Florida Gators

Video
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan Postgame
Player Interviews (Maldonado, Dunning, Schwarz)
Highlights

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 1 Florida topped No. 11 Florida State, 6-0, on Tuesday night in the first of the squads' three Sunshine Showdown matchups this season. With their first shutout of the Seminoles (13-4) in Gainesville since March 3, 1994, the Gators (18-1) raised their winning streak to 12 games in front of a crowd of 5,917, the fifth-largest in McKethan Stadium history.
 
Junior Dane Dunning (2-0) scattered seven hits and totaled five strikeouts over 5.2 innings to earn the victory and was followed to the mound by freshman Jackson Kowar (2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K), junior Kirby Snead (0.1 IP, 1 K) and junior Shaun Anderson (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K). The Gators turned a season-high three double plays and their pitching staff notched 11 strikeouts and permitted one walk.
 
Freshman Nelson Maldonado opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second inning off of freshman Tyler Holton (0-2). It was his second homer in the past three games and landed in the left-field bleachers.
 
The Seminoles put their first two runners of the third inning aboard against Dunning with singles by sophomore Taylor Walls and senior John Sansone (2-for-4). After freshman Cal Raleigh flew out to the warning track, moving Walls to third base, Dunning had junior Quincy Nieporte ground into an inning-ending double play.
 
In the bottom of the frame, sophomore JJ Schwarz (3-for-5) led off with a single into left field and junior Peter Alonso followed with his fourth homer to deep left field for a 3-0 Gator advantage.
 
Schwarz boosted Florida's margin to 4-0 with a two-out RBI single up the middle in the fourth that scored junior Buddy Reed. Freshman Jonathan India (2-for-4) led off with a double into the left-field corner, prompting a pitching change. Freshman Chase Haney took over for Holton (3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R) and sophomore Dalton Guthrie laid down a sacrifice bunt that pushed India to third. Although a fielder's choice by Reed erased India at the plate, Reed stole second base and went to third when the relay throw went into the outfield. Schwarz poked a 3-2 pitch into center field to bring across Reed.
 
The Gators tacked on two more runs in the fifth on an RBI single by India and sophomore Jeremy Vasquez came home on a wild pitch with the bases full. Sophomore Mike Rivera had a one-out single into right center, Vasquez was hit by senior Matthew Kinney and Maldonado walked to load the bases. India drove in Rivera with a base-hit into left off of junior Jim Voyles and Vasquez scored when strike three to Guthrie eluded the Seminole catcher.
                                                      
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
Opening Statement:
"Starting on the mound, Dane (Dunning) did a nice job. We are swinging the bats a lot better, we are playing good baseball and obviously we needed to do that tonight against a very good Florida State team." 
 
On Dane Dunning:
"I am really pleased with where Dane (Dunning) is at right now. He has made tremendous strides and is a great teammate. He has worked awfully hard through his first two years, and he is starting to see his rewards. Dane made some really big pitches when he needed to and I'm really proud of him."  
 
Freshman left fielder Nelson Maldonado
On overcoming a slow start to the season:
"I've definitely picked up the pace now. I feel comfortable at the plate now and I feel confident when I'm up there. Today I saw a pitch up and I hit it."
 
Junior right-hander Dane Dunning
On the tremendous plays by the Gators' defense:
"Our defense was phenomenal. They were making plays for me left and right. Our defense has always been good throughout the years, I'm just hoping they can keep it going."
 
Postgame Notes

• Head coach Kevin O'Sullivan improved to 10-1 against Florida State at McKethan Stadium and is now 16-15 overall in the series.
• Florida recorded its fourth shutout of the season; it was the club's first shutout at home against Florida State since March 3, 1994.
• Tonight marked the eighth time that the Gators blanked the Seminoles, first time since an 8-0 triumph in Tallahassee on April 8, 2014.
• The Gators are 13-0 at home this season and are on a 20-game winning streak at McKethan Stadium since a 4-1 loss to Auburn on May 15, 2015.
• UF had multiple homers for the fifth time this season – Nelson Maldonado (2nd inning) and Peter Alonso (3rd inning).
• Florida turned a season-high three double plays tonight.
• Deacon Liput has reached base in all 19 games this season.
• Every Florida starter reached base.
• Kirby Snead made his team-leading 10th appearance and lowered his ERA to 0.73.
• With 11 K tonight, Florida's pitching staff recorded double-digit strikeouts for the 13th time this season.
• Tonight's attendance of 5,917 ranks fifth all-time at McKethan Stadium.

 
Up Next
The Gators begin SEC play on Friday when they host Missouri in the opener of a weekend series starting at 7 p.m. Jeff Cardozo and Steve Russell have the call on the Gator IMG Sports Network and the game will be shown live as part of the Bases Loaded Coverage on the SEC Network with Gabe Gross and Tom Hart.
 
Follow the Gators
FloridaGators.com
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook