WHAT HAPPENED: The Florida offense exploded for 19 runs on Sunday in the opening weekend finale against Siena. The Gators swept the series against the Saints with 19-2 win at McKethan Stadium this afternoon.
UF took an early 4-0 lead through two innings but Siena got on the board in the fifth and loaded the bases to put the tying run at first base. Starter
Tyler Dyson escaped the jam without any further damage to hold the 4-1 lead.
Keenan Bell's home run in the fifth and a nine-run sixth inning broke the game open. Bell,
Jonathan India and
Blake Reese combined for 11 RBI. Five Gators had two-hit games, including freshman
Shane Shifflett who went 2-for-2 off the bench with a RBI single.
Dyson finished 6.0 innings with one run allowed on five hits. Freshmen
Tommy Mace and
Hunter McMullen each pitched a scoreless inning in their UF debuts.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Blake Reese - Reese went 2-for-4 on Sunday with a career-high four RBI, including a three-run double that sparked the Gators nine-run sixth inning. Through the first three games, Reese is 7-for-12 with five RBI, four doubles and a triple.
FROM THE COACH: Head coach Kevin O'Sullivan on Keenan Bell and Blake Reese - "They've both worked awfully hard, arguably two of our hardest workers. From a coaching standpoint, it's good to see those guys have success early on. Keenan is a legitimate power bat in the middle of the order and Blake has just waited his turn; he's turned into a really, really good player."
On starting pitcher Tyler Dyson - "He was a little off, to be honest with you. It was the first weekend, he's been throwing great in the fall and preseason. I would bet that you're going to see a much better
Tyler Dyson next weekend. Credit to Siena, it's the third day in a row they've seen an arm like that and they're eyes kind of adjusted a little bit and they came out swinging like they did against Jackson [Kowar]. They know we're not going to walk many people so they're up there and they're swinging the bat. Credit their hitters. [Dyson] battled through it, he'll obviously be much better next Sunday."
STANDOUT STAT: 36 - Florida's 36 runs in three games are the most in a three-game series since the Gators scored 38 in three games against South Carolina in 2015.
UP NEXT: Florida hosts FAU (Tuesday, 6 p.m.) and Bethune-Cookman (Wednesday, 6 p.m.) in a pair of midweek contests. Both games will broadcast live on SEC Network+ and the Gator IMG Sports Network.
