Florida Gators

Video Highlights from GatorVision

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 1 Florida scored 11 runs over the first three innings and totaled a season-high 20 hits to defeat Harvard, 16-5, on Friday night at McKethan Stadium. The Gators (15-1) notched their ninth straight victory, while the Crimson fell to 2-3. The teams will conclude the series tomorrow by playing a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m., with game two to follow 45 minutes following the conclusion of game one.
 
Freshman Deacon Liput (4-for-6) matched his career high with four RBI, sophomore Mike Rivera (2-for-4, two runs) equaled his career best by driving in three runs and sophomore JJ Schwarz (3-for-3, three runs, two RBI) reached base five times. Junior Logan Shore (4-0) scattered nine hits, registered six strikeouts and gave up five runs over six innings to capture his ninth straight start dating back to last season.
 
Florida used a two-out rally to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against sophomore Ian Miller (0-2), highlighted by a three-run homer by Rivera. Miller retired the first two Gators before Schwarz raised his hitting streak to six games with a single into left field. After junior Peter Alonso (2-for-2, two RBI, two runs) walked, Liput opened the scoring with a base-hit up the middle. Rivera followed with his team-leading fourth homer of the season to center field, the first three-run homer for Florida this season.
 
Harvard narrowed the gap in half with a pair of runs in the second and ended Shore's scoreless streak at 18.1 innings. Sophomore John Fallon (3-for-3, three runs) led off with a double to left field and sophomore Conor Quinn (2-for-4) drove him in with a single into right center. Senior DJ Link (2-for-4) had a ground-rule double into left center to give the Crimson a pair of runners in scoring position and junior Drew Reid plated Quinn with an RBI grounder. Although freshman Ben Skinner roped a two-out single into left field, Link was thrown out at home plate on a relay from freshman left fielder Nelson Maldonado to Rivera.
 
The Gators countered with an RBI grounder by junior Buddy Reed in the bottom of the inning for a 5-2 advantage. Freshman Jonathan India (2-for-4) had an infield hit and sophomore Dalton Guthrie (3-for-4, two runs) executed a hit-and-run for runners on the corners before Reed grounded to first base to score India.
 
Fallon connected on a two-run homer with two down in the third with freshman Patrick McColl aboard to narrow the gap to 5-4. Florida responded with six runs on six hits in the home part of the frame for an 11-4 margin, including RBI doubles by Guthrie and Alonso and a two-run single by Liput.
 
After the Crimson used a sacrifice fly by Reid to plate Fallon, the Gators tallied four runs on four hits in the sixth for a 15-5 score. Schwarz had a two-run double, Alonso lofted a sacrifice fly into center field and Liput had a run-scoring single up the middle. Sophomore Mark Kolozsvary completed the scoring with an RBI grounder in the eighth that brought home junior Mike Fahrman.
                                                      
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
Opening Statement:
"I was really pleased. We spent a lot of time yesterday talking about approaches, and a couple of guys were doing some things mechanically that needed to be addressed. We had some guys that may have been struggling a little bit have good nights, so that is really encouraging."
 
On players' adjustments…
"Pete (Alonso) and Jeremy (Vasquez) worked really hard yesterday. It was good to see those guys have good nights. It was a really good night offensively for us. There are nights when you put up double-digit hits but it wasn't a great offensive night. This was one of those nights when I was pleased with our swings. I thought we were much more aggressive."
 
Freshman second baseman Deacon Liput
On Florida's season highs in hits and runs:
"A night like tonight helps a lot. Hitting is contagious… I believe Mike (Rivera) started it off and Dalton (Guthrie) hit very well, collectively up and down the order everyone hit well. So, one person caught fire and everyone else followed."
 
Sophomore designated hitter JJ Schwarz
On the Gators' offensive performance contributing to UF's confidence:
"It's good because we have a doubleheader tomorrow. This is a real energy booster because we're going to need a lot for energy for tomorrow."
 
Freshman left fielder Nelson Maldonado
On how his performance tonight contributes to his confidence:
"[It feels] a whole lot better than my previous at bats. I felt good after the first at bat; I made an adjustment and I felt comfortable. I felt confident."
 
Postgame Notes

• Tonight was the first meeting between Florida and Harvard on the diamond since March 12, 2006 (a 17-6 Gator win).
• The Gators have claimed all four matchups with the Crimson.
• Eight of Florida's nine starters chipped in with at least one hit.
• The Orange and Blue totaled its most hits in an outing since having 22 against Stetson on April 7, 2015.
• Logan Shore has won nine consecutive starts dating back to last season.
• Deacon Liput's RBI single in the first inning enabled him to reach base for the 16th game in a row.
• Mike Rivera's three-run homer moved him into the team lead with 19 RBI before Peter Alonso reclaimed the top spot with two RBI to give him 20.
• Nine of the Gators' 13 homers this year have come from catchers: Rivera (4), JJ Schwarz (3) and Mark Kolozsvary (2).
• Florida's defense ended the second and fourth innings with plays at the plate.
• Buddy Reed's hitting streak was halted at 10 games.
• Nelson Maldonado was a career-best 2-for-4 and scored twice.
• Scott Moss struck out five batters over two innings.
• The Gator pitching staff had a dozen strikeouts and issued two walks.

 
Up Next
The Gators and Crimson will play a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 4 p.m. Jeff Cardozo and Steve Russell have the call on the Gator IMG Sports Network and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
 
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