UM ready for nemesis No. 4 UF Gators. Rivalry history and J.D. Arteaga’s take on series
The annual weekend baseball series that transforms its home site into a raucous celebration of old-fashioned college venom, is coming to the University of Miami’s Mark Light Field this weekend.
The No. 4 Florida Gators (6-2), along with their large contingent of rowdy fans, will descend on the Light and UM’s equally vociferous fans at 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday (ACC Network) and 1 p.m. Sunday in hopes of continuing their dominance in what has become a frustrating annual challenge for the unranked Hurricanes (5-3).
Since 2010, Miami has won the traditionally early season weekend series only twice against Florida — two-of-three games at Gainesville in 2021 and in Coral Gables in 2014. The last time UM swept a three-game series against Florida was at Gainesville in 2009.
“Florida is Florida,’’ said UM coach J.D. Arteaga of the Gators. “They’ve been the team to beat, the standard of the state, for quite a few years. A team like that we’ve got to beat to be where we want to be.”
However, Arteaga knows that despite this series always being extra important to the Hurricanes, it will not determine who ends up advancing to the College World Series.
“Selection Sunday is not this Sunday,’’ the coach said. “This week does not determine [who wins] the national championship and [who gets] eliminated. We need to beat teams like this to get to where we want to be. But by no means is this going to be the end of the season — good or bad.’’
The series began in 1940, and UM still leads 134-132-1.
Miami is coming off a 12-10 extra-inning loss Wednesday night, when Florida Gulf Coast scored four runs in the 12th and the home team Hurricanes stranded bases loaded after scoring two in the 12th.
“It doesn’t matter who’s coming next,’’ Arteaga said, when asked how much the loss would deflate the Canes before a huge weekend. “Nothing we could have done today would have made a difference this weekend.”
UM’s young bullpen has struggled, and Brian Walters, who had Tommy John surgery last year and was originally projected to make his return this weekend, won’t be available until next week at the earliest. The Canes, who have had at least four other relievers recently ailing or rehabbing, also lost left-handed junior Renzo Gonzalez to Tommy John Surgery two weeks ago, Arteaga said.
“Some days they do a really good job and some days they don’t,’’ UM’s coach said of his bullpen. “Natural inconsistencies of young guys. Freshmen and JUCO guys playing on this stage for the first time. Every night you learn something new.’’
UM will start right-handed junior Gage Ziehl (0-0, 7.71 ERA) on Friday against left-handed sophomore Cade Fisher (1-1, 9.00).
“This weekend is going to be totally different than what we’ve played so far,’’ said UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan, whose Gators last lost 7-4 Tuesday at Stetson. “It’ll be another road challenge for us.’’
Offensive powerhouses
While the Gators are led by two-way top-10 MLB prospect Jac Caglianone (.469), the Canes have their own exceptional hitters in true freshman infielder Daniel Cuvet (.606), a 6-3, 237-pound lifelong Hurricanes fan from Fort Lauderdale; and 6-1, 228-pound sophomore Jason Torres (.528), out of Miami Spring High.
Cuvet has five home runs, four doubles, a triple and 15 RBI. He entered the week tied for second among all Division I batters in hits (18), third in slugging (1.370) and OPS (2.067), tied for third in homers (5), sixth in batting average (.630), 11th in on-base percentage (.697) and tied for 14th in RBI (14).
Torres has five home runs and 14 RBI.
Though it’s still very early, UM has five everyday players hitting at least .300; Florida has six.
“Really excited to play tomorrow,’’ Cuvet said Thursday. “New day. New opportunity to play well and hopefully get a win.
“I don’t think anything changes. It’s just a baseball game. We’re on the same field, same stands, same ballpark. It just feels comfortable being out here, no matter who is here and who’s not.’’
Miami left-handed junior Rafe Schlesinger (1-0, 0.82), who will start Saturday, was asked to name the Gators “that pop.’’
“The big name is Caglianone,’’ Schlesinger said. “Yeah, he’s a great player, projected first-rounder. But we’re good, too.’’
