Kirby Snead stepped onto the mound in a potential game-changing situation Friday night.
Top-ranked Texas A&M loaded the bases against Florida starting pitcher Logan Shore in the fifth inning with one out, primed to crack into the Gators’ 4-0 lead.
It was up to Snead to prevent that.
The junior lefty executed his job to perfection, throwing getting two groundouts on four pitches, fist pumping twice after stranding all three runners and keeping the Gators’ lead alive.
No. 2 Florida would keep the lead for good, downing the Aggies 7-4 in front of 5,197 at McKethan Stadium.
With the win, Florida has now won 25 straight games at home, a program record.
“Bases loaded and a four run lead I just wanted to throw strikes and get Logan out of that jam,” said Snead, whose ERA sits at an even 1.00 after 18 innings of relief this season. “... I was happy for me and happy for Logan and kept runs off the board.”
Shore struggled with his command during his start, giving up a career-high-tying three walks while striking out five in 4.1 innings. He threw 25 pitches in the first inning, falling behind in the count throughout the frame. His start culminated with Snead coming in and finishing the job that Shore started.
The lefty reliever has been reliable all season for coach Kevin O’Sullivan. Normally coming in during situational situations, the Alachua native took the ball from Shore and picked up his second win of the season, tossing two innings and allowing just one hit.
“That was probably the turning point in the game,” O’Sullivan said. “To get (the) force out at the plate and then finish that inning. If A&M hits the ball in the gap there, who knows what happens. Kirby came in and did a really nice job and kept it right there.”
Florida (25-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when Jeremy Vasquez hit a RBI double. Two batters later, freshman Jonathan India hit a double of his own, giving the Gators a 2-0 lead.
India added another RBI double in the fourth inning and finished the game with a career-high four hits and tied a career-high with 3 RBIs.
“Just have fun and be relaxed,” India said. “It’s a big SEC series. But just hanging in like every other game. Just playing and having fun.”
The freshman third baseman was a part of a Florida lineup that sprayed 12 hits against the Aggies and chased starting pitcher Tyler Ivey after just 1.1 innings.
Ivey came into his start with a 1.97 ERA in six starts. His ERA now sits at 2.43 after allowing two earned runs.
Peter Alonso cranked his fifth home run of the season to give UF a 3-0 lead, before India added three more hits and two more RBIs.
“As a freshman he probably hit 3 or 4 in his high school and now he’s hitting in the 9-hole. He took it for what it was and then he’s just run with it,” outfielder Buddy Reed said. “... He’s probably one of the best 9-hole hitters in the country.”
Texas A&M (22-4, 4-3 SEC) scored three runs in the ninth inning with two outs off of Frank Rubio. O’Sullivan turned to Shaun Anderson to record the final out and earn his team-high fifth save, a decision Florida’s ninth-year head coach made reluctantly.
“It’s disappointing to be honest with you,” O’Sullivan said. With a six run lead we should not have to use Anderson.”
The Aggies and Gators continue their three-game series at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, with sophomore Alex Faedo drawing the start for Florida, taking the place of normal Saturday starter A.J. Puk.
Contact Luis Torres at ltorres@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.
Kirby Snead pitches during Florida's 7-4 win against Texas A&M on April 1, 2016, at McKethan Stadium.
Jonathan India hits an RBI double while a crowd of 5,179 during Florida's 7-4 win over Texas A&M on April 1, 2016, at McKethan Stadium.
