No player in the country has raised his draft stock more over the past two days than Peter Alonso.
Following a two home run performance in UF’s win over Bethune-Cookman on Friday, the Florida first baseman continued his strong play with another homer on Saturday against UConn.
But it wasn’t his home run that was the difference maker. Instead, it was freshman Jonathan India’s.
His solo shot in the top of the eighth inning made it 6-5, and that was all the No. 1-seed Gators needed to advance to the Regional finals on Sunday at 6 p.m.
“They battled,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said of UConn after the game. “But our guys did too.”
While Alonso’s home run was his highlight reel play of the night, it wasn’t the only success he had at the plate. The junior went 2-for-5 with an opposite field single in addition to the home run. And in the Regional overall, which is his last chance to audition for MLB scouts, Alonso is 5-for-9 with a walk.
But Alonso and India weren’t the only UF players to shine. Sophomore shortstop Dalton Guthrie acted as a catalyst for the Gators all night, and was responsible for tying the game at 2-2 in the top of the third inning.
After UConn’s Bobby Melley failed to pick a ball at first base on a Guthrie grounder, the second-year player saw that there was nobody covering second. He took advantage.
And when UConn second baseman Aaron Hill slipped and dropped the ball on a Buddy Reed grounder, Guthrie took advantage again by taking home.
He also made a difference with his glove, recording a sliding catch between India and left fielder Ryan Larson for the first out of the ninth inning.
“He’s scrappy. He’s a scrappy kid,” Alonso said of Guthrie.
‘He’s always looking to take the next base, he’s always looking to make the big play when we need it.”
While Guthrie, Alonso and India led the UF offense, A.J. Puk led the pitching. But the results weren’t nearly as encouraging.
In his last appearance before Thursday’s MLB Draft, the possible first overall pick lasted 4.1 innings and allowed four earned runs.
“It was just like we expected it to be,” UConn first baseman Bobby Melley said of Puk.
“We did a good job with him. I’m proud of the way we fought with him.”
Dane Dunning came on in relief of Puk in the fifth inning and lasted through the eighth, throwing 39 pitches and setting up Anderson for his 13th save of the season.
“I thought (Dunning) was probably the story of the game pitching-wise,” O’Sullivan said.
The win sent the Gators to tomorrow’s final in the double-elimination Regional. They’ll play the winner of a noon game between UConn and Georgia Tech. If the Gators lose, another game between the same teams will be played on Monday.
Contact Ethan Bauer at ebauer@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @ebaueri.
Freshman infielder Jonathan India hits a ball during Florida's 7-4 win over Texas A&M on April 1, 2016, at McKethan Stadium.
