Florida Gators

Highlights

Postgame Interviews
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
Peter Alonso, Logan Shore, Shaun Anderson

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Junior Peter Alonso delivered a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning to bring home sophomore Nick Horvath as No. 1 Florida defeated Missouri, 4-3, on Friday night at McKethan Stadium. With their 13th consecutive victory, the Gators (19-1) claimed their SEC opener after the Tigers (14-7) had tied the game on a two-out single in the ninth.
 
After junior Shaun Anderson (3-0) struck out the side in the top of the 10th, Horvath drew a leadoff walk from freshman Brian Sharp (2-1). A grounder by sophomore Dalton Guthrie pushed Horvath into scoring position and junior Buddy Reed (2-for-4) and sophomore JJ Schwarz earned back-to-back free passes to load the bases. Facing a full count, Alonso singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Horvath and extend Florida's home winning streak to 21 games.
 
With UF seeking to close out the contest, freshman Ian Nelson was hit with one down in the ninth and was replaced by junior pinch runner Kirby McGuire. Freshman Brady Singer (2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 K) struck out freshman Connor Brumfield (2-for-5) and junior Ryan Howard legged out an infield single for two Tigers on base. Junior Jake Ring tied the contest with an RBI single into left field and moved to second on a fielding error by junior Ryan Larson, with Howard taking third on the play. Reed tracked down sophomore Trey Harris' fly ball to deep center field to keep the contest knotted at 3-3.
 
Although the Tigers put their first two runners aboard in the opening frame, junior Logan Shore rebounded to strike out the side. The Gators used a two-out rally to grab 3-0 lead in their first at bat against senior Reggie McClain (9.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 8 K, 0 BB). Guthrie led off with a single into left field and Schwarz had a one-out base-hit in center field. With two down, freshman Deacon Liput (2-for-4) roped an RBI single into right field to score Guthrie and took second on a throwing error, with Schwarz moving to third. Sophomore Mike Rivera (2-for-4) drove in both of his teammates with a two-run single into center field.
 
Sophomore Shane Benes narrowed the gap to 3-1 in the fourth with a two-out RBI single. Shore had retired 11 straight Tigers before yielding a triple to straightaway center field by senior Zach Levy (3-for-5) and Benes followed with a single through the left side.
 
A one-out double by Harris in the sixth prompted a pitching change, as junior Kirby Snead replaced Shore (5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, career-high 10 K, 1 BB). Lavy brought the Tigers within 3-2 with an RBI single into right field. Snead struck out Benes but then issued a walk to Sharp for a pair of Tigers aboard. Freshman third baseman Jonathan India fielded a grounder by sophomore Brett Bond and made a strong throw over to Alonso to end the inning.
 
In the seventh, Brumfield doubled with one down into left field and Ring drew a two-out walk. Singer came in for Snead (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB) and had Harris ground out to Guthrie to preserve the lead.
 
Lavy started the eighth with a base-hit up the middle and Singer caught Benes looking on strikes. After Rivera threw out Lavy attempting to steal second base. Singer fanned Sharp to complete the frame.
                                                      
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
Opening Statement:
"You've got to compliment Missouri for hanging in there. We put up three runs in the first, and it could've been easy for them to lose focus, but they were really good. Missouri's dugout was into the game all nine innings. They kind of chipped away. (Reggie) McClain made some really good adjustments after the first, and we did not offensively. He's a Friday night guy in our league for a reason. On the flip side of that, I thought Logan (Shore)'s stuff was as good as it's been. He was really good. Kirby (Snead) came in and got some big outs, and Brady Singer made some big, big pitches. Obviously, Shaun (Anderson) came in there at the end and kept it right there. All in all, it was a really good baseball game. We had to fight through some adversity and battle through a Friday night game in the SEC. We've got some things to work on. We've got to communicate a little bit more there in the ninth inning for the last out defensively. With three freshmen in the lineup, and we threw a freshman on the mound tonight -- these experiences are invaluable, and they'll certainly help them down the road."
 
On the first inning setting the tone for Logan Shore, who notched a career-high 10 strikeouts:
"I thought his breaking ball was as good as it's been. His fastball had some giddy-up to it. It had good sink, and he was locating it. I think they (Missouri) hit two balls in the outfield tonight. We did a nice job on the mound."
 
Junior first baseman Peter Alonso
On being in the situation with three balls where a walk would bring in the winning run:
"Well, I mean it's no fun walking the run in to win. I was just looking for a fastball that I could handle and square up in that situation. I was looking for something I could square up."
 
Junior right-hander Shaun Anderson
On the importance of striking out the side in the 10th:
"To have a quick inning like that to get us back in there to hit, definitely gets all the guys fired up. So, one run can win it. I think they were fired up for that too."
 
On the start of SEC play:
"They're an SEC team so obviously there was a lot at stake here, but the atmosphere definitely was different. It's nothing we haven't experienced."
 
Junior right-hander Logan Shore
On his pitching tonight
"I thought I threw the ball pretty well. They did a good job honestly, I mean we threw a lot of pitches early in the game, and they got me out of there in the sixth. Credit them and credit their hitters. They came in with a plan, and I thought they executed pretty well. That's what baseball is about, coming back, and getting the walk-off there by Pete in the 10th is awesome."
 
Postgame Notes

• The Gator pitching staff registered a season-high 18 strikeouts.
• Florida played in its second extra-inning game this season (Dartmouth on 3/5); this is the third game between Florida and Missouri that has gone to extras in the past four years.
• The Gators had their third walk-off win of the season (Eastern Michigan in Lakeland on 2/24 and Dartmouth 3/5) with a single by Peter Alonso to score Nick Horvath in the 10th inning.
• Alonso was 0-for-4 before his RBI single to end the game.
• With the win, the Gators have taken 12 of their 16 meetings with the Tigers.
• With the win, Florida is now 7-3 against Mizzou under Kevin O'Sullivan, 4-0 at McKethan Stadium.
• Logan Shore had a career-high 10 K and retired 11 straight batters over 5.1 innings.
• Missouri starter Reggie McClain had given up six runs in 31.2 innings entering tonight's game.
• With his first-inning RBI single, Deacon Liput has reached base in all 20 games this season. He was 2-for-4 for his ninth multiple-hit game.
• Dalton Guthrie extended his hitting streak to eight games and is one short of his career-long (2/20-3/5/16).
• Florida's pitching staff registered double-digit strikeouts for the 14th game this season and the third game in a row.
• Shaun Anderson struck out all three batters he faced in the 10th inning to pick up his third win of the season.
• The Gators did not draw a walk until the 10th, where they earned three free passes.

Up Next
The Gators and Tigers will meet again tomorrow night at 7 p.m., with junior left-hander A.J. Puk (0-1, 2.65) facing sophomore right-hander Tanner Houck (2-1, 1.61). Jeff Cardozo and Steve Russell have the call on the Gator IMG Sports Network and the game will be carried on SEC Network+ through the Watch ESPN app.
 
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