No. 10 Florida Defeats No. 17 Miami Hurricanes 7-2

Gators hand Hurricanes their first loss of the season in series opener

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The No. 10 Florida Gators defeated the No. 17 Miami Hurricanes 7-2 in the series opener at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field on Friday night. Florida reliever Jackson Barberi earned the win after pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings, while Miami starter AJ Ciscar took the loss despite a solid outing. The Gators struck first with a solo home run in the opening inning and added another run in the fourth before Miami tied it up in the sixth. Florida then pulled away with five runs in the eighth inning to hand the Hurricanes their first loss of the season.

Why it matters

This matchup between two top-20 college baseball teams in the state of Florida is an important early-season conference game that could have implications for postseason positioning and seeding. The Hurricanes were previously undefeated, so this loss ends their perfect start to the season.

The details

Florida starter Liam Peterson held Miami's offense in check through the first five innings before the Hurricanes broke through in the sixth with two runs to tie the game. However, the Gators regained control in the eighth inning, scoring five runs to pull away. Miami right-hander AJ Ciscar pitched well but took the loss, while Florida reliever Jackson Barberi earned the win.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 28, 2026.
  • The series continues on Saturday, February 29, 2026 at 6 p.m.

The players

Jackson Barberi

A Florida Gators relief pitcher who earned the win after pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings.

AJ Ciscar

The Miami Hurricanes starting pitcher who took the loss despite a solid outing, allowing four runs (three earned) over 7.0 innings.

Brendan Lawson

A Florida Gators player who hit a solo home run in the opening inning to give the Gators an early lead.

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What they’re saying

“This was a tough loss, but we'll regroup and come back strong tomorrow. Our guys battled and I'm proud of the effort, we just came up short tonight.”

— Gino DiMare, Miami Hurricanes Head Coach (Miami Herald)

What’s next

The series continues on Saturday, February 29, 2026 at 6 p.m. with coverage available on ACCNX.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between two top-20 college baseball teams in Florida showcased the competitive nature of the sport in the state. While the Hurricanes suffered their first loss of the season, the series is far from over, and both teams will look to gain the upper hand as the season progresses.