After splitting the two-game midweek set with Jacksonville, the Gators are set to host the No.22 Miami Hurricanes in a three-game weekend series inside Condron Family Ballpark.
The first two matchups will stream on SEC Network+ while Sunday’s 12 p.m. finale airs on SEC Network.
MIAMI
The Hurricanes enter the weekend holding a 7-2 record on the season, dropping their last game 6-5 vs FAU on Tuesday night. Miami has series wins over Penn State, where they took two of three from the Nittany Lions, and Dartmouth.
Miami has impressed in all three phases of the game on the young season, posting a slash line of .308/.420/.600 as a team and pitching to the tune of a 3.49 ERA. The Hurricanes have committed nine errors for a .970 fielding percentage.
HISTORY
The Gators have claimed seven of the last eight series against the Canes. Florida took two of three in Coral Gables last year (L 2-5, W 8-1, W 11-3), outscoring Miami, 19-4, across the final two games of the series. Florida has won 18 of its last 24 contests vs. Miami and owns a 77-50-1 record at home despite trailing in the all-time series, 130-133-1.
Florida is 37-16 against the Canes under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan including 19-8 at home.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday, March 3rd at 6:30 P.M.
Brandon Sproat (2-0, 5.06 ERA) vs Gage Ziehl (1-1, 11.57 ERA)
Saturday, March 4th at 2:00 P.M.
Hurston Waldrep (2-0, 3.27 ERA) vs Karson Ligon (2-0, 0.66 ERA)
Sunday, March 5th at 12:00 P.M.
Jac Caglianone (1-0, 2.38 ERA) vs Alejandro Rosario (1-0, 3.18 ERA)
FLORIDA
The Gators’ run differential of +67 is the team’s best through 10 games since 2003 (+86). Florida has scored in 52 of 81 innings at the plate this season (65.3%).
Florida’s offense ranks amongst the best in the Nation across several statistics, including hits (No.2), doubles (No.3), home runs (No.3), runs (No.3), and batting average (No.5).
Jac Caglianone is the Nation’s home run leader with eight long balls. The Gators’ two-way player has seven more total bases (42) than the next closest SEC player and is slashing .410/.477/1.077 with homers in six of the last seven games including three straight.
Wyatt Langford’s approach at the plate has been nothing short of outstanding through ten games. The nnanimous First Team Preseason All-American outfielder has six strikeouts against nine walks through 51 plate appearances (11.8 K%, 17.6 BB%). With a .500/.692/1.000 line across the last five games, Langford is hitting .405/.549/.811 with three home runs, 16 runs, 10 RBI and a 1.360 OPS. His .549 OBP leads UF, as he is one of two Gators to have reached base in all 10 games this season (the other being Rivera).
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel recently released his list of top-100 prospects for the 2023 MLB Draft, with Langford coming in at No. 1 overall (Waldrep – No. 19, Sproat – No. 54). According to MLB Pipeline, Langford ranks No. 3 overall, followed by Waldrep (No. 10) and Sproat (No. 78).
Winning the series should be the goal for the Gators this weekend. Taking 2/3 from a ranked in-state rival would be considered a success.
All eyes should be on the Gators’ bullpen, who have struggled over the last 10 days after throwing over ten scoreless innings to start the season. Although Florida is one of the better offensive teams in the country, if their bullpen doesn’t get squared away, winning games in the SEC will be a difficult task for coach Sullivan’s squad.
Florida will look to build off their 6-0 start to weekend play.