Coach Kevin O’Sullivan challenged his Florida baseball lineup to step up after the Gators dropped two out of three games against the Liberty Flames in its opening series. His hitters struck out 31 times and collected a .186 batting average through the three games. Against Stetson on Tuesday, the Gators’ lineup rose up to the occasion. They recorded 14 hits in an 8-1 victory versus the Hatters on the road.
Florida jumped Stetson pitcher Anthony Defabbia to start the game. Right fielder Sterlin Thompson continued his hot streak, knocking in second baseman Colby Halter who got on via a lead-off hit. Then center fielder Jud Fabian scored when shortstop Josh Rivera grounded into a double play.
Thompson added to the Gators lead in the third when he blasted a solo shot to right field. Designated hitter Tucker Talbott doubled to score Rivera after he walked earlier in the inning to increase the lead to 5-0.
Thompson did it again in the fourth when he drove in Fabian. In the fifth, Talbott singled in Rivera, and Deric Fabian scored Talbott later on to make it 7-1. Finally, in the seventh, Deric hit a single that bounced off the Stetson pitcher to plate Rivera to get to the final score.
Florida pitcher Timmy Manning got the start versus Stetson after he took the starting the second game versus the Flames. In that game, he allowed four earned runs and gave up five hits, two walks and a hit by pitch in only three innings. However, Sullivan only asked Manning to throw one inning that was clean with the exception of hitting a Hatter. The rest of the Gators bullpen pitched well allowing only one run and three hits.
Offensively, Thompson, Talbott and Deric led the charge going a combined 9-14 with seven RBIs, three doubles and a home run.
The Orange and Blue return to Florida Ballpark Wednesday to face North Florida in another mid-week contest at 7 p.m.