He set the bar high for himself early this season. In the Corky’s Classic in January, Robinson broke his own school record in the triple jump, going from 16.36 to 16.59.

Though he hasn’t necessarily replicated that distance, Robinson has continued to top the charts with strong performances in the triple jump. He was in the ACC championship, where he took second place with a distance of 16.25m.

Robinson will head into the national championship listed as the No. 5 seed. It will be his second appearance after making it last year and earning All-American honors with a 16.30m and taking eighth place.

The national championships will take place between March 7 through 9. As for when you can watch these three, their events will take place on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday at 1 p.m. is the high jump for Sauder, and 3:30 p.m. will be when the triple jump with Robinson takes place. As for Campre, the heptathlon holds seven events between the two days. The lights will be bright, the stadiums will be packed and the eyes of Miami will be glued to see what these three will do.

Tragic and immeasurable loss as student struck and killed by car

Jenny Jacoby
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Tragic and immeasurable loss as student struck and killed by car

The University of Miami is mourning the death of senior mathematics and psychology major Daniel Bishop, who passed away Monday morning after being struck by a car while riding a scooter to campus near Coral Gables Senior High School.

The news was announced to students at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning in an email from interim Provost Guillermo Prado and senior vice president for student affairs & alumni engagement, Patricia Whitely.

The email detailed Bishop’s extensive involvements at UM. He was the chair of Hurricane Productions, a President’s 100 tour guide, Orientation Leader and an It’s On Us Ambassador, among others.

“Danny was a role model, investing in what he loved and working hard to create a caring ‘Cane community,” the email read.

“He was a student leader who would rise by uplifting others. Whatever he did was with authenticity and he cared for everyone he interacted with and tackled each task he undertook with determination.”

Beyond his leadership roles, Bishop was driven by and committed to the study of mathematics, maintaining a near-perfect GPA and earning a spot on the President’s Honor Roll almost every semester. He also started his own math tutoring company and had secured a post-graduate job as a math teacher at local K-12 private school Gulliver Preparatory.

He was originally from Coral Springs, Florida, and attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the 2018 Valentine’s Day shooting that killed 17 students and faculty and injured 17 others.

“His friends shared that Danny was filled with positivity and passion for life,” the email continued.

“Often, you would find him at Richter Library tutoring many of his fellow students, and then hear him at a Hurricane Productions event belting out his signature ‘Woo!’”

During his time at UM, Bishop affected many students’ lives, including The Miami Hurricane’s news editor, Caroline Val.

“Daniel was a very close friend of mine, and one of the very first friends I made after I transferred to UM. He was the type of person who would keep dino nuggies and ice cream sandwiches in his fridge and make time for every one of his students and friends, even with his crazy schedule,” Val said.

“I was lucky enough to be at almost every one of his birthdays and celebrate the amazing life he led. I already miss him so much, but it’s beautiful to see how many people he’s touched with his kind heart, his witty humor and unwavering determination.”

The accident is currently under investigation by the CGPD. This is a developing story, with more details to come soon.

As of now, The Hurricane knows the accident involving a motor vehicle occurred at Le Jeune Road and Altara Avenue, according to a post on X by the Coral Gables Police Department. A public meeting was held by the Florida Department of Transportation on Jan. 23, 2023, to discuss pedestrian safety improvements on these streets. The plans included the construction of medians, pedestrian countdown signals, improved signage and upgraded curve ramps. Construction is set to begin in November 2025.

A celebration of Bishop’s life will be held by the University, with details also yet to be announced. In the meantime, It’s On Us will host a candlelight vigil tonight, Tuesday, March 5, at 6:45 p.m. at the Rock Plaza. All students are welcome to attend.

The University has also compiled a list of resources for students including:

Counseling Center

305-284-5511 (After-hours hotline available)

University Chaplains

General University grief resources

Speaking Grief website

Editor’s Note

Daniel was a well-known and impactful student here at the University of Miami and was known by members of our staff. When the time is right, The Miami Hurricane will attempt to capture his life and legacy at UM with words and photos. In the meantime, if you have any stories, memories or pictures you would like to share of Daniel, please contact editor@themiamihurricane.com.

Managing Editor Lauren Ferrer contributed to the reporting for this article.

