Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 1 Florida finished off a weekend sweep of Dartmouth with an 8-6 victory on Sunday afternoon at McKethan Stadium. In notching their sixth straight win, the Gators (12-1) overcame a 3-0 deficit and used a three-run fifth inning to move in front of the Big Green (0-6).
 
Sophomore Alex Faedo (3-0) picked up the decision with a five-inning stint, sophomore Nick Horvath collected his first save and the Gator offense was powered by two RBI apiece from sophomore Dalton Guthrie (2-for-4, one run), junior Buddy Reed (1-for-5, one run) and sophomore JJ Schwarz (1-for-3, two runs).
 
Dartmouth grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning against Faedo on back-to-back RBI singles by junior Michael Ketchmark (3-for-4) and freshman Steffen Torgersen. Senior Joe Purritano drew a leadoff walk and went to third on a one-out single by sophomore Kyle Holbrook (2-for-4, three runs). Ketchmark broke the ice for the second straight day with a base-knock into right center to score Purritano and Torgersen followed with a single into center field to drive in Holbrook.
 
Holbrook boosted Dartmouth's advantage to 3-0 with a homer to right field in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the frame, Schwarz answered with his third homer to put the Gators on the board. The blast came on the first pitch from sophomore Clay Chatham (0-2) and cleared the wall in left center. The hosts had a pair of runners aboard with two down, as junior Peter Alonso singled and sophomore Mike Rivera walked, but Chatham stopped the threat by having freshman Deacon Liput (2-for-4) line out to right field.
 
The Gators tallied three runs on two hits and an error to seize a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning. Freshman Jonathan India (2-for-3, two runs) was hit by a pitch with one down and Guthrie laced a single into left field before Reed smashed a game-tying, two-run triple into the right-field corner. Junior Chris Burkholder replaced Chatham (4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R) and Schwarz put the Orange and Blue ahead with a grounder that Roulis misplayed.
 
Florida tacked on two runs in the sixth to build a 6-3 margin. Rivera opened the inning with his third homer of the year to left field and Guthrie added a sacrifice fly to bring home freshman Nelson Maldonado, who had reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third on a double by India.
 
Schwarz came home in the seventh to give the Gators a 7-3 lead. Schwarz was hit by a pitch from senior Beau Sulser and advanced to third on a hit-and-run by junior Ryan Larson. Although Larson was caught stealing, Schwarz scored on the relay throw down to second base. Dartmouth trimmed the deficit to a pair of runs in the eighth on a two-out RBI double by Ketchmark and an RBI single by sophomore Justin Fowler. Guthrie delivered a two-out RBI double that plated India in the eighth and Purritano had an RBI single in the ninth before Horvath induced a pop-up to complete the contest.
                                                      
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
Opening Statement:
"I credit Dartmouth for giving us some really good games this weekend. They ran out some pretty good arms. Their hitters were pesky; it was hard to put them away. They battled, today especially. They really stood in there good against a guy that had a great start last week. Credit them, they battled -- our guys did too. We hung in there and the bats came alive there in the fourth inning. It was a good weekend for us."
 
On what was different offensively for Florida beginning in the fourth inning:
"I think JJ (Schwarz)'s home run probably got us going a little bit. Deacon (Liput) had a good swing. He hit a line drive to right and squared up the ball. I think that's what got it going. For some reason, our timing was a little off. We were late to a lot of pitches, and that's something we'll continue to address. We still are learning to get our legs underneath us a little bit, and I think that's the reason for a lot of fly balls and the bat speed slowing down a hair. But, we'll regroup. It's still early. I'm pleased with how they responded. I thought they came today with a lot more energy."
 
Junior outfielder Buddy Reed
On his two-run triple that tied the game in the fifth inning:
"The game plan was to attack the fastballs.  They had a great pitching staff, they attacked all of the hitters. They came in on me and I was looking for a fastball. Luckily, I was able to yank it down the line for a triple."
 
Sophomore pitcher Nick Horvath
On closing the game for the Gators:
"When you're closing the game out, you just want to come in and throw some strikes and do what it takes to get an out."
 
Postgame Notes

• Today marked Florida's fifth come-from-behind win of the year and the second after being down by three runs (trailed Eastern Michigan, 7-4, on Feb. 24, won 8-7).
• The Gators improved to 8-0 at McKethan Stadium and have claimed 15 straight wins at home dating back to last season.
• Florida had multiple homers in an outing for the third time this year thanks to JJ Schwarz (fourth inning) and Mike Rivera (sixth inning).
• Alex Faedo's stretch of 8.1 hitless innings ended on a two-out single in the first inning by Thomas Roulis.
• Faedo's run of nine consecutive scoreless frames was halted on an RBI single by Michael Ketchmark in the second inning.
• Deacon Liput had his team-leading sixth double in the third inning and has reached base in all 13 of the Gators' games this year.
• Buddy Reed extended his hitting streak to eight games with a two-run triple in the fifth inning.
• Seven of the Gators' 11 homers have come from catchers (3 - Schwarz, 3 - Rivera, 1 - Mark Kolozsvary).
• Six of the Gators' 12 hits went for extra bases: three doubles, two homers and one triple.
• Nick Horvath earned his first career save.

 
Up Next
Florida will play the front end of a home-and-home series at North Florida on Tuesday at 6 p.m., with the Gators and Ospreys meeting at McKethan Stadium on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Both games can be heard on the Gator IMG Sports Network with Jeff Cardozo and Steve Russell.
 
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