Florida Baseball Knocks Wind Out Of Hurricanes For Series Sweep

It was looking bleak for the top-ranked Florida Gators baseball team as they headed into the top of the ninth inning on Sunday with a two-run deficit as eighth-ranked Miami led 5-3.

But then Miami imploded.

Closer E.J. Espinosa and reliever Chris Diaz couldn’t find the strike zone and the Gators took advantage by rallying for an 8-5 win for a series sweep that gives the Gators an 11 game winning streak against the Canes.

In the ninth, Nolan Fontana drew a leadoff walk and Daniel Pigott was hit by a pitch.   One out later, Mike Zunino hit a wind aided double that tied the score at 5-5.   The double extended Zunino’s hitting streak to 14 games.

A wild pitch moved Zunino to third and then Encinosa hit Taylor Gushue with a pitch.   A wild pitch scored Zunino with the lead run  and moved Gushue to second.   Austin Maddox walked and that ended the day for Encinosa but Diaz couldn’t do much either in relief as he walked Casey Turgeon to load the bases.

Diaz walked Cody Dent to force in another run and the Gators added another run off as new reliever Adam Sargent gave up a run scoring single to Tyler Thompson to complete Florida’s rally.

The Hurricanes managed to get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth but they could not score and Florida came away with the win and the sweep.

The Gators (10-1) will head back to Gainesville to take on Florida Atlantic University (8-4) Tuesday at 7 p.m.

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