Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After taking two of three games at No. 6 Miami over the weekend, No. 1 Florida (7-1) will face UCF (6-2) in a mid-week series. The clubs will square off in Orlando on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and then at McKethan Stadium on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
 
The game at Jay Bergman Field can be heard through FloridaGators.com and on the Gator IMG Sports Network with Jeff Cardozo and Steve Russell and will be carried on a premium video stream ($) through UCF Knights All-Access.
 
QUICK HITS ABOUT THE GATORS

• No. 1 Florida (7-1) captured four of five outings last week, taking both meetings with Eastern Michigan (12-4, 8-7) before defeating No. 6 Miami twice in Coral Gables (5-0, 3-5, 7-3).
• Tuesday night's contest will complete a five-game road trip for the Orange and Blue.
• Last weekend's success marked the sixth time in the last seven years that the Gators have taken their regular-season series against the Hurricanes and UF has emerged victorious in 23 of the last 29 encounters.
• Ninth-year head coach Kevin O'Sullivan collected his 350th career victory on Friday night in Coral Gables.
• Florida's pitching staff held Miami to a .186 (16-for-86) average, compiled a 2.08 ERA, totaled 32 strikeouts and permitted six walks at Alex Rodriguez Park.
• Junior RHP Logan Shore (2-0, 0.64), named the SEC Pitcher of the Week for the first time on Monday, fired his first career solo shutout in game one, while sophomore RHP Alex Faedo (2-0, 0.75) notched a career-high 12 strikeouts over 6.1 no-hit innings in the finale.
• Offensively, freshman second baseman Deacon Liput batted .500 (4-for-8) with five RBI and five walks against the Hurricanes and has at least one hit in all eight of his collegiate games on his way to a team-best .500 (12-for-24) average. Liput paces the squad with 12 walks, has drawn seven walks, roped four doubles and has a couple of triples.
• Junior first baseman Peter Alonso (.423, 10 RBI) went 5-for-11 (.455) on the weekend and sophomore catcher JJ Schwarz (.320, 12 R, 8 RBI) hit .417 (5-for-12) with five RBI and five runs.
• The Gators' pitching staff carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning and totaled a season-high 17 strikeouts,
• Florida is 11-for-13 on the basepaths, led by junior Buddy Reed (4-for-4) and Liput (3-for-3).
• Sophomore Jeremy Vasquez (.375) will be playing his brother James' former team, as the older Vasquez was a four-year letterwinner for the Knights who completed his eligibility last season.
• The Gators are 5-1 (.833) against in-state foes this season, sweeping the opening weekend set against FGCU and taking a 2-1 series from No. 6 Miami.
• UF's pitching staff has racked up 89 strikeouts in 71 innings and is holding foes to a .199 performance at the plate.

 
DRAWING THE START
In a matchup of right-handers, junior Dane Dunning (1-0, 5.06) will be making his second start of the season for the Gators and will oppose UCF sophomore Andrew Deramo (1-0, 5.06). Dunning has made three appearances totaling 5.1 innings and has six strikeouts and a pair of walks. He saved the season-opening victory over FGCU and his last start came against Eastern Michigan last Tuesday (3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 K, 2 BB).
 
SERIES NUGGETS
Florida holds a 25-16 (.610) advantage in its series with UCF, including a 7-5 (.588) edge in Orlando.
 
The Gators have taken 10 of the past 15 meetings against the Knights, and each team emerged victorious on its own field last season. No. 9 UCF posted a 4-3 victory over No. 2 Florida on March 3 at Jay Bergman Field before the Gators rebounded for a 10-2 win the following night at McKethan Stadium.
 
Kevin O'Sullivan is 8-3 (.727) against UCF, 6-1 (.857) in Gainesville and 2-2 (.500) in Orlando.
 
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