Hurricanes get swept by Gators
Even when ranked No. 1 in a poll, the Miami Hurricanes baseball team’s difficulties against the Florida Gators continue.
UM, the top-ranked team in the nation according to D1 Baseball, which will soon change, was swept by Florida over the three-game weekend series at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, finished off by Sunday afternoon’s loss 5-3.
The Hurricanes (4-3) have now lost 33 of their last 41 baseball games against the Gators. Since 2009, they’ve had one series win over UF, taking two of three in the 2014 installment of their annual early-season series.
“We got swept last year here against N.C. State and I thought we did a pretty good job of bouncing back,” Miami head coach Gino DiMare said. “This team is going to have to learn to do that.”
Following the back-to-back extra-inning losses on Friday and Saturday night, three RBI from UM third baseman Raymond Gil were not enough on Sunday. Starting pitcher Slade Cecconi allowed four runs on four hits, including two home runs in five innings.
Down 4-1, Gil’s two-run home run in the eighth cut the Miami deficit to 4-3, but Florida added one in the top of the ninth and held on to complete the sweep.
On Saturday night, the Hurricanes had the Gators down to their final strike out in the bottom of the ninth, but Florida leadoff hitter Jud Fabian hit a double down the left-field line off Miami closer Daniel Federman that plated Kris Armstrong and sent Game 2 to extra innings.
UF then batted around the lineup in the top of the 10th, scoring five runs and winning 7-4, as UM dropped a second straight heartbreaker following Friday’s 2-1 loss.
On Friday, the Gators won in 11 as Jacob Young chopped an RBI double down the third-base line for the difference. It came after a runner’s interference ruling played a critical role in the Hurricanes being unable to score and finish off Florida in the bottom of the 10th.
Miami stays at home for a Wednesday meeting with USF before hosting Towson for a three-game set over the upcoming weekend.