The three-run lead Florida established against Miami in the top of the first on Sunday would have been enough to secure the win, but the Gators piled on for an 11-3 win to take the season series against the Hurricanes.
Miami went to the bullpen very early in this one. Jake Garland lasted just 2 1/3 innings allowing four earned runs on five hits. The Hurricanes used nine pitchers in relief as this turned into the least competitive game of the series.
Florida’s pitching was the complete opposite of Miami’s. Kevin O’Sullivan turned the ball over to Timmy Manning for his fourth start of the year, and he surrendered just one run on three hits while picking up the win. Blake Purnell entered the game in the fifth inning with one out and wound up working through the eighth. Phillip Abner ran into some command issues in the bottom of the ninth and gave up two runs, but Ryan later closed things out after taking over.
On offense, Jud Fabian circled the bases four times for Florida and Kendrick Calilao provided the power with a solo shot in the top of the sixth. Strikeouts were down considerably from 12 per game in the first two games of the series to just six on Sunday.
In some ways, Florida needed this win to be a blowout. Friday’s loss came after four straight games of double-digit scoring for the Gators, and Saturday was close until the final frame of the ballgame. An eight-run win over the No. 22 team in the country proves that Florida’s success can come against teams better than Stetson or UNF.
Florida baseball will be back in Gainesville for two midweek games against Jacksonville, and then Seton Hall comes to town for the weekend.
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