After advancing to the Super Regionals for the third straight season, Alex Panteliodis was grinning ear-to-ear, swollen with “Gator Swag.”
In a brief moment of uncensored candor, Florida’s junior lefty stated exactly why he — and possibly the entire team — relishes the opportunity to play Miami.
“I don’t really like those guys,” he said emphatically of the Hurricanes. “They always come out there and boost my ego.”
Lately, the ‘Canes don’t seem to take as much delight. For the third straight postseason, Florida torpedoed Miami’s season.
The No. 2 national seed swept the Gainesville Regional over the weekend. The Gators thrashed Manhattan on Friday and then dismantled UM over the next two days, including an 11-4 win Sunday to send Florida to a Super Regional matchup against Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi State.
The Gators again eliminated the ‘Canes backed by déjà vu performances from Panteliodis and Preston Tucker.
After years where UM frequently ruined UF’s season, the Gators have returned the favor. Florida has swept all six postseason meetings the past three years, winning 11 of the last 12 games overall.
“They’ve played very good against us,” ‘Canes coach Jim Morris said. “There for a while, we did eliminate Florida a lot of times. They’re getting even right now. … I hope it flip-flops again very soon.”
A year after Panteliodis tossed a complete game, 12 strikeout, three-hitter over Miami, the husky southpaw dominated the ‘Canes again on Sunday. The junior tossed a season-high 6.2 innings, punching out four while scattering five hits.
After laboring with consistency earlier this season, Panteliodis has pitched 12 postseason innings while allowing just a single run.
“Something sparks me against them,” the All-Regional performer said. “It fires me up. … I just go out there and give it all I’ve got.”
In his last three starts against the Hurricanes, the lefty is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 24-to-3.
“He can really pitch,” Morris said. “He’s really talented. He did a super job.”
Panteliodis was backed by tremendous run support as his teammates established an 11-run lead after just 2½ innings. Preston Tucker unloaded a three-run homer in the first inning, ambushing a first-pitch fastball for a towering shot over the foul pole in right.
The junior was named the Gainesville Regional MVP after collecting six extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in three games.
“He knew going into the weekend that without Austin [Maddox] and Brian [Johnson] he needed to step up,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He did that. I’m awfully proud of the way he handled that and was able to deliver.”
Tucker unloaded a trio of bombs during the regional, tying a school-record for postseason round-trippers.
“I’m just barreling balls up,” he said. “Whenever I see an opportunity, I’m trying to drive in runs.”
As a freshman two years ago, Tucker was also named regional MVP after battering pitching — mostly Miami’s — for nine hits, including a pair of dingers and six RBIs.
“He’s an outstanding player, goodness gracious,” Morris said. “He always plays good against us. I don’t know what he’s hitting against us, but it seems like .900 or something.”
Tucker (2 for 4, five RBIs on Sunday) led UF’s eight-run explosion in the third. The Gators sent 13 to the plate, tallying six hits including run-scoring knocks from Tyler Thompson (All-Regional left fielder), Daniel Pigott (All-Regional designated hitter), Vickash Ramjit (3 for 4, one RBI) and Tucker.
