Miami Welcomes No. 1 Florida for Rivalry Series
#24 Miami (2-2, 0-0 ACC) vs. #1 Florida (5-0, 0-0 SEC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule | Game Notes
Feb. 23-25, 2018 | 7 p.m. | 7 p.m. | 12 p.m.
Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field | Coral Gables, Fla.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Continuing a season-opening, seven-game homestand, No. 24 Miami is looking for its second straight series win when it hosts No. 1 Florida in a rivalry weekend at Mark Light Field beginning Friday, Feb. 23. First pitch for the series opener is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra and WVUM 90.5 FM.
Senior lefthander Jeb Bargfeldt (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will oppose Florida junior righthander Brady Singer (1-0, 0.00 ERA) Friday night.
Miami (2-2) dropped its midweek matchup with visiting Missouri on Feb. 21, but captured two of three games against Rutgers during opening weekend.
The Hurricanes offense was unable to come through against the Tigers, who were led by starter Brian Sharp’s five shutout innings.
When asked what Miami specifically needs to do to rebound from Wednesday’s loss, senior Michael Burns’ answer was simple:
“Hit,” Burns said. “Hit, and make better adjustments throughout the game.”
Head coach Jim Morris continues to shuffle a lineup that consisted of five newcomers, a redshirt freshman catcher and one first-time starter Wednesday.
“It’s going to get tougher. It’s not going to get easier, it’s going to get tougher, as I told them in our team meeting,” Morris said. “We’re going to have to suck it up and get it done as a team. We have to stay together and keep working hard.
“These guys have been working hard, but they have to adjust, they have to mentally mature as a team.”
Bargfeldt is looking to build on his Opening Day nod. The Oklahoma native, who was a second-team All-ACC selection a season ago, picked up where he left off with five innings of one-run ball. Bargfeldt, who ranked second in the ACC in ERA as a junior, has allowed two or fewer runs in 13 of his 16 career starts at The U.
Florida is off to a 5-0 start, with a series sweep of Siena (Feb. 16-18) and midweek wins at home over FAU (Feb. 20) and Bethune-Cookman (Feb. 21).
The Hurricanes captured Game 1 and Game 2 against the Scarlet Knights, with junior Danny Reyes leading the offensive charge for the hosts. Reyes, who was named ACC Co-Player of the Week Monday for his standout weekend at the plate, batted .727 for the series with one home run, four doubles and four RBI. His .727 average was the fifth-highest in Division I after the first weekend of action across the nation.
One of the opening weekend’s storylines was Miami’s “Fab 5” freshmen, who comprise the starting infield. Four true freshmen – first baseman Alex Toral, second baseman Willy Escala, shortstop Freddy Zamora and third baseman Raymond Gil – join redshirt freshman catcher Michael Amditis in the Hurricanes’ infield. Toral homered for his first career collegiate hit, becoming the first Hurricane to do so since All-American slugger Zack Collins did so in 2014.
All five players have started all four games this season, though their position in the batting order has changed.
Another freshman who has impressed is righthander Daniel Federman, who has yet to allow a run in 5.2 innings spanning three appearances this season.
