The Florida Gators run-ruled the Canes 14-4 after eight innings, taking the series over Miami in front of the largest weekend crowd in Florida baseball program history. 22,830 fans crammed their way into Condron Ballpark, watching the Gators cross home plate 30 times throughout the weekend.
Sunday afternoon started with Jac Caglianone retiring the Canes in order while striking out two batters in the top of the first, setting the tone early for the Gators.
In the bottom half of the inning Florida sent nine batters to the plate, bringing home four runs on four consecutive two out RBI singles (Riopelle, Evans, Robertson, Fabian).
The Gators carried their momentum into the second inning, working the bases loaded against Miami’s starting pitcher Alejandro Rosario, who was then pulled from the game after just 1.1 innings pitched.
BT Riopelle stepped into the box with the bases juiced and blasted a grand slam over the right-center field wall, extending Florida’s lead to 8-0.
Caglianone cruised through the second and third frame, striking out five batters while allowing zero hits and one walk through three innings of work.
Cade Kurland kept his hitting streak alive in the bottom of the third inning after plating Colby Halter on an RBI single to center field, giving the Gators a 9-0 lead. The freshman phenom has a hit in every game he’s started during his collegiate career. Kurland finished the game with three hits, one RBI, and one run. His .449 batting average leads the Gators.
Miami found the scoreboard in the fourth inning after Levenson hit a sac-fly, scoring Villegas from third base. This would be the only blemish on Caglianone’s day, who completed six innings, allowing one run, four hits, and one walk while striking out eight batters and earning the victory in the contest.
Florida’s backend reliever, Brandon Neely, took over to start the seventh inning for the Gators. The sophomore pitched a perfect seventh inning before falling apart in the eighth. Neely finished the day with 1.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk in the process. Neely has been recovering from an illness that he’s been dealing with the last few days, taking he mound at less than 100% today. We saw flashes of greatness from the right-hander, especially early on in his outing. Coach Sullivan said he tired out very quickly during the postgame press conference.
Cade Fisher took over and got out of a huge jam thanks to veteran shortstop Josh Rivera, who made a potential game saving double play with runners on second and third. Rivera went up high for a line drive, coming down with it and flipping the ball over to Kurland at second base, doubling up Miami’s baserunner.
With the Gators leading 9-4, the bats came alive in the bottom of the 8th inning.
Wyatt Langford launched his sixth home run of the season 426 feet, sailing over the left field fence at 106 MPH off the bat.
Two batters later, Josh Rivera hit an opposite-field home run, extending Florida’s lead to 12-4. Rivera has done a great job of hitting the ball where it’s pitched and working in the middle of the field in 2023.
After a BT Riopelle triple, TY Evans called game, crushing an out of the park two-run blast to end the contest.
The Gators ten run win marks the largest margin of victory against the Canes in over 25 years.
Florida improves to 10-3 on the young season.