Florida Gators

VIDEO
SEC Network+ Recap with Nick Belmonte & Mick Hubert
 
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 10 Mississippi State squared its series with No. 1 Florida on Saturday night, 10-4, and ended the Gators' school-record winning streak of 29 games at McKethan Stadium. The contest was played in front of school-record crowd of 6,244 fans, eclipsing the previous mark of 6,108 fans against LSU on April 7, 2012. The teams will play the rubber game tomorrow at 4 p.m.
 
The Bulldogs (22-9-1/7-4 SEC) scored four runs in the first, added five runs in the fifth and one in the ninth and also turned three double plays to snap a six-game slide to the Gators (29-4/8-3 SEC). Junior Cody Brown had a grand slam, freshman Jake Mangum was 3-for-5 and junior Nathaniel Lowe was 3-for-4 to lead MSU's 14-hit attack. Freshman Jonathan India and sophomore Jeremy Vasquez were each 3-for-4 for Florida and junior Buddy Reed matched his career high of three RBI with a three-run homer.
 
Mississippi State jumped out to a 4-0 lead with four hits in the first inning against sophomore right-hander Alex Faedo (6-1). Mangum, freshman Elih Marrero (2-for-5) and Lowe opened the game with singles into left field to load the bases with none out. Junior Gavin Collins (2-for-4, three runs) was hit by a pitch to bring across Mangum and junior Reid Humphreys (2-for-4) doubled in Marrero and Lowe. An RBI grounder by sophomore Ryan Gridley (two RBI) plated Collins with the fourth run.
 
The Bulldogs tallied five runs on five hits in the third, highlighted by a grand slam from Brown. Lowe led off with a double down the left-field line, Collins reached on a bunt single and Humphreys drew a walk, setting the stage for Brown's second homer of the season to right field. Sophomore Brent Rooker had a one-out single but was erased at second base on a fielder's choice by freshman Hunter Stovall before Mangum had an RBI triple into center field.
 
In the bottom of the frame, the Gators used a three-run homer by Reed to get on the board. Vasquez raised his hitting streak to seven games with a leadoff single against junior Austin Sexton, who had freshman Nelson Maldonado hit into a double play. After back-to-back singles by India and sophomore Dalton Guthrie, Reed connected on his third homer of the year into the visiting bullpen.
 
Florida loaded the bases against Sexton in the fifth with none out but came away empty-handed. After India singled up the middle and Guthrie walked, India went to third on a wild pitch. Reed earned a free pass to fill the bags and sophomore Ryan Rigby (4-1) replaced Sexton (4.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R). The righty had sophomore JJ Schwarz hit into a 1-2-3 double play and struck out junior Peter Alonso to end the frame.
 
India had an RBI single in the eighth to drive in sophomore Mark Kolozsvary, who had started the frame with an infield single. Gridley completed the scoring in the ninth with a sacrifice fly that scored Collins. Rigby permitted one runs and four hits over five innings to collect the win.
 
Faedo (5.0 IP, 10 H, 9 R) was followed to the mound by sophomore Nick Horvath (0.1 IP), junior Frank Rubio (1.2 IP), freshman Michael Byrne (1.0 IP) and freshman Eddy Demurias (1.0 IP).
 
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
Opening Statement:
"It was just one of those nights. It got away from us early. It wasn't the best start for Alex (Faedo), but in his defense everything he put in play was out of reach. Credit Mississippi State's hitters, they did a nice job of putting the ball in play. We were determined not to strike out and a few of their hits early on found holes. I was proud of our team and the way they battled, we put a three spot up in the third. We were one or two hits away from getting back in the game. We hung in there." 
 
Sophomore outfielder Jeremy Vasquez
On tonight's setback:
"It's just part of the game, we're going to win some, we're going to lose some, but this was a tough one."
 
Postgame Notes

• Mississippi State ended a six-game losing streak to Florida.
• The Bulldogs turned three double plays (third, fourth and fifth innings).
• Before tonight, the Gators' last loss at home came against Auburn on May 14, 2015 (4-1).
• Florida fell to 9-2 against ranked teams this year, 7-2 versus top-10 foes.
• UF completed last season with seven straight wins and began this year with 22 victories in a row on their home turf.
• Buddy Reed belted his first homer since March 20 against Missouri.
• Jeremy Vasquez tied his career high for the third time with three hits.
• Florida had 12 hits for the sixth game in a row.

 
Up Next
The Gators and Bulldogs complete the series tomorrow at 4 p.m. Jeff Cardozo and Mick Hubert have the call on the Gator IMG Sports Network and the game will be shown on the SEC Network and streamed on the Watch ESPN app with Nick Belmonte and Mike Morgan.
 
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