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Florida Gators win the Miami series behind Luke Heyman homers

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•03/01/25•

ZachAbolverdi

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Florida catcher Luke Heyman. (Photo by @GatorsBB)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After a 6-2 win in Friday’s opener, the No. 8 Florida Gators defeated Miami 6-3 on Saturday to take the series — and the all-time series lead.

Florida (11-0) got two homers from Luke Heyman, nine hits on offense and 10 strikeouts by the pitching staff. Pierce Coppola and Aidan King threw three Ks apiece.

When Kevin O’Sullivan started at Florida, the Hurricanes led the series 117-93. The Gators now hold the edge 136-135-1 with a 43-18 record under O’Sullivan.

The announced attendance Saturday was a record-breaking 9,303, which marked the largest campus crowd for a Florida baseball game in program history.

Here are live updates from Saturday’s game.

Florida vs. Miami Live Blog

END OF 8TH: FLORIDA 6, MIAMI 2

Heyman hit his second homer of the game to put the Gators back up by four runs. After Luke McNeillie gave up a two-run shot to Daniel Cuvet, Florida RHP Alex Philpott replaced him on the mound and struck out Derek Williams swinging to end the inning.

END OF 7TH: FLORIDA 4, MIAMI 0

Florida reliever Frank Menendez tossed a scoreless first frame with a strikeout, a hit and a walk. Miami’s Lazaro Collera had a 1-2-3 frame in his first inning of work.

END OF 6TH: FLORIDA 4, MIAMI 0

A three-hit, three-run inning for the Gators with a two-run homer by catcher Luke Heyman and an RBI double by DH Landon Stripling. King gave up no hits for the second time in three frames.

END OF 5TH: FLORIDA 1, MIAMI 0

Colby Shelton connects for the team’s fourth hit, but the Gators leave two on as Miami’s Griffin struck out a couple more (10 Ks). King gave up his first hit in the fifth but responded with his third strikeout.

END OF 4TH: FLORIDA 1, MIAMI 0

Bobby Boser blasted his second homer of the series to give Florida the lead. Three up and three down for Aidan King in his first full frame. He struck out Jake Ogden looking for his second K.

END OF 3RD: FLORIDA 0, MIAMI 0

Two more Gators struck out swinging in the third and starting pitcher Pierce Coppola left the game with an injury. He finished with three strikeouts, two walks and no hits in 2.2 innings (40 P, 22 S).

END OF 2ND: FLORIDA 0, MIAMI 0

Another 1-2-3 frame by Coppola, who tossed his first two strikeouts of the game. Landon Stripling had UF’s first hit but was stranded as Miami’s Griffin Hugus fanned two more Gators.

END OF 1ST: FLORIDA 0, MIAMI 0

A 1-2-3 frame for both pitchers to open game as Florida’s first three batters all strike out swinging. UF second baseman Cade Kurland suffered a left shoulder injury making a throw to first and left the game.

Florida Gators Starting Lineup

1. RF Hayden Yost
2. 3B Bobby Boser
3. SS Colby Shelton
4. 1B Brendan Lawson
5. 2B Cade Kurland
6. DH Landon Stripling
7. LF Blake Cyr
8. C Luke Heyman
9. CF Justin Nadeau

SP: LHP Pierce Coppola

Florida-Miami Game Notes

  • Florida’s 10-game winning streak is the team’s longest since winning 16 in a row to open the 2020 season.
  • The Gators have knocked at least eight hits in all 10 games and 10-plus in eight of 10.
  • Florida tied the all-time series against Miami at 135-135-1 with tonight’s win.
    • Florida is 80-51-1 in the series at home.
    • The Gators are 42-18 overall and 22-9 in Gainesville in the series under coach Kevin O’Sullivan.
    • Florida is 23-8 across the last 31 meetings with Miami and has won nine of the last 10 series.

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