Miami baseball beats No. 1 Gators again to win first series in Gainesville in 12 years
Miami baseball is back on top in its heated rivalry with the nation’s No. 1 Florida Gators — if even just for the 2021 regular season.
The Hurricanes borrowed the early part of Florida’s script from Saturday’s game, scoring eight runs in the first four innings Sunday, then sweating profusely before eventually earning an 8-6 victory and their first series win in Gainesville in 12 years.
“Very, very happy,’’ UM coach Gino DiMare told the Miami Herald by phone after the win. “It’s been a long time since we’ve beaten those guys. I told them to enjoy this. This is a big deal. We had a meeting the night before the opener and said ‘Look, we’re not putting on any rings this weekend. Nobody is going to crown us champions. But our expectations are to win the series.’’’
The Canes (2-1), who won their fifth game of the past 21 between the programs, last took a series from the Gators (1-2) in 2014 at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables. But be assured the Gators made it more than tough, rebounding from the eight-run deficit to score six runs from the fourth through seventh innings.
Miami, ranked 11th by Baseball America and 21st by D1Baseball, failed to score after its 8-0 lead in the fourth.
On Saturday, the Gators had a 5-0 lead after one inning, but Miami chipped away for the 10-9 victory in 13 innings after losing the season opener 7-5 on Friday.
“The big thing I took away, especially the first two nights, is the fact our players never gave up,’’ DiMare said. “Even in the first game we lost, they kept battling. That carried over to the second game. That gave us a chance to win the series. It was nice to come out and get a big lead, but you just know it’s never going to be over [with Florida].’’
On Sunday, left-handed junior reliever Spencer Bodanza, the Hurricanes’ fifth pitcher of the day, came in to relieve Jake Smith with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and UF runners on first and second base. Bodanza got Nathan Hickey to fly out to right field and end the inning. UF’s two runs that inning cut the lead to 8-6.
The Canes again couldn’t score in the top of the eighth, stranding Adrian Del Castillo (single) on second base.
In came right-handed UM graduate transfer Ben Wanger, who earned the win in relief Saturday, to replace Bodanza for the eighth. Wanger allowed two consecutive singles, but got Sterlin Thompson to line into a nifty double play by Canes first baseman CJ Kayfus to end the inning.
After another scoreless top of the ninth, UM’s 6-4, 170-pound left-handed, second-year freshman closer Carson Palmquist retired the side for the victory, the final out a diving catch in center field by Tony Jenkins.
UM’s right-handed true freshman starting pitcher Victor Mederos allowed two runs, only one of them earned, on seven hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five in his collegiate debut, but was replaced by sophomore Anthony Arguelles to finish out the fifth inning and part of the sixth. Arguelles, thus, was credited with the victory in one full inning of play after allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk.
The Gators used four pitchers, with starter Hunter Barcos (8 runs, 6 earned, on six hits and three walks) taking the loss.
UM was led offensively by freshman Yohandy Morales (3 hits, including a triple; 1 RBI, 2 runs scored), Adrian Castillo (2 for 3, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored) and Christian Del Castillo (2 for 5, 2 RBI). Raymond Gil led off the third inning with UM’s first home run of 2021.
The Canes return home to Mark Light Field at 7 p.m. Friday in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener against Coastal Division opponent Virginia Tech (2-0). DiMare said about 20 percent of the 5,000-capacity home stadium will be available to fans.
“Very happy for the series win,’’ DiMare said, “but keep it in perspective. We’ve got to turn the page again. We’ve got 47 more games to go.’’
This story was originally published February 21, 2021 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Miami baseball beats No. 1 Gators again to win first series in Gainesville in 12 years."
