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Three keys for Florida Baseball to overcome the Miami Hurricanes this weekend

The Gators are in Coral Gables for a three game series

Florida utility Jac Caglianone (14) is congratulated by the team after a two-run home run during the
Florida utility Jac Caglianone (14) is congratulated by the team after a two-run home run during the / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA
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Florida Baseball is off to a 6-2 start on the season following a mid-week split where they lost to Stetson but knocked off Bethune-Cookman.

This weekend will be a three game set against the 5-3 Miami Hurricanes in a series that is sure to deliver fireworks if last year's series is any indication.

The following are the three keys for the Gators to emerge from the weekend with a series win.

Florida Baseball: Tropical Depression

Contain Daniel Cuvet

Listed at 6'3" and 237 pounds, freshman Daniel Cuvet is built more like a tight end than a baseball player. Cuvet was the top ranked third baseman in the country in the class of 2023 and has gotten off to a great start to his college career.

Cuvet is currently 4th in the country in batting average at .606. He has more home runs (5) than he does strike outs (4). He has a hit in all eight games the Hurricanes have played.

In fact Miami's lineup as a whole is solid, currently 18th in the country with a team batting average of .346.

Stay Patient, But Not Too Patient

Florida is doing a decent job at drawing walks this season with 55 base on balls through their eight games. That clocks in at 33rd in the country.

Florida's on base percentage is also solid at 28th in the country with a team average of .452.

And so while we want to Florida to stay patient at the plate, Miami is not a team that has walked a ton of guys and will pound the strike zone. The Hurricanes are only walking 3.36 guys per nine innings, 39th best in the country.

Deeper Outing From Jac Caglianone

After opening weekend was rained out, Jac Caglianone had to make his pitching debut last Sunday against Columbia. Florida won the game 12-5 to complete the sweep, but Caglianone's day on the mound was done after three innings.

He threw 56 pitches in those three innings, and while he did strike out seven guys he also walked two and gave up two hits en route to giving up three runs.

When Caglianone is on, he can overpower hitters. But when he struggles to locate, he can rack up 100 pitches in a hurry and fall short of making it even five innings.

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