Florida Gators
Bethune-Cookman
No. 6 Florida Edges Bethune-Cookman, 2-1
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior Josh Tobias came through with a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning to score junior Richie Martin with the winning run, as No. 6 Florida (32-10) edged Bethune-Cookman (15-30), 2-1, on Tuesday night at McKethan Stadium.
After the Wildcats had tied the game in the top of the eighth on a two-out single by senior Bryant Munoz (2-for-3), Martin (2-for-3, two runs) doubled to left field off of junior Clint Clymer (0-3). A grounder by junior Harrison Bader advanced Martin to third base and Tobias roped a 2-1 offering into center field to provide the winning margin. Senior left-hander Bobby Poyner (3-1) worked a clean ninth to secure the Gators' fourth win in a row.
Bethune-Cookman had the bases full with one down in the sixth but was unable to break the ice. Freshman Jameel Edney (2-for-4) had a one-out double down the left-field line, his second of the night, prompting a pitching change for the Gators. Over 5.1 innings, junior right-hander Eric Hanhold had a career-high seven strikeouts and gave up five hits. Sophomore left-hander A.J. Puk plunked Munoz, had a wild pitch and issued a walk to senior Jordan Robinson. Junior righty Aaron Rhodes induced an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play from junior Nathan Bond to escape the jam.
The Gators used a two-out hit by sophomore Buddy Reed to seize a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the frame. Martin extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a leadoff bunt single against freshman Joseph Calamita and stole second base with two down. Reed had an infield fly that fell between several Wildcats, Martin came around to score on the play and Reed wound up on third base. Clymer replaced Calamita (1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R) and had sophomore Peter Alonso ground out to keep the count at 1-0.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
On the Gators' lack of offense tonight:
“Offensively, what can I say, I don't know. There's really not an answer why we came out the way we did tonight. We did everything we usually do. We talked about some games last year that we dropped midweek, and that we needed to come out ready to play.”
On Eric Hanhold's start:
“That is the best [Eric] Hanhold has looked all year. I'm really pleased with the way he threw. It was good to get Aaron Rhodes back out there again, and then [Bobby] Poyner did a nice job. Pitching-wise, we were good tonight. We needed to be because of the way we were swinging the bats. Tomorrow is another day to clean up some things. We certainly need to get better.”
Senior third baseman Josh Tobias
On how Florida's pitchers contributed to the win:
"It was good to have the pitching. Obviously, we didn't hit well, but it's always good to have the pitching to back you up. They've been throwing well all weekend. It's good for them to keep going through it into this weekend."
Junior RHP Eric Hanhold
On Josh Tobias' game-winning RBI single in the eighth inning:
"It was a big lift. We needed this game. We're playing good baseball, but we just have to come ready every day and get ready for the series."
Postgame Notes
- Florida holds a 29-0 advantage in the all-time series, with 28 of the wins coming in Gainesville. Head coach Kevin O'Sullivan is now 9-0 against the Wildcats.
- Eric Hanhold made his third start of the season and 10th appearance for the Gators. His career-high seven strikeouts surpassed his previous high of three punch-outs.
- Hanhold picked off his second runner of the year in the second frame of tonight's game.
- Bobby Poyner tossed the eighth and ninth innings of tonight's game and improved his record to 3-1 on the season.
- Richie Martin extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an infield single in the sixth inning.
- Florida scored its first run of the game later in the inning on a triple by Buddy Reed.
- Martin recorded his team-leading 15th and 16th thefts in the fourth and sixth innings.
- Bethune-Cookman knotted the game up in the eighth frame with a two-out RBI single to left field by Bryant Munoz.
- Florida regained the lead in the bottom of the frame when Josh Tobias laced a single into center field to score Martin, who reached base with a one-out double.
Up Next
The Gators will host SEC Eastern Division rival Kentucky in a three-game series starting on Friday at 7 p.m. at McKethan Stadium. The game can be heard on the Gator IMG Sports Network with Jeff Cardozo and Steve Russell and will be carried on SEC Network+ with Nick Belmonte and Mick Hubert through participating TV providers only through WatchESPN.
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