Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 1 Florida plated 12 runs on 12 hits to defeat Eastern Michigan, 12-4, on Tuesday night at McKethan Stadium. The teams will meet again tomorrow night in Lakeland at Joker Marchant Stadium, the spring training home of the Detroit Tigers.
 
Junior Peter Alonso (2-for-3) had a pair of two-run doubles for a season-high four RBI and sophomore JJ Schwarz (2-for-2, three runs) connected on his first homer of the year with a two-run blast as five Gators (4-0) turned in multiple-hit outings and head coach Kevin O'Sullivan used 23 players in the victory.
 
Eastern Michigan (3-2) had grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI grounder by senior Mitchell McGeein that scored junior Marquise Gill (2-for-5). Gill had led off with a double down the left-field line against junior Dane Dunning (1-0).
 
The Gators roared back with four runs in the home part of the frame and chased junior Kevin Shul (0-1) out after six batters. With one down, junior Buddy Reed (2-for-3, three runs) walked, Schwarz singled and sophomore Jeremy Vasquez was hit to load the bases. A wild pitch brought Reed across, Alonso roped a two-run double to score Schwarz and Vasquez, then freshman Deacon Liput (2-for-3) raised his hitting streak to four games with a two-bagger to bring home Alonso and give UF a three-run margin.
 
Florida added five runs on three hits in the third for a 9-1 advantage, featuring another two-run double by Alonso, a fielder's choice by freshman Danny Reyes and an RBI single by sophomore Dalton Guthrie (2-for-3).
 
After the Eagles scored a run on a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, freshman Brady Singer took over for Dunning (3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 K, 2 BB) and caught junior Jeremy Stidham looking on strikes to escape the jam. In the bottom of the inning, Schwarz belted a two-run shot over the bleachers in left field with Reed aboard to balloon the margin to 11-2.
 
Sophomore Mark Kolozsvary notched his third RBI over the past two games with a grounder in the sixth after Reed delivered a leadoff triple to left field to put the Gators ahead by 10. The Eagles tallied single runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to complete the scoring. Florida used five pitchers who registered 12 strikeouts.
 
Postgame Quotes
Florida Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
On tonight's game:
"I thought offensively we were pretty good today. Deacon Liput had another good day. Buddy Reed swung the bat really well, as well, and was just shy of a home run. He put a really good swing on the ball right-handed. Dalton Guthrie had a couple knocks as well. We got a chance to get everyone in the ballgame. I thought Brady Singer and Shaun Anderson had a rally sharp game pitching-wise. All in all, it was a good game. Looking forward to getting down to Lakeland tomorrow."
 
On junior right-hander Shaun Anderson (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K):
"He was very, very aggressive. He is a rather imposing pitcher on the mound and has two wipeout breaking balls. He's got a sharp breaking ball in the low 80s, a true curveball that is hard to find and a true cutter. Then, he's running his fastball 92 to 94. He was good tonight."
 
Junior First Baseman Peter Alonso
On the Gators' productive offense:
"You've got to have a plan, and you've got to stick to the plan. You can't really try and do too much or swing too big. You just have to be mentally tough and stick with the plan and then execute. We had a simple approach, and we executed. We did a good job at the plate."
                                                                                                                  
Postgame Notes

• With tonight's win, Kevin O'Sullivan improves to 5-0 (1.000) against Eastern Michigan, and the Gators have claimed six of the seven meetings all-time.
• Danny Reyes drew his first career start for the Gators as the designated hitter, scoring a run and driving in another, while Christian Hicks made his first start of the year at third base.
• Florida had five extra-base hits, with three doubles, one triple and one home run.
• With 12 strikeouts tonight, the Gator pitching staff has totaled at least 10 strikeouts in each game this season.
• Peter Alonso had four RBI, one short of his career high of five (set against Missouri on April 25, 2014).
• Deacon Liput has had three multi-hit games in four opportunities this season.
• JJ Schwarz hit his first home run of the season, 19th of his career.
• All three home runs this season have come from catchers (Mike Rivera, Mark Kolozsvary, Schwarz)
• The Gators matched their season-high with12 runs tonight (vs. FGCU on Sunday).
• A season-high 23 Gators saw action in tonight's game.
• Florida had its second come-from-behind victory this season (trailed 1-0 in the 1st inning).

 
Up Next
The Gators and Eagles will face off again on Wednesday in Lakeland, Fla., at Joker Marchant Stadium. The game can be heard on the Gator IMG Sports Network with Jeff Cardozo and Steve Russell.
 
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