On a cool, breezy night in Gainesville, top-ranked Florida used a
smoldering offense to throttle Rhode Island in the first of a three
game series.
For the second straight game, the No. 1 Gators pounded the
opposition, battering the Rams 11-5 behind Daniel Pigott’s
continuing hot start. Since Tuesday’s loss to Georgia Southern, UF
has focused on a renewed offensive identity — one leading them to
19 runs in its last two games.
“I really like our approach,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We were
aggressive. We stung some balls tonight.”
After two innings of feeling out URI (7-4) lefty Chris Pickering,
Florida (12-2) broke out in the third frame and plated four
runs.
Ben McMahon led off with a double down the left field line, and
UF’s designated hitter scored three pitches later when freshman
third baseman Tyler Palmer, making his second consecutive start,
sacrificed him to third, but Pickering threw the ball into right
field. Palmer made it all the way to third base, and later scored
on Pigott’s eighth double of the season — a gaper into left-center
field.
Preston Tucker followed with an RBI single up the middle, and
Pigott, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games, scored on the
second of four errors by the Rams.
“We’ve been working really hard the past couple of days and
everybody is feeling good about their swings,” second baseman Josh
Adams said… “Everybody is finding their role in the lineup.”
Lefthander Brian Johnson (4-0) collected the win for Florida,
despite snapping his lengthy scoreless streak.
After the Gators put up a four spot, Rhode Island answered with
three runs in the fourth, all with two outs. Johnson retired the
first 11 hitters, but he allowed five consecutive batters to reach
with two outs, only escaping the inning when URI’s Ty Muller was
gunned down at home.
But the lefty recovered, tossing three easy shutouts innings for
his longest outing of the season. The sophomore finished with a
season-high seven innings on 92 pitches, striking out five and
walking one.
“I thought Brian threw the ball really well other than the fourth,”
coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “I guess it proves he’s human. They
were very aggressive early in the count, tip your cap to them in
the fourth, but I thought [he] settled down and did a really nice
job after that.”
The Gators responded with three runs in the fifth, including two
off an Adams double, and one in the seventh.
UF righty Anthony DeSclafani gave up a two-run shot to close the
gap to 8-5, but Florida broke the game open with three runs in
bottom of the eighth on back-to-back-to-back RBI singles.
“We started attacking the fastball more and not missing them,”
Adams said.
Etc.: Johnson’s scoreless streak of 20.2 innings
was 3rd all-time in Florida history. … All nine of UF’s starters
reached base at least one time, including eight via hit. … Austin
Maddox had his first-career stolen base in the eighth inning. ...
Junior Justin Poovey made his first appearance on the year, tossing
a scoreless ninth.
