Miami Hurricanes baseball is ranked No. 6 in the country! Over the weekend they took on the No. 1 Florida Gators in a three-game series at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Fla.
Friday’s game one saw the top team in the NCAA shut out the home team ‘Canes 5-0. Florida starting pitcher Logan Shore went the distance. Miami managed only four hits and struck out eight times.
The only two ‘Canes to record hits were center-fielder Carl Chester (3-3) and first-baseman Christopher Barr (1-4).
The Gator’s scored early with two runs in the first inning. Florida first-baseman Peter Alonso hit a two-run home run on a two-strike, two-out pitch by Miami’s Thomas Woodrey (1-1). Alonso later scored on Deacon Liput’s two-run RBI single in the fourth inning. JJ Schwarz, who also scored on Liput’s single, added a solo homer for good measure in the sixth.
Game two of the series saw Miami hand Florida their first loss of the season, 5-3. Miami overcame two errors and a couple of late game rallies to improve to 5-1 on the year.
Leading the way for Miami was catcher Zack Collins (2-4). He provided four of Miami’s runs on a pair of singles in the third and fourth innings. Shortstop Johnny Ruiz, 3-3 on the day, doubled in a run in the to start the scoring in the second inning.
Miami starting pitcher Michael Mediavilla (2-0) went for five innings and struck out four, picking up the win. Bryan Garcia (3) recorded his third save of the season for the ‘Canes.
The rubber match was won by the Gators 7-3. Florida scored early with three runs in the first two innings.
The ‘Canes were hitless through eight before three runners got on base to start the bottom of the ninth.
Chester (0-4) got on base thanks to a throwing error by Gator’s shortstop Dalton Guthrie. A pair of singles from Barr (1-4) and Jacob Hayward (1-4) loaded the bases with one out. Ruiz (1-4) came up and promptly doubled down the third-base line to empty the bases.
However, it was all the ‘Canes could put together on the day. Right-fielder Willie Abreu (0-4) and designated-hitter Edgar Michaelangeli (0-3) were retired after a pitching change to end the game.
Miami’s Danny Garcia (1-1) gave up three earned runs in five and a third for the loss.
The milkshakes, however, were on point as always.
Miami (5-2) plays a solo game against Florida Gulf Coast Wednesday 6 p.m. at Mark Light Field.
Alex Goldman is a senior majoring in journalism with a minor in political science. He is currently the Sports Editor of distractionmagazine.com. He’s a Northern California native and loves snowboarding, writing, and above all the Green Bay Packers.
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