ChompTalk.com

Alex Philpott entered the game for the Florida Gators in the top of the ninth. With a 6-2 cushion, the sophomore righty needed just three outs to close out a statement rivalry win against the Miami Hurricanes.

He’d sit the side in order, punching the final out to hand the Gators their 10th win in the last 11 matchups against Miami.

No. 8 Florida (10-0) defeated Miami (8-2) 5-2 Friday night to open the weekend series. Gators starting pitcher Liam Peterson was awarded the win with 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB and 7 K.

“He did a heck of a job,” said Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. “Even after the first inning, he kept it together. Last year, he wouldn’t have been able to.”

Miami struck first in the opening frame. Third baseman Daniel Cuvet doubled before shortstop Jake Ogden plated him with an RBI single. Peterson picked up two strikeouts to close the frame without allowing any more damage.

The Gators wouldn’t wait around to respond. A pair of singles from Cade Kurland and former Hurricane Blake Cyr set up Luke Heyman to walk in Brendan Lawson, who was plunked to reach base, for the tying run. After two, the game was even at one run a piece.

In the top of the third, Peterson’s early struggles from last year reared their head again. He hit a batter and walked another on the way to loading the bases, before missing on a pitch that allowed a runner to score. He’d pick up his fifth strikeout of the night to finally ease the jam.

“I feel like last year I kind of let the innings roll over a lot,” said Peterson. “Today I handled that pretty well.”

Once again, UF did not hesitate to swing back. Third baseman Bobby Boser launched one over the away bullpen to tie up the ballgame once again. Lawson followed suit with a deep shot to center for the 3-2 lead.

Miami went to right-handed reliever Carson Fischer in the sixth. He’d work his way into loaded bases, prompting ‘Canes coach JD Martinez to swap him for righty freshman AJ Ciscar.

He’d let up a sacrifice fly to Hayden Yost before the Gators ended the inning up 4-2.

Left-handed sophomore Frank Menendez took over for Peterson in the seventh. He gave up a single before striking out two to close the frame.

The Gators would add some more insurance in the seventh with an RBI single from Lawson to make it a 5-2 lead.

Right-hander Luke McNeillie took over for Menendez in the eighth. He sat the side in order with a strikeout to boot. Boser added another run with an RBI single to make it 6-2 headed into the ninth.

“I’m just trying to do my job up at the plate,” said Boser. “I think we’ve got a lot to prove with the stick, we’ve done a pretty good job and I’m glad to be in the middle of it.”

McNeillie handed the ball over the Philpott for the close. He got the job done and the Gators secured the win.

Florida looks to secure the series tomorrow. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. LHP Pierce Coppola (2-0, 0.00 ERA) will start on the mound. The game will stream on ESPN SEC Network+.