Florida Launches Seven Homers in Rout of Rival Miami
The grass of the outfield berm was covered with blankets, some of the 5,673 fans in attendance and flying baseballs as Florida hit a program-record seven home runs, including three straight, to dismantle rival Miami 22-10 in the Gainesville Regional at Condron Family Ballpark.
The synchronized claps and Gator chomps from the stands seemed to hypnotize Miami pitchers in the sixth inning, and in the blink of an eye, an 8-8 game became a seven-run Florida lead.
“I can’t explain tonight. It’s just one of those nights we swung the bats really well,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.
With runners on first and second and two outs in the sixth inning, Miami shortstop Vance Sheahan fielded a routine ground ball. Sheahan chose to get the lead runner at third, but Florida’s Kyle Jones slid in safely while avoiding the tag.
With the bases loaded, Miami walked back-to-back batters, forcing in two runs. As the crowd refused to give Miami pitchers and fielders a second to breathe, the Hurricanes committed their fourth error of the game. Then, with a chance at redemption, the ball found its way back to Sheahan at shortstop. He was just as surprised as everyone else when it slipped under his glove and rolled into the outfield.
Miami continued to hand Florida opportunities, and Jones stepped back to the plate for his second at-bat of the inning. He cleaned up the mess with a bases-clearing double, extending the lead and putting Florida ahead 15-8.
Loading ...Miami used nine pitchers throughout the game, averaging one per inning. Florida scored seven runs on only one hit in an inning filled with errors, wild pitches and walks in the sixth inning.
Trying to outdo themselves, the Gators stepped to the plate in the eighth inning with one thing on their minds — swinging.
Florida hit four home runs in the inning, going back-to-back-to-back before fans even had a chance to sit down. The Gators set a program record with five home runs in a single inning as Cade Kurland, Brendan Lawson, Blake Cyr, Ethan Surowiec and Karson Bowen watched the ball leave the yard.
Despite the lopsided score, Miami outhit Florida 16-15.
“A lot of it had to do with our fans,” Kevin O’Sullivan said. “This is my 19th year and that’s the best its ever been, by far. I really appreciate people staying as long as they did.”
“I look forward to having a great crowd tomorrow too,” he added.
The fireworks had already begun when the first batter stepped into the box in the first inning.
Jake Ogden stepped to the plate staring down Florida ace Aidan King. Ogden got a hold of the pitch and watched it leave the yard, briefly silencing a ballpark that had been full of belief moments earlier.
Florida responded in the bottom half of the inning. Capitalizing on the wind carrying the ball and the energy of the crowd, the Gators sent 11 batters to the plate. Cade Kurland’s three-run homer, highlighted a six-run first inning.
King came out for the second inning inspired by his teammates’ run support. Taking advantage of the momentum, he retired all three batters he faced. The cracks soon appeared, however, and the SEC Pitcher of the Year began to struggle.
With a high pitch count following him throughout the night, King lasted three innings, allowing eight hits and six earned runs.
The story was much the same in the visitors’ dugout.
Hurricanes starter AJ Ciscar, who had thrown seven innings against Florida earlier this season, lasted just two-thirds of an inning. He allowed five hits and six runs, though only one was earned. Through four innings, Miami had committed three errors, two of which led directly to Florida runs.
It was a back-and-forth battle throughout the night as the Hurricanes tried to erase Florida’s lead.
In the fourth inning, Miami laid down back-to-back bunts, taking advantage of Florida’s shaky infield defense. With the bases loaded and no outs, a single and a wild pitch allowed two runs to score.
The Hurricanes kept coming in the fifth.
With the bases loaded again, Florida turned to right-handers Luke McNeillie and Jackson Barberi. A bases-loaded walk and a fielder’s choice brought home two more runs as Miami scored at least two runs in three consecutive innings to tie the game at 8-8.
Entering the eighth inning, Miami began its second attempt to erase a Florida lead. Despite scoring two runs, it was too late.
Barberi steadied the ship, pitching 3 2/3 innings while allowing three hits and two runs. He also threw a career-high 62 pitches.
“If he doesn’t pitch the way he does tonight, we’re still playing. It was really good to see him bounce back,” O’Sullivan said.
After a 4-hour, 14-minute game, Florida advanced to the winners bracket and will face the winner of Sunday’s 1 p.m. game between Troy and Miami. With a victory, Florida would advance to the Super Regionals.
Sunday’s start time is set for 5 p.m., though fans should monitor weather conditions for potential updated start times.
“Tomorrow’s a new day, it doesn’t matter how many runs you put up, you have to do the same thing day after day,” Kurland said. “It’s as simple as that.”
Category: Feature Sports News, Gators Baseball
