Florida Gators

VIDEO
SEC Network+ recap of the Gators' series-opening win

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman Nelson Maldonado homered twice and drove in three runs and freshman Jonathan India chipped in with three RBI as No. 1 Florida defeated Kentucky, 12-5, on Friday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The Gators (23-1/4-0 SEC) ran their winning streak to 17 games in taking the opener of the weekend set over the Wildcats (15-6/2-2 SEC).
 
Junior right-hander Logan Shore (5-0) won his 10th straight decision and was supported by an offense that had four players turn in multiple-hit efforts, highlighted by Maldonado (3-for-5, three runs). Sophomore Dalton Guthrie was 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot and scored twice, junior Buddy Reed was 2-for-5 with the go-ahead RBI single and India (2-for-5) scored twice and matched his career best with three RBI.
 
The Wildcats grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a two-out RBI single by freshman Tristan Pompey. Junior Gunnar McNeill (2-for-4, two RBI) raised his hitting streak to 16 games with a leadoff single into left field and junior Zach Reks drew a walk from Shore. A sacrifice bunt attempt by freshman Kole Cottam resulted in McNeill being thrown out at third base and Shore fanned sophomore Riley Mahan. Pompey broke the ice with a base-hit into right field.
 
Florida answered in the third with three runs on three hits against junior Zack Brown (1-4) to take a 3-1 lead. Maldonado opened the frame with his third homer to right field. India followed with a double into right center, went to third on a passed ball and Guthrie was hit by a pitch for runners on the corners. Reed put the Gators in front with an RBI single up the middle to drive in India and sophomore JJ Schwarz delivered an RBI grounder to bring home Guthrie.
 
Maldonado blasted his second homer of the game with sophomore Jeremy Vasquez aboard in the fourth for a 5-1 margin. Maldonado became the first Gator to have multiple homers in an outing since Schwarz had a pair against Florida State during the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional on June 6, 2015.
 
UF tacked on two more runs in sixth to build a 7-1 lead. Junior Logan Salow recorded the first two outs before yielding back-to-back singles to Guthrie and Reed. Schwarz walked to fill the bags and a fielder's choice by junior Peter Alonso resulted in an error that brought home Guthrie. Moments later, Reed scored on a wild pitch to give the visitors a six-run margin.
 
The Wildcats battled back with three runs on three hits in the sixth inning to reduce the deficit to 7-4. Shore had retired 10 consecutive hitters before hitting junior Storm Wilson to open the inning. After sophomore Evan White (2-for-5) singled and junior JaVon Shelby walked to fill the bases, McNeill delivered a two-run single to narrow the gap to 7-3 and prompt a pitching change. Junior Kirby Snead replaced Shore (5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 6 K, 2 BB) and struck out Reks before sophomore Mike Rivera picked Shelby off of second base. Cottam earned a free pass and sophomore Luke Becker singled through the left field to plate McNeill. Snead kept the visitors ahead by three runs with an inning-ending strikeout of Pompey.
 
The Gators erupted for five runs on three hits and an error in the ninth for a 12-4 advantage. Junior Ryan Larson had pinch-hit RBI single that brought home freshman Deacon Liput, India had a three-run triple into the right-field corner and later scored on a fielding error. White had an RBI double in the bottom of the frame to complete the scoring.
                                                      
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
Opening Statement:
"It was a tough night to play baseball because of the weather and we haven't fared well in Kentucky lately so I'm really proud at the approach at the plate and being able to handle their starting pitcher. We were able to lay off the breaking ball and attack fastballs and it was led by Nellie's (Nelson Maldonado) opposite-field shot in the third inning. Logan (Shore) was really good in the middle part of the ballgame, Kirby (Snead) came in and got a big strikeout and Dane (Dunning) was lights out again for us. He's been such a valuable part of our success lately. I am very pleased with how we came out ready to play tonight against a good Kentucky team and hope they can carry this momentum into the rest of the weekend."
 
Postgame Notes

• Kevin O'Sullivan improved to 14-13 against Kentucky, 7-6 in Lexington.
• The Gators collected their ninth come-from-behind victory of the season.
• Nelson Maldonado has four homers in the past eight games and his three RBI matched his career high set against Harvard on March 12.
• Jonathan India delivered his first career triple in the ninth inning and equaled his career best of three RBI done versus FGCU on Feb. 20.
• JJ Schwarz drew a career-high three walks for the Orange and Blue, part of a season-high 10 free passes by Florida.
• Buddy Reed is now a team-high 10-for-11 on the basepaths.
• Logan Shore improved to 2-2 against the Wildcats and has won both of his starts in Lexington.
• The Gators had a 10-6 advantage in hits.

 
Up Next
Florida and Kentucky will meet in the second game of the series tomorrow at 2 p.m., with junior left-hander A.J. Puk (1-1, 1.88) facing senior right-hander Dustin Beggs (5-0, 1.77). Jeff Cardozo and Steve Russell have the call on the Gator IMG Sports Network and the entire series will be streamed on SEC Network+ through the WatchESPN app.
 
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