The ball kept going, and going, and going.
In fact, it might have touched the moon before it finally began its descent a few seconds later.
Third baseman Jonathan India hit a rocket of a home run way past the left field fence in the top of the fourth on Saturday night. It jump-started the Gators’ offense against the Jacksonville Dolphins (40-20) in the Gainesville Regional at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.
Florida (44-17) topped Jacksonville by a score of 3-2 in a thriller.
The previous day, catcher Jonah Girand hit a towering home run that went about 150 feet beyond the left field fence in nearly the same spot.
But India’s went even further.
He knew as soon as he hit it that it was out, as he waltzed down the first base line without even attempting to run.
Most of the reporters in the press box were in agreement that it was the furthest ball they had ever seen hit at McKethan Stadium.
India’s homer was followed up by an another from right fielder Wil Dalton, who uncorked a ball to center field that easily cleared the fence and gave the Gators a 2-0 lead.
India and Dalton had some fun in the dugout after the back-to-back jacks. They pelted a manager/trainer with water balloons in what will possibly be a new tradition for Gators hitting homers one after another.
“We just started that,” India said. “Tom (UF team trainer) just said, ‘Throw a water balloon at me.’”
O’Sullivan added some insight later on.
“The water balloons? I had not seen that...I don’t know where they got the balloons and I didn’t ask any questions,” he said with a laugh. “They’re coming in there with pretty good velocity though…Tom is taking one for the team I guess.”
Water balloons aside, the Dolphins wouldn’t go down without a fight.
In the bottom of the fifth, UF starting pitcher Brady Singer Dolphins plunked designated hitter John Cassala to get a runner on first for Jacksonville.
Two batters later, JU catcher Franco Guardascione followed the HBP with a double to put Cassala on third.
Left fielder Connor Stephens singled to center field to get the Dolphins on the board and cut Florida’s lead in half.
Singer got out of the inning though, as Jacksonville attempted a squeeze bunt and failed when Singer fielded the ball and easily tagged out Guardascione.
“Obviously it surprised me when I saw him show bunt,” Singer said. “I tried to get it as quick as I can and I almost flipped it but I decided to keep it.”
Later on in the seventh inning, Girand leveled his second homer in as many days with a line drive that barely cleared the left-field fence. The junior, filling in at catcher for the injured JJ Schwarz, pushed the lead to 3-1 and has warranted some consideration to keep the catching job when Schwarz returns to the lineup.
“To actually go out there and contribute to the team has been just great,” Girand said.
Jacksonville was relentless, though, and cut Florida’s lead in half once again when right fielder Cory Garrastazu launched a home run to right field in the bottom of the seventh and made the score 3-2.
In the top of the sixth, Garrastazu made a leaping catch to rob UF DH Austin Langworthy of an insurance home run in right-center field.
Following the seventh, Florida’s next six batters were retired consecutively to close the contest.
In the eighth, Singer was taken out and closer Michael Byrne was brought in.
JU center fielder Ruben Someillan led the frame off with a triple down the right-field line to give Jacksonville the tying runner in scoring position.
However, the next three batters a lined out, a grounded out and a popped out, respectively, and couldn’t scored the man at third.
In the bottom of the ninth, Byrne went three up, three down to earn the save for the Gators.
Singer finally got back to the mound after a three-week hiatus.
“What have these last two weeks been like for you, Brady?”
“Not fun,” Singer replied.
He and India expect to hear their names called Monday night in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Singer downplayed it while O’Sullivan acknowledged its presence.
“I’m just excited for tomorrow, excited for Jackson (Kowar) to go out there and win another ballgame,” Singer said.
O’Sullivan said with the draft being so close that he expected it to be on players’ minds. He referenced the Mississippi State series where UF got swept as evidence that his team lacked focus at teams. O’Sullivan argued that he doesn’t have a problem with it though, as some of his guys will be making millions of dollars in the MLB.
Florida plays the winner of FAU versus Jacksonville (Sunday 2 p.m.) in McKethan Stadium at 6 p.m. Sunday evening.
You can follow Chris O’Brien on Twitter @THEChrisOB and contact him at cobrien@alligator.org.
UF third baseman Jonathan India's solo home run jump-started the Gators' offense on a 3-2 win against Jacksonville at the Gainesville Regional. His solo home run was one of three for Florida on the night.
