Gators, behind Sproat, take Game Two despite Miami pitcher Karson Ligon’s strong outing
Saturday night didn’t go nearly as well for Miami Hurricanes true freshman pitcher Karson Ligon as did his starting debut more than a week ago — but not because he had a bad outing.
It went a lot worse for the Hurricanes as a whole.
Game Two of the fierce rivalry weekend series went to the No. 14 Florida Gators, 8-1 winners over No. 22 Miami with another sellout crowd under the lights at Mark Light Field.
Despite Ligon striking out eight batters, not walking anyone and allowing only three hits in a career-long seven innings, the Hurricanes committed three errors, two by catcher Maxwell Romero. One of them came in the third inning and allowed UF’s Colby Halter to get to first base after a third-out strikeout that preceded a two-run homer by Jud Fabian.
Of UF’s first three runs, two were unearned.
Ligon (1-1), nonetheless, was charged with the loss.
“We didn’t play defense, that’s what hurt us tonight,’’ UM coach Gino DiMare said. “We got the outing we needed. Karson threw outstanding — good enough to win. He was efficient and went deeper in the game than their guy.
“Their guy was good tonight. He was on. Our guy went seven innings and 94 pitches. You couldn’t ask for anything better than that.’’
The Canes (8-2) — one for eight with runners in scoring position — rallied in the eighth on an RBI-single by Yohandy Morales, which scored CJ Kayfus after one of two passed balls in the inning. But Romero and Carlos Perez both struck out to end the threat.
The Gators (9-3) made it an emphatic “W” with five runs in the ninth on RBI-singles by BT Riopelle and Josh Rivera and a 3-run blast to left field by Kendrick Calilao. At that point the UM crowd began exiting the stands.
Florida starter Brandon Sproat pitched a strong game, allowing no runs in 6 1/3 innings. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out eight.
Halter led off the game by doubling off the left field wall. He advanced to third on Ligon’s wild pitch, then scored when Romero’s attempt to throw out Ligon soared wildly into left field.
The third inning was even more unfortunate for the Hurricanes. With two outs, Halter struck out swinging, but sprinted to first base on a passed ball that had Romero scrambling around the plate looking for the ball. Up stepped Jud Fabian, who blasted Ligon’s second pitch over the left field wall for a 2-run homer that padded the Gators’ lead to 3-0.
After the home run, Ligon retired the next 10 Gators and did not surrender another hit.
“Strike three,’’ DiMare said. “It should have ended the inning. They did a good job taking advantage of that.’’
“It definitely was not a good feeling,’’ Ligon said. “But there was a lot of game left. I had to bounce back.’’
UM also mounted a fifth-inning rally to no avail, thanks to Calilao’s spectacular leaping grab of a hard-hit, rising line drive by Jacob Burke to end the frame. The play stranded Dominic Pitelli on second base after he singled for the Canes’ first hit since the opening inning, and Edgardo Villegas on first (single).
The rubber game of the series is set for noon Sunday at the Light. The game will be televised by the ACC Network.
This story was originally published March 5, 2022 at 8:51 PM.