This story was updated to the reflect the change in location of the vigil from Lake Osceola to the Rock Plaza.

‘Still, I Rise’: The 11th annual Whitely Women’s Leadership Symposium

Anya Weller
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‘Still, I Rise’: The 11th annual Whitely Women’s Leadership Symposium

Surrounded by female trailblazers, students recently joined together to participate in informative workshops, network, and learn about women’s leadership in honor of Women’s History Month.

On Saturday, March 2, the 11th annual Whitely Women’s Leadership Symposium was held in the Shalala Student Center. This year, the event revolved around the theme, “Still, I Rise.”

“All of you are committed to being here because you are going to rise up,” said Dr. Patricia Whitely, the senior vice president of student affairs and host of the annual symposium.

Since its initiation by the Butler Center for Service and Leadership in 2011, Dr. Whitely has been heavily involved with the symposium. The Butler Center was founded with the goal of being a catalyst for students to inspire social change, and the goal of the symposium is doing just that for female students.

“I think it is important to have space for women, who are up-and-coming student leaders at the University of Miami, to hear from role models that have had an interesting and challenging journey before them,” said Whitely.

After opening remarks from Whitely, students heard from Luisa Santos, a representative from District 9 on the Miami-Dade School Board for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Santos became fluent in English just a year after moving to Miami from Bogotá, Colombia, thanks to her English education growing up in Miami-Dade County.

Despite discovering that she was undocumented in high school, Santos persisted in her studies and went on to study at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

“I thought I had it all figured out but realized there was a very limited path,” Santos said. “I had to not let this define who I am. I had to carve my own path.”

Attendees also had the opportunity to attend workshops ranging from personal finance to advocacy and activism.

The hosts of these workshops included advocacy groups and members of the student program, Enough. Established in 2021, Enough strives to create an empowering and uplifting community for women of color on campus. After being invited to the symposium for the first time this year, student leaders from the program hosted a workshop on imposter syndrome. Especially common among females and minorities, imposter syndrome is the experience of not feeling successful internally, even when performing very highly externally.

“I think Enough brings in people who are willing to learn and then they can go outside and teach others,” said junior Kevmely Antione, a member of the planning team for Enough.

Madison Rodas, associate director of multicultural affairs at UM, emphasized the importance of creating a space for women to have important conversations about what they are passionate about, and more importantly, how they can bring this to the rest of their community.

“You want to create the space for other women to come in and feel like they belong,” Rodas said. “The fact that there is a symposium that’s centering women is something that already attests to the fact that there are women that are wanting to create this space for you.”

The 11 female student members of the Whitely Women’s Leadership Symposium committee spent the entirety of the fall semester planning this past weekend’s symposium. The committee includes Ashley Babulal, Illiana Bennett, Sydney Corrodus, Marina Deane-Gonazalez, Zina Martinez, Leslie Diaz, Maggie Roberts, Krystelle Emogene, Eliza Lee, Keira Hamilton and Emma Tews.

“I came to the symposium my freshman year. It was so inspiring. During my sophomore year, I applied to stuff that I was lacking the confidence to do my freshman year. This year, I applied to be part of the committee. It’s a full circle moment,” said junior Sydney Corrodus, workshop chair of the symposium committee.

The symposium concluded with a networking event, where students were able to converse with female experts in fields ranging from law to psychology.

Ashley Babulal, a junior and the co-chair of the symposium committee, helped plan this event with the hope that women would continue to foster these skills in their respective communities.

“I hope attendees get an opportunity to network with women, along with being able to uplift and empower themselves,” said Babulal. “I hope this event builds a community of women back on campus.”

REVIEW: “Lisa Frankenstein” is just for the girlies

Vivica Dunlap
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REVIEW: “Lisa Frankenstein” is just for the girlies

“Lisa Frankenstein” marks another recent film debut for a female director in the last year. Despite the historic lack of female recognition in Hollywood, it has become more and more common to see women helming films that are geared toward a female audience.

Embed from Getty Images

Starring Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse, “Lisa Frankenstein” is about Lisa Swallows, a teenage girl who has been traumatized by the murder of her mother and her dad’s remarriage.

After being attacked at a party, she ends up bringing a dead man back to life. As their relationship develops into something more romantic, so does their taste for blood.

