Canes Toppled by Gators in Series Finale

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The eighth-ranked University of Miami Hurricanes wrapped up their three-game set with the visiting No. 1 Florida Gators in disappointing fashion on Sunday, dropping the series finale at Alex Rodriguez Park by a final score of 8-5.

The Hurricanes were in control of the game until the ninth inning, when the Gators produced five of their eight total runs to recapture a late lead. Closer E.J. Encinosa (0-1), charged with all five runs in the game’s final frame, blew his first save opportunity of the season in the loss.

Florida would open the game’s scoring, as a second-inning double from Casey Turgeon plated first baseman Taylor Gushue to give the Gators an early 1-0 lead. The Hurricanes would strike back in the bottom of the inning, however, as Brad Fieger began the frame with a lead-off single. Freshman Esteban Tresgallo, riding the third-longest hitting streak in the Atlantic Coast Conference at nine games, doubled to centerfield and advance Fieger to third.

RBI groundouts from Chantz Mack and Stephen Perez gave the Canes a 2-1 advantage, while a triple from Julian Santos would turn into Miami’s third run of the inning on a Jarred Mederos RBI single.

Radziewski would allow only two more runs the rest of the way, including a solo homerun from centerfielder Daniel Pigott in the fifth inning. Just as they had done for much of their series, the Hurricanes fought back; an RBI single from Fieger built the team’s lead to 4-2 by the end of the fifth.

With the Canes sporting a 5-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the eighth, Encinosa recorded the final two outs of the inning. A disastrous ninth inning, however, where the Miami native hit two batters, threw two wild pitches, and walked two more, led to an explosion from the Gators.

Florida scored five runs in the inning, as the Canes needed both Christian Diaz and Adam Sargent in relief to finish the game’s final frame. Miami threatened in the bottom of the inning, as senior catcher Peter O’Brien (0-for-2) reached on a walk and advanced on a Fieger single through the left side. But a flyout from Tresgallo and a strikeout from Chantz Mack ended the Canes’ hopes of avoiding the sweep.

The Hurricanes offense was led by Fieger (3-for-5, RBI) and Mederos (3-for-4, RBI), who combined for six of the Canes’ 10 total hits. The Gators were led offensively by shortstop Nolan Fontana (2-for-5, homerun), rightfielder Preston Tucker (2-or-5), and catcher Mike Zunino (1-for-4, double, two RBI).

Miami returns to action on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. exhibition game against the Miami Marlins at the brand new Marlins Park. They return to regular season play the following day, with a 6 p.m start time scheduled for their midweek battle with Miami (Ohio).