CORAL GABLES, Florida- The Florida Gators bounced back from Friday night’s loss with a 8-1 win over the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday at Alex Rodriguez Park. The Gators snapped a three game losing streak to the Canes with this win. For the second consecutive night pitching was domainant for the majority of the night, before the Gators pulled away in the ninth.
After the loss on Friday night, the Gators needed a bounce back in a big way. They got that in the form of sophomore right hander Brandon Sproat. Sproat gave the Gators a solid 6.1 innings of shutout ball. Sproat struck out 8 while only allowing four hits and walking one. The Gators righty was able to earn his second win, improving to 2-1 on the young season.
The Gators jumped out out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, after Colby Halter scored on an error after a lead off double. Florida would hold onto the 1-0 lead until the third inning when they extedned the lead to 3-0 on a two run home run by Jud Fabian. The home run was preceded by a wild sequence. After Miami starter Karson Ligon got the first two batters in the inning out, he appeared to strike out the third batter of the inning, but their was a dropped thrid strike. Fabian then deposited a Ligon pitch over the wall to extend the Gators lead to 3-0.
This was really the only blemish on an otherwise good performance from the Canes starter. Ligon went seven innings while striking out 8 and allowing three hits. Ligon was forced to take a tough loss as the Canes bats were unable to give him any run support. Ligon left with the Canes trailing 3-0 in the seventh.
Miami would score one run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make things interesting, when Yohandy Morales singled in CJ Kayfus to cut the score to 3-1. Back to back strikeouts for the Canes ended their rally and the score would stay at 3-1 going into the ninth inning. In the top half of the inning, the Gators would blow the game wide open. Buoyed by a three run home run by Kenny Calilao, the Gators scored 5 runs, extending their lead to 8-1. Nick Ficcarrotta who came in for Sproat would go the final 2.2 innings to secure the Gators win, forcing the rubber match.
With the win the Gators improve to 9-3, while the Hurricanes fall to 8-2 on the year. Game three is set for Sunday at 12pm eastern and will be on ACC Network.
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