WHAT HAPPENED: No. 1 Florida grabbed an 8-4 over Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday to claim its fourth consecutive midweek win.
The Gators have won seven consecutive games, matching their longest win streak of the season. They move to 124-54 (.697) against in-state opponents under head coach
Kevin O'Sullivan.
After
Nick Horvath made a leaping catch at the wall to save a two-run home run in the top of the sixth, Horvath and Florida exploded for five runs in the bottom half.
The Gators had already scored twice in the frame when Horvath came up to plate. With runners at the corners, he blasted a 2-2 breaking ball over the left-field stands to push the Florida lead to 8-2.
On the mound,
Andrew Baker gave the Gators three strong innings out of the pen. He allowed just one hit while striking out three Eagle batters. Baker helped serve as a bridge to
Michael Byrne, who closed out the final 1 2/3 innings.
Jonathan India extended his hit streak to 16 games when he doubled down the left-field line in the third inning. Two batters later, India scored off a
JJ Schwarz liner up the middle.
With his two RBIs, Schwartz now sits alone in second in program history with 216 for his career.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Nick Horvath – In the top of the sixth, Horvath brought back a two-run homer climbing the left-center wall to preserve the Gators' 3-2 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, he smashed a three run shot to cap a five-run Gator inning. Horvath came into the game in the top of the second after Maldonado left the game with an injury.
FROM THE COACH: Head coach Kevin O'Sullivan on the win over Florida Gulf Coast: "That is a really good offensive club that came in top 10 in the nation in hitting. I think it was a good start for him against an older club and some meaningful points when he had second and third with no outs and only gave up one run. I thought Andrew (Baker) was great out of the pen, three scoreless innings on 34 pitches. Michael (Byrne) did his thing getting five outs on 13 pitches.
"We had a lot of production up and down the lineup.
Brady Smith had a chance to start behind the plate and had three hits. And
Nick Horvath had a big three-run homer and obviously saved a two-run homer making an unbelievable play there in left center field. All and all it was a really nice night for us"
STANDOUT STAT: 55 – Tuesday marked
JJ Schwarz's 55th time in his Gator career he has driven in two or more runs. Schwartz plated Florida's first two runs of the game. He now sits alone in second with 216 career RBIs.
UP NEXT: Florida hits the road for the next four games including a three-game set at Tennessee beginning Friday night. The Gators are 20-10 against the Volunteers in the O'Sullivan era, including a 9-6 record in Knoxville.
