Florida Baseball Powers Past Air Force

Florida defeated Air Force 10-4 in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at Condron Family Ballpark.

Series. Secured. 🔒#GatorsWin | #GoGators

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— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) February 15, 2025

Lineup Change

The starting lineup looked a little different compared to Friday night’s game. Ashton Wilson was the lead-off hitter and played in right field in place of Ty Evans. Also, Landon Stripling was the designated hitter for the Gators when Brody Donay moved to catcher for Jake Clemente. Hayden Yost continued to play in center field when Kyle Jones left Friday’s game early due to an injury.

Clemente Succeeds Early On

Clemente, Florida’s starting pitcher threw 77 pitches, 53 of them strikes.

He started out strong by striking out two of the three batters in the first inning. Clemente quickly added two more strikeouts in the second inning, but then allowed two hits for Air Force. The Gators were able to get out of the inning on a groundout to short.

The only major hiccup for the Gators was in the third when Clemente allowed three runs for a 3-2 Air Force lead. Clemente recovered when the next batters struck out and flew out.

Capitalizing At Bat

The Gators thrived at bat, collecting 13 hits and 10 runs. Air Force went through five pitchers.

Stripling put the first run on the board when he cranked a home run to right center field in the bottom of the second inning. Yost contributed an RBI single later in the inning.

The fourth and fifth innings produced the most runs for the Gators, seven all together. Notable plays included Colby Shelton’s two-run homer that soared to right field.

BELTIN'. SHELTON. 💥💥#GoGators // 📺 https://t.co/shPGh4Zxuk pic.twitter.com/smn1QCUZ0h

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) February 15, 2025

Not long after that, Donay blasted his second home run of the season. This two-run homer gave the Gators a four-run lead and was a catalyst to the second Falcons pitcher being pulled.

In the bottom of the fifth, Shelton sacrificed an out for an RBI. Immediately after, Bobby Boser hit an RBI single to advance the score to 9-3.

Florida’s last run of the game was brought home on Boser’s base hit.

https://twitter.com/GatorsBB/status/1890862618644214159

Air Force hit its first home run of the series in the top of the eighth inning on Tripp Garrish’s blast ofd UD closer Luke McNeillie.

McNeillie struck out six Falcons.

The Gators had many improvements in Game 2. The executed better base running than in Friday’s win. UF had nine steals in Game 2.

Yost had four hits in five at-bats. Donay followed with three hits.