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As the sun set over Eastside High School, the Gainesville Hurricanes looked to turn their season around and end on a positive note. They did just that Friday, beating the Rams 18–3 to snap a six-game losing streak.
Entering the game, Gainesville had struggled at the plate, hitting just 14-for-72 — a .194 average — over the last three games.
The Hurricanes’ goal was clear in the first inning against Eastside: hit and score. The Hurricanes (7-9) didn’t have to wait long, plating two runs in the top of the first.
Sophomore pitcher B.J. Johnson took the mound to protect the early lead. The Rams (0-18) responded with a run in the bottom of the inning by scoring on a throwing error during a pickoff attempt at second base.
Gainesville added a run in the second before going scoreless in the third. The offense picked up again in the fourth with three more runs scored, highlighted by an RBI single from junior Chris Eckhardt and an RBI double from Johnson.
BJ Johnson gets himself some run support with a hard grounder to 3rd that takes a bad hop. 6-1 GHS T4. @carston_handy pic.twitter.com/0RhbtQGP7c
— James McDonald (@ImJamesMcDonald) April 4, 2025
The Hurricanes stayed hot, scoring three in the fifth and nine in the sixth to finish with 18 runs, with senior Connor Kemph providing the highlight by going 3-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Senior pitcher Jhon Materan stepped to the plate for the first time this season in the sixth. With runners on first and second, he drove a ball to the center-field wall for a two-run double.
“A night like tonight shows when we are locked in, we can put up some runs,” GHS coach Adrian Ramos said.
The Hurricanes finished 15-for-35 at the plate — a .492 average — to surpass their combined hit total from the previous three games.
Up Next
Gainesville faces Ocala Vanguard (16–4) on the road at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and closes the regular season Thursday at city rival Buchholz (21–1) at 7 p.m.
Postgame interview with Coach Adrian Ramos and Chris Eckhardt. @carston_handy pic.twitter.com/bBositva4V
— James McDonald (@ImJamesMcDonald) April 5, 2025