Written by Diablo Cody, this film marks her first big project since “Jennifer’s Body,” which initially received negative feedback from critics but has now gained cult status. Her most recent film explores similar themes and ideas of female autonomy.

It is also the feature-length directorial debut of Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late comedian Robin Williams. This movie proves her comedic chops.

Cody’s dialogue hasn’t lost its sarcastic and sardonic touch in the almost 20 years since “Jennifer’s Body,” and the actors fully lean into its campier elements.

Newton, who plays Lisa, embraces exaggeration in this project and accentuates the more dramatic moments with a twinge of ridicule and mockery at her own self.

The creature that comes to life is played by Sprouse. Though he doesn’t speak and largely communicates through grunts and headshakes most of the film, he develops both personality and chemistry with Newton that makes their dynamic entertaining to watch.

Another important character in this film is the step sister Taffy, played by Filipino actress Liza Soberano in one of her first major American roles. She is a foil to Lisa’s more edgy personality providing a lightness to the project while still keeping up with Newton’s energy.

The camp aspect of this film is most obvious in the sets and fashion. Set in the 80s, it focuses on bright neon colors, and a large part of the film is lit in a blue and pink glow. Lisa’s fashion also plays a large part in her character development.

Visual choices like these have been seen before from other female directors before like Sofia Coppola and Emerald Fennell. “Lisa Frankenstein,” through these same choices, makes it clear that it is more interested in pleasing its female audience than a male one.

Since its release, “Lisa Frankenstein” has been largely disliked by critics, but it has managed to find its audience with young women. In a month lacking good films — colloquially known as Dumpuary — it has created a spot for a specific market that rarely gets the love it deserves.

In the past year, there’s been an uptick in female-led projects like “Barbie,” “Bottoms,” “Priscilla” and “Poor Things.” However, these women struggle to be taken as seriously as their male counterparts.

While “Lisa Frankenstein” may not be as poignant as recent female-led projects like “Barbie,” “Bottoms” and “Priscilla,” it’s just as enjoyable. It provides its own type of commentary with staying power about performative feminism and how we portray femininity in film.

“Lisa Frankenstein’s” embrace of the feminine aesthetic could land it a sort of relevance in the future despite the criticism it has received. It certainly has won my heart.

Rating: 4/5

Senior Ian Fischer explores the stages of love in first-ever EP, ‘Starcrossed’

Sofia Davis
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Senior Ian Fischer explores the stages of love in first-ever EP, ‘Starcrossed’
Ian Fischer, a senior modern artist development and entrepreneurship major, released his first-ever EP "Starcrossed" on Feb. 28. The four songs explore the process of falling in and out of love.
Ian Fischer, a senior modern artist development and entrepreneurship major, released his first-ever EP "Starcrossed" on Feb. 28. The four songs explore the process of falling in and out of love. Photo credit: Maximillan Held

Ian Fischer, a senior studying modern artist development and entrepreneurship in the Frost School of Music, released his first-ever EP “Starcrossed” on Feb. 28.

Rooted in personal experiences and a yearning to connect on a profound emotional level, this four-song EP navigates the intricate stages of love, from hopeful beginnings to heart-wrenching endings.

The EP opens with “Everyone, Anyone, Someone,” a soul-searching anthem that captures his quest for love.

“This track is the first part of love, which is me in the search for love, wondering if there is anyone out there for me,” Fischer said.

Set against a backdrop of stirring melodies, he candidly explores the uncertainty and longing that accompany the search for a soulmate, ultimately finding comfort in the possibility of love’s existence.

Transitioning seamlessly into “First Thing, Last Thing,” Fischer delves into the euphoria of falling head over heels for someone. With heartfelt lyricism and infectious rhythms, he paints a vivid portrait of love’s captivating embrace, conveying the all-encompassing nature of infatuation.

“I wrote this about thinking of that person 24/7, from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed,” Fischer said.

The title track, “Starcrossed,” takes center stage as he confronts the harsh reality of love’s impermanence. Drawing inspiration from Shakespearean tragedy “Romeo and Juliet,” in which he describes it as “love that is doomed to fail,” harboring a glimmer of hope for reconciliation in another time or place.

Closing out the EP is “Better Without You,” a cathartic anthem of liberation and self-discovery. Infused with raw emotion and empowering refrains, Fischer bids farewell to a toxic relationship, embracing newfound freedom and self-assurance as he moves forward with his life.

