Miami Falls to Florida in Regional Matchup
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes baseball team (39-19, 16-14) dropped their Saturday game against the Florida Gators by a final score of 22-10. The Gators unloaded with seven runs in the sixth and eighth frame to cruise to victory after Miami tied it in the fifth.
Jake Ogden started the high-intensity rivalry regional matchup with a solo shot to deep right-center field to put the Hurricanes out in front, 1-0. This marks the second time this season that Miami opened a game with Ogden fireworks, the first coming in Miami’s win over the UCF Knights baseball team on March 11.
Max Galvin then followed with a sliding double, then Derek Williams got on by a hit by pitch. After an Alex Sosa infield popup, the Gators turned a crucial double play to bring momentum to the home crowd quickly.
Florida carried that momentum into the bottom of the inning, putting up six runs off five hits and capitalizing on two Miami errors.
After Kyle Jones was hit by a pitch to open the frame, Brendan Lawson lined a single to center to put runners on the corners. An infield throwing error by Miami shortstop Vance Sheahan allowed Blake Cyr to reach safely while Jones crossed the plate to tie the game at one.
The Gators continued their offensive attack with a sacrifice fly from Ethan Surowiec that brought home Lawson, before Caden McDonald punched a single into left field to keep the inning alive. Following another Miami error on a dropped foul ball from third baseman Gabriel Milano, Karson Bowen ripped an RBI single to score Cyr and extend Florida’s advantage to 3-1.
With two outs, Cade Kurland delivered the big blow of the inning, launching a three-run homer down the left field line to cap the six-run outburst and give Florida a 6-1 lead after the first, ending starter AJ Ciscar’s night early.
But Miami clawed back in the top of the third, scoring three two-out runs to try to keep up with the Gators.
After two quick outs, Max Galvin and Derek Williams notched back-to-back singles to extend the inning. Alex Sosa then stepped up to the plate and delivered, on a 1-1 count, an RBI double to bring in Galvin and move the score to 6-2. Freshman Alonzo Alvarez continued his electric postseason with a two-RBI single up the middle to close in on Florida’s lead, 6-4.
The Gator bats remained hot, and in the third, Bowen returned to the plate and launched a solo homer to give Florida an insurance run and bumping the score to 7-4.
The shootout continued in the middle innings as Miami registered two runs to make it a one-run ballgame. Milano opened the frame with a single to center field and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch before Vance Sheahan lined an RBI single back up the middle to plate Milano and cut the deficit to 7-5.
After Florida made a pitching change to take out Aidan King after three innings, the Hurricanes continued to pressure the Gators as Fabio Peralta dropped down a bunt single and Ogden followed with another bunt single down the third-base line to load the bases with nobody out. Max Galvin then reached on a fielder’s choice, but Florida notched the force out at the plate for the inning’s first out.
Following a strikeout, Miami added another run when a wild pitch allowed Peralta to score from third while Galvin and Ogden advanced into scoring position, trimming Florida’s lead to 7-6.
Miami continued its comeback effort in the top of the fifth, plating two runs to even the game at eight and erasing its original five-run deficit. Alvarez started the rally with a single through the left side before Dylan Dubovik followed with a base hit to left field to put two runners aboard with nobody out.
After a strikeout, Sheahan delivered again for the Hurricanes, lining a single to left field to load the bases with one out. Peralta then worked a bases-loaded walk to bring home Alvarez to make it a one-run game once more.
Moments later, Ogden reached on a fielder’s choice to shortstop, allowing Dubovik to score the tying run while Peralta was retired at second base. Miami threatened for more, but Florida escaped the inning with the game tied heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Florida broke the 8-8 tie with a crooked number in the bottom of the sixth, on more Miami errors to score seven runs. The Gators loaded the bases before Bowen drew a bases-loaded walk to force home Jones and give Florida a 9-8 lead. Moments later, Ashton Stripling worked another RBI walk to bring home Cyr and extend the advantage to two. With the pressure mounting, Kurland reached on a throwing error by Sheahan, allowing McDonald to score while the inning continued to unravel for Miami.
Florida added another run on a wild pitch that brought home Bowen before Jones delivered the biggest hit of the inning, ripping a three-run double to right field to plate three unearned runs and cap the seven-run frame. The Gators sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning and surged in front 15-8 heading into the seventh.
The Hurricanes notched two RBI singles to move the score to 15-10 in the top of the eighth, but Florida responded with another long ball from Kurland, bumping the score to 16-10.
The Gators pulled away again in the eighth, tallying five home runs to seal the deal.
Miami will now face Troy at 12 p.m. eastern time in an elimination game. Live coverage will be provided on ESPN+ and WVUM 90.5 FM.
To stay up to date with the University of Miami baseball team, be sure to follow @canesbaseball on Instagram, X and Facebook.
JD ARTEAGA & MAX GALVIN | POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE | 5.31.26
