Mike Zunino Helps Florida Baseball Sweep Miami, 8-5

Top-ranked Florida (10-1) rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth to sweep the No. 8 Miami Hurricanes (8-3), 8-5. The ninth inning saw ten Gators come to the plate, with MIke Zunino coming through in the clutch. His RBI double knotted the game at five and his run scored on a wild pitch put the Gators up for good. With the hit in the ninth, Zunino stretched his hitting streak to 14 games. Johnathon Crawford started the game for Florida, but Johnny Magliozzi (1-0) picked up his first win as a Gator while Daniel Gibson picked up his first career save, getting the final out on a strikeout. The 'Canes closer, E.J. Encinosa (0-1) took the loss, giving up five runs, two walks, and two wild pitches in one innings works.

The Gators struck first in the game on Casey Turgeon's RBI double, which was greatly helped by the windy conditions in Coral Gables. The Hurricanes came back, scoring three runs on four hits. Chantz Mack knotted up the score with an RBI grounder and Stephen Perez dragged a bunt up the first base line to put Miami on top. Jarred Mederos singled in Julian Santos after Santos hit a two-out triple to put the game at 3-1.

Nolan Fontana cut into the Hurricanes lead with a leadoff home run in the fifth to cut the lead to one at 3-2. In the home half of the inning, Brad Fieger put Miami back up by two with an infield, RBI single. Daniel Pigott once again cut into the 'Canes lead with a fielder's choice which scored Josh Tobias to bring the game to 4-3.

Peter O'Brien, aided by a Tobias throwing error, brought in Dale Carey on a sac fly to end their scoring at 5-3. But the Gators weren't done. Zunino hit his RBI double to knot the game for five, then scored on a wild pitch to put the Gators ahead for good, 6-5. Cody Dent took a bases loaded walk to bring in pinch-runner Vickash Ramjit and Tyler Thompson knocked a ball that ricocheted off the second base bag to bring in another pinch runner, Connor Mitchell, and put the final score on the board, 8-5.

Florida in the series hit a blistering .365, notching at least 10 hits in each game, with eight doubles, five home runs. The Gators also won their 11th straight against the Hurricanes and 14 of the past 15 games overall. UF's bullpen also came through, throwing 13 2/3 innings, going 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA while striking out 18. Florida also improved to 6-1 on the season against ranked teams with their only loss coming on the third game of their opening series against Cal State Fullerton.

Florida's next game comes Tuesday back at the friendly confines of McKethan Stadium against the Florida Atlantic Owls (8-4). The Gators beat the Owls 13-2 last season in Jupiter, FL. The game marks a stretch of ten straight home games.