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On a day freshman
righty Karsten Whitson didn’t have his best stuff, it was the bats
of Preston Tucker and Daniel Pigott that lifted the Gators (10-1)
to their second-ever three-game sweep of the Hurricanes
(4-7).
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Tucker was a triple shy of the cycle, and Pigott had two RBIs and
extended his hit streak to 10 games, as No. 1 Florida used a
three-run sixth inning to beat Miami 5-3 on Sunday in McKethan
Stadium.
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“Any sweep is tough,” Tucker said. “Against an in-state rival is a
huge thing. It was a great win for the team.”
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With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Tucker,
who went 3 for 4 on the afternoon, led off with his third home run
of the season. The left-handed slugger launched the first pitch he
saw from UM righty starter Eric Whaley to the opposite-field
bleachers.
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“Some days you just see the ball better than others,” he said.
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Whaley (2-1) gave up four runs in 5.1 innings and was relieved by
right-hander Adam Sargeant after a one-out double by Brian
Johnson.
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But Sargeant wasn’t able to stop the bleeding for UM. The righty
walked Mike Zunino before Pigott plated both runners with a double,
putting the game out of reach.
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The timely offense was crucial for Florida because Whitson wasn’t
as effective as he was in his first two starts on the mound for the
Gators.
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For the first time in his short career, Whitson struggled with
command, giving up seven hits and throwing 25 of his 72 pitches for
balls, including two walks and wild pitches. The freshman
right-hander lasted five innings, allowing two runs before being
pulled for senior righty Tommy Toledo.
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“With all freshmen, every time they go to the mound … there’s
something new to learn,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He had to
battle. He had to pitch in the set position probably more today
than he probably did his whole senior year (of high school).”
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Toledo (1-1) earned the win out of the bullpen for Florida. In 2.2
perfect innings of relief, Toledo relied heavily on his fastball,
striking out two batters before Steven “Paco” Rodriguez took over
on the mound with two outs in the eighth inning.
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The Hurricanes threatened in the ninth when Rodriguez struggled.
The reliever walked the first two batters he faced before
O’Sullivan replaced him on the mound with right-hander Anthony
DeSclafani.
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The righty retired the first two UM batters he faced before
allowing an RBI single to center field by shortstop Stephen
Perez.
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With the winning run at the plate, however, DeSclafani got UM left
fielder Zeke DeVoss to ground out to Nolan Fontana to end the game
and give UF its first three-game sweep of UM in Gainesville.
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“If we lose, it’s a 2-2 week,” O’Sullivan said. “If we win, it’s a
3-1 week; it’s a .750 week. Today was one of those games that if
you want to be one of those top-eight national seeds at the end of
the year, this is the one you have to get.”
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Etc.: 4,114 were in attendance Sunday. … Freshman
Zack Powers doubled twice and recorded the first RBI of his career
in the second inning. … Florida’s five doubles tied its season
high. … In the seventh inning, Kamm Washington recorded his first
stolen base of the season.
