For half an inning, an errant throw appeared to have turned a game-saving play into a game-changing blunder.
UCF’s JoMarcus Woods hit a sharp ground ball up the middle with a runner on second, two outs and the score tied 2-2 in the seventh. Shortstop Cody Dent made a diving stop to prevent a single that likely would have scored Knights base runner Tommy Williams from second. But an ill-advised throw from Dent that skipped past first baseman Vickash Ramjit allowed Williams to score anyway.
Florida erased the error with two two-out runs in the bottom of the inning. The Gators (14-16) extended their winning streak to three games with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night at McKethan Stadium. The win gives Florida a season sweep against UCF (18-12).
“We have had struggles in the past, especially with two outs,” Taylor Gushue said. “To get those three runs with two outs tonight was huge for us. It was a good step in the right direction for our team.”
An error by Knights third baseman Chris Taladay and a wild pitch by right-hander Spencer Davis scored the tying and go-ahead runs for the Gators. Freshman Harrison Bader added an insurance run on a fielder’s choice in the eighth. Seven of nine UF starters registered a hit.
Gushue helped Florida nix a two-run deficit in the sixth. The catcher drove in Casey Turgeon from second on a single to left field. Gushue then slid around an attempted tag from second baseman Austin Johnston with Justin Shafer at the plate for his third stolen base this season. Gushue scored on a two-out double off the left-field wall from Ramjit.
“It was pretty big,” Ramjit said of Gushue’s steal. “I’m sure [coach Kevin O’Sullivan] put that on and knew they were probably going to throw me off-speed, and Gushue got a good break and made a good slide. It worked out. Just being aggressive that’s what we have to do as a team.”
Left-hander Daniel Gibson continued the bullpen’s effective work. He tossed a career-high 4.1 scoreless innings in relief of freshman starter Tucker Simpson, who didn’t last past the second frame. Gibson shook off early-season command issues with his fourth straight scoreless outing.
“For us, it was down to that point in the game where we didn’t want it to get away from us,” O’Sullivan said.
“We thought that was probably going to be the most important point of the game, even though it was five outs in. We were in a situation where we can’t be messing around.”
Right-handers Ryan Harris and Johnny Magliozzi pitched the final three frames. The latter earned his sixth save. Dating back to a 2-1 loss to Florida State on March 26, the bullpen has allowed two earned runs in 23.2 innings. O’Sullivan went to Gibson with Florida down two in the second inning.
Florida travels to Starkville, Miss., for a weekend series against No. 18 Mississippi State starting Friday night.
In a season with few highs, the Gators were at their lowest following their sixth straight loss on March 1 against Miami, Gushue said. The sophomore catcher said there’s a changed vibe with the recent success.
“Those late-inning rallies with two outs are a big help for us,” right-hander Harris said.
“A big confidence booster for our hitters to be able to do the job with two outs, and pitchers love it. Pitchers love when we get those runs.”
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
Catcher Taylor Gushue throws the ball back to the mound during warmups between innings in Florida’s 4-0 victory against Ole Miss on March 31 at McKethan Stadium.