In a candid discussion about his creative process, Fischer shares insights into his meticulous approach. Collaborating closely with his producer, he painstakingly refines each melody and lyric, ensuring that every song resonates with authenticity and depth.

“I want each of my songs to have a story behind it and a meaning for writing it,” Fischer said.

Looking ahead, Fischer remains committed to his musical journey.

“Next for me is going to be writing and releasing some singles,” Fischer said. “I am [also] personally working on a music application for iOS that I think will help shape and change the industry for the future,” Fischer said.

Drawing inspiration from esteemed musicians like John Mayer, Lewis Capaldi and Cian Ducrot, he stays true to his artistic vision while leaving an indelible mark on listeners.

As audiences immerse themselves in “Starcrossed,” Fischer wants fans to know that they are not alone in their heartbreak.

“Everyone goes through this at a point in their life, and my music is here to listen to in order to make them not feel alone or help them get through what they are going through.”

Through vivid storytelling and soul-stirring melodies, he invites listeners to join him on a heartfelt exploration of the human experience, one song at a time.

The “Starcrossed” EP is available on all music streaming platforms.

UM News Brief: BLQWEEK, University of Georgia murder suspect found and Aaron Bushnell

Kseniia Novichkova
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UM News Brief: BLQWEEK, University of Georgia murder suspect found and Aaron Bushnell

THIS WEEK AT THE U

Black Leaders for the queer community host a week of events

Beginning on Feb. 26, Black Leaders for the Queer Community initiated a week of events aimed at honoring the impact of the African-American, Latino and LGBTQ+ underground subcultures.

The week-long celebration, BLQWEEK, had a focus on amplifying ball culture, in which members of these communities would perform in different categories influenced by pop and queer culture while meeting in underground “ballrooms.” The week started off with the opening ceremony at Lakeside Patio, featuring food and music from black queer artists.

The next day featured a night filled with exciting game night activities along with queer student organizations SpectrUM, TransCendence, oStem, Obus, OutLaw and GradOUT. On Feb. 28th, participants were involved in a voguing workshop which involved a booth of makeup and glam.

BLQWEEK also featured the anticipated first-ever Ballroom Showcase at UM, which took place on Friday, Mar.1 at the Newman Alumni Center with performances, DJs and refreshments.

The final event, titled “Serving 10s,” took place on Sunday, Mar. 3. at the UC Canopy. Volunteers will be partnering up with Foo Society, a new LGBTQ non-profit organization, to create a space of mentorship at the U.

IN CASE U MISSED IT

Nursing student murdered on University of Georgia campus

University of Georgia student Laken Riley was tragically murdered on campus while jogging in the morning.

On Feb. 22, Laken Riley was reported missing by her friend after she failed to return from her morning run. At 12:38 pm the same day, Riley was found unresponsive with visible injuries. She died from blunt force trauma to the head, Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson Morgue said.

UGA police were able to identify the suspect as Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26. An Athens-Clarke County Police Department officer approached him because he matched the description of a suspect in the investigation and Ibarra presented his U.S. permanent resident card.

“The card was determined to be fraudulent. Ibarra is a citizen of Venezuela and was processed for expedited removal but claimed a credible fear of return to Venezuela. He was consequently released from immigration custody pending adjudication of his claim for asylum on April 30, 2023,” wrote the United States Attorney Office Middle District of Georgia.

The undocumented Ibarra was charged with possessing a fake green card. The charges against Mr. Ibarra also include murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, University of Georgia Police Department and Clarke County Sheriff’s Office.

More than 22,000 people signed a petition urging for emergency lights to be installed in the wooded area where the student’s body was found, so that police may be directly notified in the event of an emergency..

U.S. Air Force senior airman sets himself on fire in protest of the Israel-Palestine War

On Feb. 25, Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire outside of the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, in what he proclaimed as a protest against the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Bushnell began a livestream on his phone before 1 p.m. standing in front of the embassy gates, dousing himself in flammable liquid from a bottle. As he lit himself on fire, he repeatedly screamed, “Free Palestine.”

After the flames were extinguished by Secret Service officers who responded to the event, Bushnell was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead at 10:06 pm last Sunday.

