The last time the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes (4-0) saw the No. 1 Florida Gators (5-0) on a baseball field Florida had just packed Miami’s bags and ended their season in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. As if this baseball series needed any added emotion, Miami is desperate to get back at the team that ended their quest for a National Championship.
Although Miami owns the overall series record (127-115-1) the Gators have a 29-12 record against Miami since 2005.
Last year the Gators beat Miami four times, twice in the College World Series and twice in Gainesville. The strange series, which began with a frigid 37 degree Friday night in Gainesville, saw Logan Shore throw just 10 pitches before leaving with an injury and watched A.J. Puk last just 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Both Puk and Shore finished the 2015 season strong and lead Florida’s pitching staff.
Miami will start Thomas Woodrey, the only Miami pitcher to earn a win over Florida last season on Friday night. Woodrey seemed to crack the Florida code in 2015, scattering five hits over 6.1 innings of work and allowed just one run.
Last time out:
Florida beat Eastern Michigan 8-7
Miami beat St. Thomas University 7-6 (10 innings)
Pitching matchups:
Friday: RHP Logan Shore (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. LHP Thomas Woodrey (1-0, 1.80 ERA)
Saturday: LHP A.J. Puk (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Michael Mediavilla (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Alex Faedo (1-0, 1.59 ERA) vs. LHP Danny Garcia (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Series Notes:
Miami holds a 127-115-1 (.525) advantage in the all-time series and the Hurricanes lead the Gators by a 78-42 (.650) margin in Coral Gables.
Kevin O’Sullivan has a 22-10 (.688) record against Miami, 13-5 (.722) in Gainesville, 7-5 (.583) in Coral Gables and 2-0 (1.000) at neutral sites – both at the 2015 NCAA College World Series.
Bryan Garcia, Zack Collins and Thomas Woodrey have been Gator killers in their careers. Garcia (five appearances, 7.0 innings, 1.29 ERA, eight strikeouts, two saves), Collins (two home runs, six RBI) and (8.2 innings, five hits, two runs, 1.04 ERA).
Broadcast Information: All three games will be broadcast online via ESPN3. Additionally, ESPN Deportes will carry the final two games with a Spanish language broadcast team, the first time ESPN has ever carried a baseball game in Spanish on ESPN3.