COLUMBIA, Mo.—Another strong start from Alex Faedo and early offense led Florida to a 4-3 win over Missouri on Friday night in the series opener at Taylor Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
 
Florida (18-9, 3-4 SEC) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead through three innings before Mike Rivera's home run in the sixth made it 4-0. Missouri (21-5, 4-3 SEC) scored three runs late and threatened until Michael Byrne closed it out.
 
The Gators struck first with a run in the opening frame. Deacon Liput led off with a single and came around to score on JJ Schwarz's RBI single up the middle.
 
In the third, Florida added another run as a leadoff walk to Nick Horvath came back to bite the home team. Horvath made it to third on Liput's second single of the night and scored after the second baseman booted a grounder from Schwarz.
 
The game was quiet in the middle innings until Rivera hit his second homer in as many games, launching a two-run shot over the fence in left to give the Gators a 4-0 lead.
 
Faedo's scoreless streak ended at 13.2 innings after Missouri got on the board in the seventh. After a leadoff double from Alex Sample, the Tigers scored on Chris Cornelius' two-out, RBI single.
 
In the eighth, Faedo got in trouble again after an error and hit batter set up Missouri with two on and no outs. A 1-6-3 double play looked like it may have killed momentum, but a two-out double from Brian Sharp got another run back for Missouri.
 
The Tigers cut the lead to one after pinch hitter Brett Bond lined a single to right and Sharp came around to score.
 
Byrne took over with two outs in the eighth and struck out the final batter on three pitches to end the threat. He then retired the side in order in the ninth for his third save of the season.
 
Game two of the series at Missouri is Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. The game will air on SEC Network+ and the Gators IMG Sports Network.
 
 
POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan
"This was two of the best pitchers in the country going head-to-head tonight. I've been saying all along that our bats are starting to come along and we hit a lot of balls hard tonight against one of the best pitchers in the country. Deacon continues to swing the bat well, had three hits and was staying in the middle of the field. Mikey got a hold of one and hit a home run to left center field, which, tonight the wind was blowing in and it was a cold night and the ball was not traveling. He continues to do well. Christian Hicks had a couple hits, got a two-strike bunt down when they had the wheel play on so we were slashing there. We've got to do a better job of getting them in there from third with less than two outs.
 
"I think the biggest thing that hurt us defensively was the dropped ball in left field. It was kind of the same thing that happened to Alex Friday night at Auburn. We dropped a ball in left field and the floodgates kind of opened. Andrew [Baker] came in and fell behind a hitter but threw some quality pitches. They had a veteran guy Bond come up and got a nice base hit, and Michael Byrne's been really good for us. He came in, actually got his first at bat and got a 3-0 slider – that's a lot of respect for Michael Byrne as a hitter – but he walked. I was just hoping that if JJ hit one in the gap he wouldn't pull a hammy running around the bases because we needed him there in the ninth. But he did a really good job.
 
"It's our first road win in the SEC against a much improved Missouri team. They've been playing with a lot of confidence, I think they had just two losses at home. It was a good win, it was a really good win."