Florida Gators
Rhode Island
No. 5 Florida Completes Sweep of Rhode Island, 6-1
Sunday, February 15, 2015 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Freshman Dalton Guthrie went 4-for-5 out of leadoff spot, with three runs and a pair of doubles, as No. 5 Florida finished off a weekend sweep of Rhode Island, 6-1, on Sunday at McKethan Stadium. Powered by 11 RBI over the three games by junior Harrison Bader, the Gators (3-0) swept their season-opening series for the first time since 2011. Kevin O'Sullivan's club hit .340 (36-for-106) on Opening Weekend and out-scored Rams (0-3), 37-5.
Bader (2-for-4, two RBI) began the scoring in the first inning with a two-out double that brought across Guthrie, who had led off with a base-hit into center field and stole second. Freshman Logan Browning extended UF's lead to 2-0 in the second frame with his first collegiate hit, a two-out RBI single that drove in sophomore John Sternagel.
The Gators tacked on another run in the third on a leadoff homer to left field by junior Richie Martin that ended the afternoon for URI starter Blaise Whitman (2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R).
Senior Nick DeRegis put the Rams on the board with a big fly to start the fifth inning. Making his season debut, sophomore left-hander A.J. Puk (Photo below by Tim Casey) collected the win while working 4.2 innings on a pre-determined pitch count.
Florida scored twice in the sixth to build a 5-1 lead. After Browning was hit by a pitch, Guthrie greeted junior reliever Brad Applin with a double down the left-field line to score his teammate and went to third on the relay throw home. Martin was plunked with two down for runners on the corners and Bader cashed in with an RBI single into right field. UF added an insurance run in the eighth on a fielder's choice by sophomore Buddy Reed after Guthrie had doubled and moved to third on a throwing error.
The trio of junior Aaron Rhodes, senior Bobby Poyner and junior Taylor Lewis combined for 4.1 shutout frames to close the contest.
Postgame Quotes
Head coach Kevin O'Sullivan
On sweeping Rhode Island:
“We knew Rhode Island was going to come ready to play today and play better, and they did. We warned our guys that in the game of baseball you can score 22 one day and only five the next. It's just the way the percentages work. We ended up scoring six (runs). I thought we pitched well, as we made some pitches when we needed to. Obviously, the story of the day, other than A.J. Puk's start, is Dalton Guthrie. He had good at bats, he ran the bases extremely well, as he advanced on an errant throw there in the eighth. He just had a heck of a game. We made some mistakes and have some things that need to be corrected but when you've got a chance to sweep a team like Rhode Island, that's a lot older than us, considering we played five freshmen, we feel really good with where we are.”
Freshman second baseman Dalton Guthrie
On his hitting:
“It was big. (Rhode Island) was especially playing for pride. They came out today ready to play, so it was big to get off to an early start. The game plan was to get on them early and just stay on them. They played tough today, but we stuck to our game plan and did well.”
On going 4-for-5 today:
“The first night was obviously exciting, but I couldn't really feel my hands. I was a little nervous, but it's just getting comfortable. I've been playing with the same team for four years, so it's a little different transitioning. I feel like I'm getting more comfortable.”
Sophomore left-hander A.J. Puk
On his pitching today:
“I felt really good. I was happy to be out there, and I felt good. The first inning was kind of rough to get through with 23 pitches but I slowed down and had a good outing.”
On his mindset after the first inning:
“I was telling myself to go out there and throw strikes, get ahead of hitters, and just let my defense behind me play. They're extremely good.”
Opening Series by the Numbers
- Dating back to 2002, the Gators hold a 13-1 (.929) record in opening series at home.
- In Kevin O'Sullivan's tenure, the Gators have now swept Siena (2008), Louisville (2009), USF (2010 & 2011) and Rhode Island (2015).
- UF captured two of three from Cal State Fullerton (2012), Duke (2013) and Maryland (2014).
- The Orange and Blue held a 37-5 scoring advantage on the weekend.
- Over 27.0 innings, the Gator pitching staff gave up 18 hits and five runs for a 1.67 earned run average, totaling 25 strikeouts and permitting just four walks.
- UF used 12 different pitchers this weekend, including freshman Alex Faedo.
- 16 of Florida's 36 hits in the series went for extra bases, with nine doubles, one triple and six homers.
- Florida hitters recorded a total of 11 hit-by-pitches over the three-game set.
Weekend's Best:
- Harrison Bader was 7-for-12 (.583) with three homers, 11 RBI and five runs scored as he sported an on-base percentage of .643.
- Bader had 24 RBI all of last season in 44 games played.
Game 3 Leaders:
- The Gator offense posted a run in each of the first three innings, then two in the sixth and one in the eighth.
- Dalton Guthrie went 4-for-5 with three runs, two doubles and one RBI.
- Richie Martin belted his first homer of the season (second career) in the third inning to left-center field. It was his first long ball first since May 10, 2014, against Vanderbilt.
- A.J. Puk (1-0) got the nod on the bump and surrendered one earned run on six hits over 4.2 innings.
- Aaron Rhodes gave the Gators a solid 2.0-inning stint out of the bullpen, as he didn't give up a run and struck out two.
- Bobby Poyner and Taylor Lewis combined to throw final 2.1 innings and totaled two strikeouts without allowing a run.
Newcomer Impact:
- The Gators started five freshmen: Logan Browning (RF) Dalton Guthrie (2B), Christian Hicks (1B), Mike Rivera (DH) and JJ Schwarz (C).
- Guthrie singled in the first and then stole second base, recording his first career theft.
- Browning recorded his first-career hit and RBI in the bottom of the second inning with a single to center.
Series History:
- This weekend's matchup marked the first between Florida and Rhode Island since the Gators swept a weekend series in Gainesville from March 11-13, 2011 (11-5, 12-4, 8-6).
- With today's win, the Gators lead the all-time series, 8-0.
Up Next
The Gators will host Florida A&M on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on the Gator IMG Sports Network with Jeff Cardozo and Steve Russell and the game will be carried on SEC Network+. This contest will be available through participating TV providers only through WatchESPN.
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