Zack Powers got his mojo back on Sunday.
The sophomore first baseman hit two grand slams and tallied nine RBI in No. 17 Florida’s (2-1) 16-5 win against Duke (1-2), clinching the season-opening series at McKethan Stadium.
“To have a game like this is real special,” Powers said.
With the Gators leading 6-3 in the seventh inning, second baseman Casey Turgeon walked, and pinch hitter Kevin Stypulkowski and right fielder Vickash Ramjit both were hit by pitches to load the bases for Powers.
On a 2-2 count, Powers hit a line-drive grand slam over the right field wall off Blue Devils right-hander Ryan Munger. Powers’ first career home run gave the Gators a 10-3 lead.
“I was just trying to get a base hit,” Powers said of his first grand slam. “Help out the team, get another RBI. The second time, I kind of got greedy.”
Powers’ greed was rewarded in the next inning as he took Munger deep again to right field with the bases loaded to put Florida up 16-5. Powers joined Preston Tucker as the only Florida player to connect on two grand slams in the same game. Tucker accomplished the feat on April 8, 2009, in a 16-3 win against UCF.
“I’m just happy for him in general,” O’Sullivan said of Powers. “I’m just pleased that he’s healthy, and he’s contributing like we always knew he could.”
Powers, who missed the entire 2012 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum, knocked two more homers on Sunday than he did during his entire freshman season when he was named to the Southeastern Conference’s All-Freshman Team.
“That was awesome,” center fielder Cody Dent said. “I was hoping he was going to do it, and I was very happy for him when he did.”
Powers nearly had three grand slams in the game.
Down 3-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, 11 straight Gators had been retired by Blue Devils since the Gators’ last hit — a Dent double in the second innings — when Casey Turgeon led off with a single to right field.
Shafer followed Turgeon with a single up the middle and Vickash Ramjit loaded the bases two at-bats later with an infield single.
Powers followed Ramjit with a sac fly to center field to tie the game.
“I did think I got all of that one,” Powers said. “But, I mean it’s great just to get an RBI out of it.
In Friday’s 4-3 loss and Saturday’s 4-2 win, the Gators had 12 hits combined. With Powers starting at first, they had 13.
O’Sullivan said that he will give Powers a shot in the outfield if it means getting his bat in the lineup on a regular basis.
Since he’s been at Florida, Powers has only played third and first base. But as long as he is in the lineup, Powers is satisfied.
“Wherever the coaches want me to hit in the lineup,” Powers said. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
Contact Josh Jurnovoy at jjurnovoy@alligator.org.
Sophomore first baseman Zack Powers hits the second of his two grand slams during Florida’s 16-5 win against Duke on Sunday at McKethan Stadium. Powers, who missed 2012 with a torn labrum, finished the Gator’ series-clinching victory with nine RBI.
