Gators Earn Series Win Over Miami

Florida Gator baseball took the series 8-2 in Saturdays game against rival Miami. Miami’s pitching held the Gators to only two runs through the 5th inning, but, a few changes on the mound lead to the Hurricanes demize. The Gators are now 7-0 to start the 2018 season.

Update: #Gators have now won 11 of the last 13 and 25 of the last 30 against Miami. https://t.co/plwyQdb3AK

— Cody Jones (@CodyAJones9) February 25, 2018

Gator Pitching

Florida’s, Jackson Kowar pitched a pretty good game. Through 6th innings, Kowar allowed two runs on five hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. After the game, Florida’s manager, Kevin O’Sullivan said, “I thought Jackson worked himself into a couple jams, but his stuff is so good he can work himself out of it.”

Freshman, Jake Leftwich, on the other hand and a great showing. Leftwich came into relive Kowar to start the 7th. He retired all nine batters he face and struck out six through three innings. After the game, O’Sullivan said, “Obviously, Jack Leftwich, what can I say, it was kind of a repeat performance that we saw last night from Tommy Mace. The poise that those two have shown is amazing. It gives us some flexibility now with Tyler starting tomorrow. We can get Hunter McMullen back out on the mound and use Michael Byrne multiple innings if we need to.”

Freshmen, Leftwich and Mace have pitched a combined 7 innings without allowing a hit during this Miami series.

It’s almost like clockwork at this point, but @GatorsBB has another dominant freshman in RHP Jack Leftwich. One of top freshman in the country and worked 94-95/97. Worked in attack mode and slider showed average @ 80-81. pic.twitter.com/ujDMTVcluF

— Vinnie Cervino (@vcervinoPG) February 25, 2018

Game Recap

The Gators offensive started the game out hot. In the 1st inning both Nelson Maldonado and JJ Schwarz scored and three runners were left on base.

After the 1st, the game seemed to cool down for the Gators. RHP, Greg Veliz, of Miami settled in and caused 5 strikeouts through 5.1 innings. Until, Blake Reese, lit-up the 6th for the Gators with an RBI triple that brought in Keenan Bell who had singled to short.

Blake Reese hit an RBI triple that brought in Keenan Bell. Later Reese scored on a pass ball.

UF 4 | UM 2 6th #Gator #Canes @ESPNGainesville @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/R6z0ruB50l

— Sarah Carlie (@SarahCarlieUF) February 25, 2018

Veliz was then relieved by RHP, Cooper Hammond. Hammond kept things steady through the 7th, however, Miami’s bull pin fell apart for the rest of the game.

In the 8th, LHP, Jeremy Cook came in for Hammond, after both Wil Dalton and Jonathan India got on base. Soon after the pair scored and Langworthy was hit by a pitch LHP, Dylan Cloonan, came in to replace Hammond. In the 9th, two more runs found there way on the board to move the final score 8-2 Gators.

For the Sweep

Sunday, the Gators will take on the Hurricanes at 12 P.M. as they go for the sweep. RHP, Tyler Dyson will be starting on the mound for the Gators.