Florida left fielder Austin Langworthy had arguably his best game of the season on Sunday afternoon.
The Williston, Florida, native collected two multi-base hits: an RBI double in the bottom of the second that scored right fielder Wil Dalton and a two-run bomb over the right field wall in the bottom of the fourth to give the Gators a 4-1 lead.
Langworthy’s performance at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium in Game 3 of Florida’s series with Alabama led UF to a 6-3 victory and a sweep of the Crimson Tide.
The junior has had a tough start to the season, hitting just .206 entering the game.
“I knew eventually it would turn around for me,” Langworthy said. “You got to start somewhere.”
Three other Florida players had multiple hits on the day, including first baseman Kendrick Calilao. He picked up his 32nd RBI of the year in the eighth inning, a team-high.
The Gators (20-10, 4-5 SEC) were put in a precarious position when starter Jack Leftwich was pulled early due to a blister on his throwing hand.
Leftwich pitched only one inning, giving up four hits and one run.
“It’s something he’s been dealing with for five weeks now,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “It just opened up in the first, you could see the blood on his pants."
Gainesville native Hunter Ruth relieved Leftwich in the top of the second and pitched well against the Crimson Tide (20-9, 2-7 SEC) for 7.2 innings.
Ruth gave up four hits and one earned run and struck out five. The right-hander’s effort earned him his first win of the season.
“I knew it was a possibility,” Ruth said of the early appearance. “I didn’t know it was going to be that early, but I kind of just mentally prepared myself yesterday…keeping an open mind.”
Ruth was relieved by southpaw Jordan Butler with two outs in the top of the ninth inning and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
“It’s been my dream,” Ruth said of pitching in front of the home crowd. “Since I was a kid, I came here and watched countless pitchers do incredible things…pitching in front of all of these people from Gainesville, my hometown, it’s really special.”
Florida came into the weekend struggling in conference play.
A series sweep against an SEC opponent is something the Gators desperately needed to stay competitive in the league.
“You really don’t want to fall behind the eight ball too much,” O’Sullivan said. “I mean, 1-5…when it takes more than one weekend to get back to .500, that’s when it starts to become a daunting task, so it was an important weekend for us.”
Follow Evan Lepak on Twitter @evanmplepak and contact him at elepak@alligator.org.
Florida left fielder Austin Langworthy hit an RBI double and a home run during Florida's 6-3 win over Alabama on Sunday at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.