Prior to his death, Bushnell emailed left-leaning websites, informing them of his extreme protest, known as self-immolation, for the Palestinian people.

This was not the first time self-immolation occurred in the events of the conflict. In December, a protester set himself on fire at the Israeli consulate in the state of Georgia, with a Palestinian flag discovered at the scene.

“Many of us like to ask ourselves … What would I do if my country was committing genocide? The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now,” said Bushnell in his final Facebook post.

He filmed his protest on Twitch, a livestream social media platform. The video since then has been removed, yet blurred clips continue to circulate on the internet.

Sims: Baseball Weekend Takeaways vs. Florida

Luke Sims
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Sims: Baseball Weekend Takeaways vs. Florida

In front of amazing crowds at Mark Light Field, the Miami Hurricanes lost their weekend series with the fourth-ranked Florida Gators but put up a competitive fight. After losing the opening night, Miami responded with a huge win on Saturday. UM was unable to secure a victory in the rubber match.

Here are three takeaways from the Hurricanes’ first series loss of the season.

‘Canes can play with anyone

Miami showed heart in all of these games against an impressive Gators team. The Hurricanes were able to start fast and hold off the Gators for a while until they pulled away late.

In game two, Miami came out swinging and took the early lead against the Gators. This time, though, the Hurricanes kept it. Led by strong starting pitching and efficient hitting, Miami was able to get a marquee win early on in the season.

The team was not able to keep the energy up in the final game, as aside from co-captain Dorian Gonzalez Jr.’s grand slam, the Hurricanes’ bats were pretty quiet.

“I don’t think we were outclassed in any way,” Miami head coach J.D. Arteaga said. “There are little things in the game of baseball that you have to do in order to win when you’re matched up against a good team, and we didn’t do those things.”

This should give Miami confidence that it can play with any team in the country. Battling in these games against tough opponents early on in the season will pay off down the line for the ‘Canes.

“We’re working our tail off,” Arteaga said. “We’re going to continue getting better and we’re going to keep fighting, every inning, every pitch, every at-bat. It’s right around the corner. We’re going to get to where we need to be.”

Miami might be a little too reliant on the long ball

While hitting home runs is fun, Miami might be banking on homers to fuel its offense a bit too much.

14 of the 17 runs that Miami scored during the weekend series were by way of the long ball. While it’s exciting and gets the crowd on their feet, that is not sustainable throughout the season. Miami must find a way to score runs in other ways more consistently.

Starting pitching solid again

All three of Gage Ziehl, Rafe Schlesinger and Herick Hernandez were impressive in their starts.

Schlesinger delivered a key Saturday win, as he struck out 11 batters and set the tone for the team. All three starters only let up three runs to an incredibly dangerous Gator offense.

If these three can keep delivering quality starts as the young Miami bullpen develops, the ‘Canes could have an elite pitching staff in every weekend series.

Miami (6-5) welcomes Stonehill to the Light next Wednesday. The first pitch for that game is set for 6 p.m. and can be seen on ACC Network.

Hurricanes celebrate seniors, drop season finale in overtime

Caleb Shapiro
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Hurricanes celebrate seniors, drop season finale in overtime

In an afternoon featuring Miami guard Shayeann Day-Wilson’s career-high and two Hurricanes celebrating Senior Day, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (GT) pulled away in overtime against the ‘Canes, winning 71-66.

Miami (19-10, 8-10 ACC) finished off its regular season on Sunday in nail-biting fashion, a tug-of-war battle featuring 18 lead changes, eight tie scores and neither team leading by more than five.

However, despite the teams going punch-for-punch, no one could contain Day-Wilson. The junior dropped 21 first-half points on an electric 8-of-10 shooting from the field as UM led by one at the half, 36-35.

Six points later in the second half and the Toronto native had eclipsed her previous point record of 26 at Duke, now standing at 27.

“I felt good, I haven’t felt good in a long time so I was just staying aggressive and I knew I had to step up big today,” Day-Wilson said.

She was one of just two ‘Canes to get into double-figure scoring on the day. The other was forward Lazaria Spearman, who registered a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

“[Spearman] was unbelievable,” head coach Katie Meier said. “Focused, rebounded, caught the ball, [she] didn’t have a single turnover.

