Yeah, it’s only baseball and football is the ultimate sport regarding bragging rights in the Sunshine State, but it’s still sweet when the Canes romp the Gators.
No. 10 Miami swept No. 12 Florida in Gainesville this weekend. An 8-5 win on Friday night, a 2-1 nailbiter on Saturday and a 16-2 beatdown on Sunday afternoon. It marked the first time the Canes have swept the Gators on the diamond since 2001. Entering this series Florida had taken six of the past nine against Miami.
Friday’s win was fueled by Jonathan Weislow and his first two career homers – including the would-be game-winner in the sixth inning. Chris Hernandez earned his second win of the season, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five while the effective Kyle Bellamy closed out the game, allowing one his, striking out two and earning his first save of the year.
Saturday’s 2-1 victory came on the heels of a career-best seven scoreless innings behind junior David Gutierrez. A two-hit, two-RBI performance behind Ryan Jackson was the difference-maker. Florida picked up a ninth inning run, but Bellamy again shut down the hated Gators – forcing a pop up and strike out against his final two batters.
Come Sunday, with the home team looking to save some face, visiting Miami poured it on with a 16-2 thrashing.
With both teams scoreless after three innings, a seven-run fourth inning got things rolling for the Canes. Harold Martinez cranked a solo shot to left and the Gators unraveled from there. A Dave DiNatale single was followed by a wild pitch, advancing DiNatale to second. Chris Herrmann was hit by a pitch. DiNatale and Herrmann both advanced on a balk. An inning full of singles, walks and overall Florida mishaps put Miami ahead for good.
DiNatale, Herrmann and Yasmani Grandal proved to be the meat of the Canes line up, combining for ten hits and eight runs. Miami rattled off twenty hits against Florida in this game three massacre.
Next up for 6-1 Miami, Rhode Island and Mount St. Mary’s on Tuesday and Wednesday. From there, a three-game home stand against ACC rival NC State.
Next up for Florida, some serious wound-licking. The casual Gators fan will downplay the sweep and act like they could care less about baseball… but that’s merely due to a lack of success. Miami’s four titles to Florida’s zero doesn’t sit well with the nutjobs at McKethan Stadium, many who love to reign down their racist slurs (oft forgetting UF has its fair share of Hispanic athletes.)
I’ve taken in my fair share of Miami/Florida games in Gainesville and the inferiority complex regarding Miami’s accomplishments on the diamond warmed my heart. Florida has football bragging right (for now), but Miami’s baseball success cuts to the core of many Florida fans and there’s no way they’re taking this sweep lightly.
Great to see the baseball Canes stick it to them this weekend.