FSU's Tyler Holt yelled back at Buddy Munroe after running over UF's catcher to score the game-tying run in the top of the ninth. Munroe responded with his bat.
Munroe lined a single into right-center field to score Matt den Dekker, securing a 5-4 win for the Gators (10-7, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) in walk-off fashion on Tuesday night at McKethan Stadium.
"It was nice for it to come down to me, and for me to deliver," Munroe said.
Hitting a walk-off isn't all fun and games, though. Munroe caught a left hook from teammate Avery Barnes amid the celebration that left him with a bloody lip.
Not even the fat lip could take the smile off his face after hitting his first college walk-off.
His late-game heroics weren't his only contribution to the win, as he also had two hits and an RBI earlier in the game.
"Each at-bat is each at-bat, but (the two hits) gave me good confidence coming in there knowing I already hit the ball well today," he said.
He also kept busy behind the plate, handling seven UF pitchers and making a diving tag to nail a runner at the plate to end the fourth.
"I know the staff well, and I have confidence in them all," Munroe said. "It's always fun to see a lot of arms out there, especially the younger guys, who haven't gotten many innings, and I like to see who steps in certain times and see what they can do."
Usually the use of seven different pitchers indicates a struggling staff, but the Gators' hurlers limited a Seminoles team that entered the game averaging over 8 runs per game to just 4.
After Clint Franklin gave up the first 2 runs in the sixth in relief of starter Alex Panteliodis and a quick stint by Kevin Chapman, UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan handed the ball to freshman Greg Larson.
The newcomer looked like a veteran, forcing Ohmed Danesh to ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
"There were a lot of positives (out of the bullpen)," O'Sullivan said. "I don't want anything negative to creep into their minds."
All seven pitchers got the benefit of having a strong defensive effort behind them.
Two days after committing six errors, the Gators' defense made no blunders and converted on two inning-ending double plays with the bases loaded.
O'Sullivan said they must maintain that level of energy when his team isn't playing a rivalry game.
The Gators will get their chance tonight against Central Florida.