She got into double digits on one of her more impressive plays, knocking down a shot-clock buzzer-beating fadeaway jumper midway through the third, which grabbed Miami the lead at 44-43.

The lead stayed within one possession the entire third frame, and Miami took a one-point lead into the fourth.

Guard Ja’Leah Williams got the scoring started in the fourth with a steal and score for the ‘Canes off a fast-break layup, yet any potential momentum-shifting plays for Miami were stifled by the Yellow Jackets (16-14, 7-11 ACC).

Miami retained a single-possession lead up until just under two minutes left when Georgia Tech guard Tonie Morgan knotted the game at 60 with a free throw. Seconds later, Day-Wilson clinched her career-high with a layup, adding another lead change to the total.

Free throws would tie the game up once again for GT at 62 before the brawl headed to extra time. The Yellow Jackets had a chance to walk it off, but guard Ines Noguero missed the potential game-winning jumper.

Throughout overtime, foul shooting continued to tell the story of this physical game. Tech converted all six of his free throws, as Miami committed two untimely fouls before fouling intentionally.

Tech was ultra-efficient from the stripe, shooting an 89.5% clip, a stark contrast to the Hurricanes’ 38.5%. When the dust settled, free throws were the glaring difference in the opponent’s performances.

“We did not get any shots to fall in the fourth quarter or overtime,” Meier said. “We killed ourselves at the free throw line.”

Even with the loss, the ‘Canes still have a lot of potential basketball to play in March.

“It’s not over and we play Thursday and we’re just going to rest up and get ready for that,” Day-Wilson said.

In the meantime, Miami can celebrate what it has, including the two seniors spotlighted today, Jaida Patrick and Sophia Zulich.

Patrick, a transfer graduate student, made an immediate impact on and off the court for ‘Canes this season.

“Jaida came in the first month and was voted captain, which I’ve never seen in my life,” Meier said.

Zulich is also a graduate transfer. She walked on to the team after dealing with injuries much of her collegiate career.

“The sacrifices she made to even try to participate on this team,” Meier said. “She’s just an inspiration to the team.”

Miami enters its most important stretch of the ACC gauntlet, heading to Greensborough, N.C., where it’ll take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Thursday in the ACC Tournament. Tip-off is at 1:30 p.m.

‘Canes unable to slow Caglianone and the Gators, drop final game of series 8-4

Jayden Gonzalez
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‘Canes unable to slow Caglianone and the Gators, drop final game of series 8-4

In the rubber match game between Miami and No. 4 Florida, 2024 Preseason Two-Way Player of the Year Jac Caglianone showed why he deserved the award.

While pitching six scoreless innings, the projected top-10 draft pick stunned the fans at Mark Light Field, hitting his fourth home run of the year to clinch the series victory against the Hurricanes, 8-4.

In the top of the fifth inning, Caglianone took Herick Hernandez’s hanging off-speed pitch for a ride, clobbering it off the parking garage in right field. Caglianone’s 408-foot moonshot gave himself some insurance runs, as he also took the bump for the Gators.

On the mound, he was stellar, pitching the best game of his season. Caglianone fanned a career-high 11 UM batters, allowing just three hits and two walks in six innings of work. He also tallied three hits of his own, including his second home run of the series.

“[Caglianone] was as advertised,” Miami head coach J.D. Arteaga said. “To pitch and hit, especially in the same game, that’s tough … He has a very bright future ahead of him.”

For a vast majority of the game, the Hurricanes had no answer for Caglianone and the UF pitching staff, getting shut out and mustering just three hits.

“Through seven innings we didn’t really come out and fight,” Miami captain Dorian Gonzalez Jr. said about the team’s offensive struggles. “Caglianone made great pitches all game, we didn’t stick to our approach, and we didn’t execute our game plan today.”

In the eighth, Arteaga brought on Gonzalez in place of Lorenzo Carrier in hopes of giving the team some much-needed momentum. With the bases loaded and two away, the junior infielder gave the Hurricanes life, smacking his third grand slam of the year over the fence in left-center field, cutting the deficit to three.

UM’s hope diminished quickly, as UF infielder Colby Shelton hit his second home run of the game over the center field wall off Miami’s Nick Robert, effectively putting the game to rest.

In both games of the series, the winning team scored in the opening frame. That trend continued in the rubber match game, where the Gators struck first.

