The Gators secured an absolutely monster series win on Sunday in a decisive Game 3 against No. 2 Vanderbilt, winning 5-3 behind strong performances from starting pitcher Hunter Barco and the rest of the bullpen.
Barco allowed a single to lead off the game but he quickly bounced back to escape the inning unharmed. Florida’s batters got to work at the bottom of the frame. Jacob Young led off with a single, and RBI base hits from Kris Armstrong and Kirby McMullen put a pair of runs on the board, though Vandy got a run back in the second with a solo home run to start the inning.
But Commodores starter Chris McElvaine continued to struggle. In the third, Sterlin Thompson hit a single that scored two runs. He was pulled after giving up a walk and a double to lead off the fourth, but his replacement, Patrick Reilly, couldn’t keep a run from coming across as a fielder’s choice from Young stretched the lead to 5-1.
Barco gave up two singles in the fifth that led to an RBI groundout to get Vandy a run back, and after a walk and fly out to start the sixth, Barco was pulled for Christian Scott, who allowed two singles and a run to score off a sac-fly.
A committee of Scott, Trey Van Der Weide and Jack Leftwich got through the seventh inning allowing two hits and no runs. Leftwich finished the game out, earning a save in the process as he allowed just one hit in the final two frames.
This series win bodes well for Florida’s chances at No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with just three SEC series to go. After a midweek home game against Stetson, UF will return to conference action next weekend in Lexington to take on Kentucky.
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