CORAL GABLES, Fla.—Florida dug its own grave on Saturday against Miami. Early miscues led to an early two-run deficit. One mistake in the sixth inning killed any chances of a comeback.
Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan took out right-handed reliever Eric Hanhold for left-hander Danny Young to face freshman designated hitter Zack Collins. The freshman, 0 for 16 at the plate before stepping into the box, sent the first fastball he saw over the right-field wall into the palm trees just beyond it. His first-career hit gave Miami its final score of 5-2.
The win clinched Miami's (4-2) first series against Florida (4-3) since 2009.
"Obviously you're never expecting him to hit a three-run homer, especially off of Danny," junior Justin Shafer said. "He's been nails all year. It's bound to happen, but you're expecting something like that."
Hurricanes coach Jim Morris thought about pinch-hitting Collins in that spot. He sat the freshman on Friday from the high school powerhouse American Heritage Plantation in favor of Jacob Heyward.
"The coaches all feel that Zack is one of our best hitters," Morris said. "I talked to him before his at-bat and said, 'Zack I know you can hit. Lets get it done right here.' I just wasn't expecting a home run."
All-American left-hander Bryan Radziewski held the Gators to two runs in 5.2 innings. The junior kept Florida at bay with a mixture of four-seam and two-seam fastballs, sliders and curveballs. Florida chased him in the top half of the sixth, with the game tied at two apiece, on a Ryan Larson sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Florida's head-scratching blunders started in the second inning when Braden Mattson reached on a dropped fly ball by former Gators infielder Tyler Palmer in left field. Radziewski picked Mattson off at second with junior Shafer at the plate.
Sophomore Richie Martin led off two innings later with a successful push bunt in between first base and second base. Turgeon reached on a bunt of his own. The two advanced a base on Pete Alonso's fielder's choice to Radziewski following a strikeout of Taylor Gushue.
With Mattson up, Radziewski picked off Martin who took for home on his own. The out call to end the inning brought O'Sullivan out of the dugout to chat with third base umpire Scott Erby.
"We have to get better on the little things. We had people on first and second with nobody out and didn't get a run out of it. We've had that a few times. We just have to do a better job of scoring runs."
Added O'Sullivan: "Against good pitchers, you can only get so many cracks and so many opportunities. You got to take advantage of them when you get them, because he's a really quality pitcher."
Florida starter, freshman right-hander Brett Morales, perservered through four innings that could've ended much worse had he'd not used his changeup at key spots. He improved upon his first-career start last Saturday against Maryland when he lasted just 3.1 innings.
"He battled in and out of trouble. I thought he located better than he did his first start," O'Sullivan said. "I thought his changeup was better, but obviously when you start, you have to have all three pitches. His breaking ball wasn't there for him tonight, and it's been a really good pitch for him. I think moving forward he's going to have to have all three pitches going from starts. Once he figures that out and does that, I think he has a chance to be really good."
Junior right-hander Karsten Whitson takes the hill for Sunday's noon finale attempting to prevent getting swept by Miami for the first time in six seasons. Whitson had a down outing in his first start coming back from season ending shoulder surgery in 2013.
Miami counters with junior left-hander Andrew Suarez who arrived in Coral Gables as a Toronto Blue Jays' ninth-round pick. He missed all of 2012 with shoulder surgery as well. The agenda is simple for Florida—get out of dodge with a win.
The Hurricanes have lifted the demons brought about by constant domination from the bats of players like Preston Tucker and Mike Zunino and the arms of Hudson Randall and Brian Johnson. Now, it's Florida's turn to avoid an early-season sweep.
Florida had won 13 of 14 heading into the series opener on Friday.
"We have to get out of here with a win," Shafer said. "We can't have a sweep happen."
Follow Adam Pincus at @adamDpincus
Sophomore Justin Shafer swings during Florida’s 16-5 win against Duke on Sunday at McKethan Stadium.
