Miami Baseball Drops Winnable Series At Florida

The Miami Hurricanes outscored the Florida Gators 11-8 over a three-game span at McKethan Stadium this past weekend, but an arch-rival still took the series, earned bragging rights and capitalized on home field advantage.

While it’s certainly too early in the season to push the panic button, the fact that Miami’s offense suffered losses of 4-3 and 2-1 in games one and three, respectively—it goes against the narrative that the Hurricanes are primed to be a beast on offense this season.

One more time, eight games into a new season and a few one-run losses is no more indicative right now than a 21-run win over a scrub from New Jersey a week ago. Still, two opportunities to take down a program that’s been a thorn in Miami’s side and bats going cold in clutch time; deserves acknowledgement as that can’t be the case going forward.

To the Hurricanes’ credit, the road team came to play on Saturday night. Eight hits produced seven runs—even with six runners left on base (to the Gators’ seven.)

Sophomore Zack Collins delivered with his first home run of the season; a three-run shot in the top of the third, extending Miami’s lead to, 6-0. The early onslaught took the pressure off pitcher Thomas Woodrey, as well—going 6.2 innings, allowing five hits, two runs and striking out one. Run support allowed Woodrey to throw with a big lead, taking the pressure off.

Junior Brandon Lopez also helped get things rolling with a bases loaded, two-out single, driving in transfer George Iskenderian for the early, 1-0 lead. In the third the Hurricanes opened with back-to-back singles by Ricky Eusebio and Collins, leaving runners at the corners for David Thompson, who doubled down the left field line, bringing home Eusebio. Willie Abreu then brought home Collins with an RBI groundout.

As for Collins’ home run in the fourth, it came by way of a two-out rally—Miami keeping things alive after the inning’s first two batters struck out. Carl Chester then tripled to the right field corner and Eusebio drew a walk. Collins then took the first offering from Florida’s Aaron Rhodes to deep right center.

Florida picked up runs in the bottom of the fourth and sixth, with both teams going quiet the final three innings of the game, but by the top of the fifth, Miami had put this one away, for all intents and purposes. Conversely, Friday night and Sunday afternoon proved to be dogfights with the Canes coming up short.

Florida got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the fourth—the game starting on a quirky note when Hurricanes ace Andrew Suarez was scratched in the pre-game with what was described as an oblique strain and the Gators’ Logan Shore was done after ten pitches, courtesy of an undisclosed injury.

Chester and Eusebio got on base early for Miami, but Bobby Poyner replaced Shore and stopped the bleeding. In the fourth inning, right-hander Jesse Lepore balked in the Gators first run, as Richie Martin scored from third.

Florida’s lead lasted until the top of the sixth when Miami rattled off six runs. Eusebio singled to start off the action and two batters later Abreu doubled. A wild pitch with Thompson at the plate scored Eusebio, moving Abreu to third and Thompson followed with an RBI single, bringing the right fielder home.

Iskenderian advanced Thompson to third on a groundout and a wild pitch to pinch hitter Edgar Michelangeli allowed the third baseman to score.

Florida immediately answered with two runs in the bottom of six, tying the game and from there all bats went cold until the Gators’ final at bat in the bottom of the ninth when Buddy Reed singled to shallow left and scored Josh Tobias from second base.

The Canes had a chance to tack on another run or two in the eight, but couldn’t capitalize. Collins singled, Abreu doubled to left center and Collins was thrown out at home. In the ninth, the Gators’ Taylor Lewis retired three consecutive Miami batters. UM wound up with ten hits on the night, but only amassed three runs and stranded five on base.

Sunday’s rubber match was a three-hit affair for the Canes, with a run in the second but zero action after that. The Gators picked up a run in the third and fourth innings, with no one making any noise the final five innings.

Enrique Sosa pitched a gem of a game for Miami—lasting six innings, allowing seven hits, two runs and striking out three, while Iskenderian led the Canes with one hit and one run. Miami’s first hit didn’t even come until the seventh inning when Lopez roped a two-out single to left field.

Florida right-hander Dane Dunning walked three consecutive Miami batters in the second inning, after retiring the Canes’ first five batters. With Johnny Ruiz at the plate and the bases loaded, Dunning put one past catcher Mike Rivera, scoring Iskenerian. Ruiz went on to ground out, ending the inning.

The Gators got a run of Sosa in the third when Friday night’s hero Reed drove in an RBI single. Later in the inning, Harrison Bader hit a game-defining solo home run.

Sosa continued getting Miami out of jams, including a 6-4-3 double play to end the sixth with the bases loaded, but the Hurricanes’ bats never capitalized on solid defense or great pitching.

Next up for Miami, a Wednesday night home game against Barry before a welcoming Wright State over the weekend. Next week, a Tuesday night exhibition against the Marlins before a midweek match up with Florida Gulf Coast, followed by a weekend road trip to Louisville to take on the Cardinals—the first conference showdown of the season.

Losing the series against Florida didn’t impact ACC standings; merely bragging rights over a hated foe. Still, an early-season lesson was learned regarding bats going cold and run support in close games with strong pitching.

Offensive success begetting offense success and building on a lead is on thing. It’s another to come from behind, or to be the guy to spark a rally when bats have gone cold.

As the season rolls on for Miami, two close losses and would-be wins against the Gators are something these Hurricanes must learn from and build upon.

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