The Gators’ pitching staff stifled North Florida’s bats on Tuesday, only allowing four hits, four walks and two runs run while striking out 11 in an 11-2 victory over the Ospreys at Harmon Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Through the first seven innings, Florida pitchers Brandon Sproat, Carsten Finnvold, Brandon Neely and Blake Purnell were lights out, silencing the Ospreys only allowing two hits and a pair of walks before Anthony Ursitti and Ryan Slater gave up two runs in the final frames.
After three scoreless innings to start the game, the Gators broke through on the scoreboard first. Center fielder Jud Fabian started the inning, sending a pitch back up the middle for a single. Then left fielder Wyatt Langford singled to right field, advancing Fabian to third. First baseman BT Riopelle followed with a walk that backed North Florida into a corner.
With the bases juiced, shortstop Josh Rivera ripped a pitch through the left side of the infield to drive in Fabian and Langford, making it 2-0. Designated hitter Ty Evans loaded the bases again with a full-count walk for catcher Mac Guscette, who then recorded a sac fly to score Riopelle.
Florida filled the bags full once more in the fifth and drew two more free passes to increase its lead to 5-0.
The Gators struck again in the sixth. Halter reached via a single and quickly stole second. Fabian then singled into left field to add another insurance run.
In the seventh, right fielder Sterlin Thompson blasted his fourth homer in nine games to increase Florida’s lead to 7-0.
The Ospreys tallied their first run of the game in the eighth inning. Ursitti allowed a lead-off double that advanced to third after a ground out. He then bounced a pitch to the plate that Guscette couldn’t corral, allowing the UNF runner to cruise across home plate.
The Gators went long again in the eighth and ninth innings, with third baseman Deric Fabian and Rivera both bombing two-run homers to left field, respectively.
The Gators will travel back to Gainesville and return to action Wednesday to play Florida A&M at Florida Ballpark at 7 p.m. EST.
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