Miami baseball can't hold two early leads losing first game of series at Florida

Miami lost a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second and a 2-1 lead midway through the third in a 6-2 loss at Florida on Friday night in the first game of a three-game series. Florida ended a five-game Miami winning streak with the victory. No. 8 Florida improved to 10-0 with the win.

Miami opened the scoring in the first inning when a single by shortstop Jake Ogden drove in third baseman Daniel Cuvet who doubled. Ogden advanced to second on the throw, but designated hitter Bobby Marsh struck out to end the inning. Nick Robert set Florida down in order in the bottom of the first to maintain the 1-0 lead.

Miami regained the lead in the top of the third when Michael Torres scored on a wild pitch. Florida answered on home runs by Bobby Boser and Brendan Lawson to tie and take the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning. Miami had only three hits after falling behind as Florida earned the win.

Boser had three hits in four at-bats with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Lawson had two hits in three at-bats with three runs scored and two RBIs. Florida starter Liam Peterson went six innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs with seven strikeouts.

Robert pitched five innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs with two walks and seven strikeouts. Peterson and three relievers combined to strike out Miami 12 times. Frank Menendez struck out the side in the seventh for Miami in relief of Peterson.

First pitch for Miami and Florida is at 4:30 PM on Saturday and 1:00 PM on Sunday. Left-hander Pierce Coppola (2-0, 1.80 ERA) starts for Florida on Saturday versus right-hander Griffin Hugus (2-0, 1.50 ERA) for Miami. Florida throws RHP Jake Clemente (1-0, 1.80 ERA) versus RHP Brian Walters (2-0, 0.82 ERA) for Miami on Sunday.