Florida Gators overpower Miami Hurricanes with 5 HRs

Miami, Florida  – The fourth-ranked Florida Gators bested the Miami Hurricanes 8-4 thanks to an effective performance from MLB Draft prospect Jac Caglianone. Considered one of the best of the 2024 class, the two-way athlete spun six scoreless innings three-hitting the opposition and striking out 11. Caglianone also hits. Finishing the day going three-for-five, the southpaw obliterated the ball with a solo homer in the fifth. Caglianone is currently hitting .478 for the season.

The Miami Mashers, meanwhile, did no such thing. UM found few opportunities and did not capitalize. Late-game heroics from Dorian Gonzalez Jr. in the form of an eighth-inning grand slam briefly made the game competitive. Within the Gators’ barrage, Tyler Shelnut was ejected in the fourth due to excessive celebrating. With the loss the Hurricanes are now 6-5. They host Stonehill on Wednesday.

DO. NOT. COUNT. OUT. THE. CANES.

DORIAN DELIVERS A PINCH HIT GRAND SLAM!!

📺: https://t.co/jWDGqXqSTu pic.twitter.com/rkvfrORO4I

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) March 3, 2024

Struggles at the plate

Miami made a costly fielding mistake in the first. With two outs, shortstop Antonio Jimenez botched a hard-hit grounder allowing a runner to get aboard. With their turn at the plate extended, Colby Shelton lifted one past the left-field fence making it 2-0 Gators.

Bullying the opposition!#GoCanes pic.twitter.com/9h59lrxtFv

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) March 3, 2024

The Hurricanes made some noise in the third. Edgardo Villegas smacked his fifth double of the year, stealing third to get within striking distance. However, after Blake Cyr drew the walk Daniel Cuvet grounded to short stranding the runners. Florida barraged UM with back-to-back dingers in the fourth doubling their lead. If that weren’t enough, UF’s starting pitcher destroyed the ball air mailing it to right field the following frame.

UM squandered another chance to put runs on the board during the sixth when Lorenzo Carrier whiffed with two runners in scoring position.

Dorian Gonzalez on the team's struggles at the plate today#GoCanes || #ItsAllAboutTheU pic.twitter.com/Gy0gOSQfO7

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) March 3, 2024

Just when everything seemed lost for the Hurricanes, Gonzalez Jr. pinch-hit for Carrier in the eighth muscling a bases-loaded homer off the scoreboard. The grand slam turned it into a 6-4 contest heading into the final inning. Unfortunately for the home crowd, the glimmers of hope were dashed in the ninth. Florida answered back with its fifth homer of the afternoon. Shelton took Canes reliever Nick Robert deep to dead-center cranking out a two-run blast.

Impressions

To be honest, I was not expecting the Hurricanes to win the series. The worst-case scenario was being swept at the Light. If they took even one game, I’d have been content. They did just that. As far as Sunday goes, outside of the grand slam the Canes hitting was terrible. As JD mentioned, the squad made no adjustments at the dish eventually becoming too little too late. Pitching-wise, UM just couldn’t keep it in the ballpark. The first dinger should never have happened but that costly home run was a portent of things to come.

The message fans should be taking after this weekend.#GoCanes || #ItsAllAboutTheU pic.twitter.com/bEJj6QxrLA

— Gabriel Garcia (@Gabewritesports) March 4, 2024

Against the fourth-best team in the country and arguably the best guy in this year’s draft I’m happy with Saturday’s triumph. The team has proven it can fight and the Miami Hurricanes did so against their rivals the Florida Gators.

Gus Bus Award

Dorian Gonzalez of course, he came in clutch.

You’re Killing Me Smalls

Lorenzo Carrier did not have a good day. 0 for 3 striking out every time.