Gators third baseman Jonathan India hadn’t been himself recently.
Well, relatively speaking. Since having his 24-game hitting streak interrupted in UF’s series against Kentucky, he’d gone 3-of-11 from the plate with a pair of RBIs and one home run.
He immediately matched that production Thursday night at McKethan Stadium when No. 1 Florida took on No. 22 Auburn.Though the Gators (35-8, 15-4 SEC) only had four hits on the night, it was India’s in the bottom of the first inning that did most of the damage.
Squaring off against Auburn ace and projected first-round pick Casey Mize, India crushed a 1-0 fastball and deposited it into the stands in left field for a two-run dinger. India’s homer was his 14th of the season.
The two first-inning runs would be enough for Florida to take the series opener 3-1 against the Tigers.
The matchup between two of the top hurlers in college baseball lived up to the hype. UF starter Brady Singer and Mize were locked in a pitcher’s duel for the majority of the evening. Outside of India’s home run, the two combined to allow just two runs and six hits. Both Singer and Mize tossed seven innings and racked up a combined 18 strikeouts.
“It ended up being exactly what we thought it would be,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “A well-pitched game. Both guys kept their emotions in check, and both guys did what they were supposed to do."
Auburn (30-12, 9-9 SEC) managed to close the gap in the top of the fourth. After he allowed a leadoff single to designated hitter Edouard Julien, Singer hit Tigers first baseman Brendan Venter with the next pitch to put a runner in scoring position. A sacrifice bunt from the next batter advanced both runners. With one out, center fielder Jay Estes grounded a dribbler to Gators shortstop Deacon Liput, who took the easy out at first base while Julien scored.
But Florida would get the run right back in the bottom half of the inning. India led off the frame by getting hit on a 2-2 pitch and advanced to second on a two-out single from left fielder Austin Langworthy. First baseman Brady Smith brought India home with a single through the left side of the infield for the final score of the game.
After Singer departed after the seventh, freshman left-hander Jordan Butler pitched a perfect eighth inning before handing the ball off to closer Michael Byrne. After allowing a two-out single, the drama ramped up for the Gators. But Byrne struck out the final batter to close the door on the Tigers and earn his 11th save of the season.
The teams will face off again Friday night at 6:30 when the Gators will send Jackson Kowar to the mound to attempt to win their seventh conference series of the season.
Follow Morgan McMullen on Twitter @MorganMcMuffin and contact him at mmcmullen@alligator.org.
Third baseman Jonathan India slugged a two-run home run in Florida 3-1 victory over Auburn on Thursday.
