WHAT HAPPENED: Florida's bullpen shut down the Bethune-Cookman bats for six innings as UF beat the Wildcats 7-4 on Wednesday night at McKethan Stadium.

Bethune-Cookman notched three runs off Florida freshman Jordan Butler -- making his first career start -- but the bullpen limited the visitors to just one run on four hits over the final six innings. 

Sophomore Nick Long was the first out of the bullpen and went 2.1 scoreless innings. Freshman Hunter McMullen allowed just one hit over two scoreless innings.

The Gators opened the scoring in the first inning. Nelson Maldonado doubled into the right field gap and scored on Wil Dalton's two-out, RBI single. 

UF extended the lead with three runs in the third. JJ Schwarz hit his second home run of the season, an opposite field shot off the scoreboard. Wil Dalton doubled and scored on a balk to make it 4-0.

Bethune-Cookman pulled within a run in the fourth inning. Four straight hitters reached base and knocked Butler from the game but not before the Wildcats tagged him with three runs. Sophomore Nick Long entered and got out of the inning with a 4-3 lead.

Schwarz got a run back for the Gators in the fifth after a triple got him to third base. Dalton reached on an error that allowed Schwarz to score for a 5-3 Gators lead.

Florida threatened again in the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out. Dalton drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in one run and Keenan Bell made it 7-3 with a RBI single.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Gators Bullpen - Through the first five games, the UF bullpen has allowed just two runs over 17.2 innings of work. Seven different pitchers have yet to allow a run out of the pen, led by Michael Byrne (3.2 IP) and Hunter McMullen (3.0 IP).

FROM THE COACH: Head coach Kevin O'Sullivan on the bullpen - "First of all, I thought Nick Long came in and did a nice job, 2.1 scoreless. Hunter obviously came in and did a really nice job, got a big double play ball. He continues to throw the ball really well. Michael got his first save of the year.

On JJ Schwarz - "He's swinging the bat really good. He's using the whole field. The first weekend he pulled a couple balls really hard, today he goes the other way twice. He's seeing the ball really well."

STANDOUT STAT: 9 - Sophomore Wil Dalton -- a junior college transfer -- has totaled 9 RBI already through the first fives games of the season. 

UP NEXT: Florida hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to Miami for a three-game series beginning Friday at 7 p.m. All three games will be available for streaming on WatchESPN. Live radio will be broadcast via the Gators IMG Sports Network.