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The Florida baseball team topped Florida Gulf Coast 5-3, extending its win-streak to six games Tuesday night at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers. The Gators got a little revenge after being swept by the Eagles back in a February series at McKethan Stadium. UF improved to 20-18 on the season and FGCU fell to 20-13. The Gators improved to 2-0 all-time in games played in Fort Myers.
Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan gave the start to sophomore lefty Bobby Poyner. He threw 5.3 innings, allowing four hits, one run and struck out four on 75 pitches in his the winning effort. Coach O’Sullivan liked the adjustments Poyner made out on the mound.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the bottom of the first after Nick Rivera had an RBI single to left field to take the 1-0 lead. The Gators would eventually answer in the top of the fourth inning on a Harrison Bader RBI single to left, scoring Justin Shafer. Florida took a 2-1 lead in top of the sixth when third baseman Josh Tobias drove home designated hitter Zack Powers on a base hit to left field.
The Gators were able to put together a rally in the seventh inning. Florida catcher Taylor Gushue doubled down the right field line to drive in second baseman Casey Turgeon and shortstop Cody Dent. Florida first baseman Vickash Ramjit then brought Gushue home after he hit a single to the left side and gave the Orange and Blue the 5-1 lead.
O’Sullivan was pleased by what he saw from his lineup.
Florida Gulf Coast got an unearned run back in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by catcher Andrew Valencia, but lefty Daniel Gibson was able to get the Gators out of the inning with the 5-2 lead.
A couple of errors in the bottom of the eighth allowed Florida Gulf Coast to cut the deficit to 5-3. Florida closer Johnny Magliozzi came in to strike out Sean Dwyer to end the frame. Magliozzi came back out to pitch the bottom of the ninth. He struck out two in his one-two-three inning and picked up his ninth save of the season. O’Sullivan was happy about the poise Magliozzi pitched with after what happened in the eighth.
Florida’s road trip continues on Friday when the Gators square off against the Missouri Tigers. ESPN Radio 850/900 has all of the action beginning at 6:55 p.m. Friday.