After Hernandez retired the first two batters with little effort, shortstop Antonio Jimenez misplayed what should have been a routine ground out. Jimenez’s error proved costly, as the following batter, Shelton, powered Hernandez’s fastball over the left field wall, allowing UF to jump out to an early 2-0 lead.

Despite striking out nine batters, the lefty Hernandez struggled against the sheer power of the Florida offense, surrendering four home runs. The Miami-Dade transfer finished his outing by giving up five runs on six hits in five innings of work.

Hernandez’s streak of allowing zero earned runs came to an end on Sunday as well, ending at 15 consecutive innings. In the fourth, UF infielder Ty Evans sent his third home run of the season deep into left-center field. The next batter, Tyler Shelnut, followed his teammate up with a bomb over the left-field wall.

Shelnut admired his fourth home run of the season, carrying his bat to first base, flipping it and then entering his home-run trot. To the umpires, that was too much, and Shelnut was tossed upon crossing home plate.

With the loss to the Gators, Miami has now dropped 20 of their last 28 games against their in-state rival, dating back to 2015. The Hurricanes, however, continue to lead the all-time series 131-129-1.

Miami looks to return to the win column on Wednesday, March 6, when it takes on the Stonehill Skyhawks under the lights at Mark Light Field. UM midweek starter Ben Chestnutt will toe the slab in Coral Gables. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Cuvet’s three-run homer propels Miami to a series-tying win against No. 4 Florida

Jayden Gonzalez
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Cuvet’s three-run homer propels Miami to a series-tying win against No. 4 Florida

With runners on first and second and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Miami Hurricanes desperately needed to strengthen their lead and put the game to bed against their in-state rival, the No. 4 Florida Gators.

UM freshman sensation Daniel Cuvet did just that, smashing his sixth home run of the season directly into the batter’s eye in center field, sending the crowd at Mark Light Field into a frenzy. Cuvet’s home run was enough for the Hurricanes to tie the series against the Gators, winning 10-6.

Jason Torres wasted no time getting the scoring started for the Hurricanes. In the first inning, following a walk and single, Torres took UF pitcher Liam Peterson’s fastball 415 feet, crushing it over the fence in left-center field. The sophomore’s second home run in many games got UM to an early 3-0 lead.

Torres has had a fantastic start to his 2024 campaign. The first baseman is among the Hurricane team leaders in hits and RBIs, with 22 and 19, respectively, and is one of the ACC leaders in home runs, with seven.

In the second frame, outfielder Edgardo Villegas extended the lead to five for the ‘Canes, smashing his first home run of the season over the center field wall.

Following a slow start to the season, Villegas has found his stride in his last few games. Since the series’ final game against LIU, the lefty has been batting .500, tallying nine hits and five RBIs.

Peterson struggled to keep the ball in the park against the UM offense. Despite allowing three hits and striking out seven, the freshman gave up two long balls to Torres and Villegas, costing his team five runs in just two innings.

Junior pitcher Rafe Schlesinger gave UM another quality outing, this time against Jac Caglinone and the explosive Florida offense. The lefty struck out nine batters through 6 ⅔ innings of work and surrendered three runs on seven hits. The Long Island native was dominant through four, allowing one hit and striking out five. It wasn’t until the fifth inning that the Gators started fighting back.

In the fifth inning, Schlesinger was in a bit of trouble, with runners on first and second with two outs. Due up was UF’s Dale Thomas, who powered the junior’s fastball over the center field wall, allowing the Gators to get right back into the game at 5-3.

After Cuvet’s home run extended the Miami lead to six, the Gators kept fighting. In the eighth inning, UF’s Tyler Shelnut laced a double down the left-field wall, bringing in two runners and forcing UM to make some pitching changes.

Head coach J.D. Arteaga gave the ball to freshman reliever Nick Robert in the eighth to work around the threat from the Florida offense. After allowing a sacrifice fly, Robert worked out the jam and got the nod to finish the game.

Miami looks to win the series in the rubber match game tomorrow against the No. 4 ranked Florida Gators. UM will have Miami-Dade transfer Herrick Hernandez toeing the slab in Coral Gables, facing the 2024 Preseason Two-Way Player of the Year Jac Caglinone. First pitch will be at 1 p.m.

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