GAINESVILLE
— Florida unloaded its biggest offensive performance of the year in
a 16-1 win over Florida Atlantic at McKethan Stadium. The Gators set
a new season high in runs and tied their best in hits with 16.
Gators
starting pitcher Bobby Poyner beat former Palm Beach Central High
teammate Jake Meiers for his first collegiate win.
Poyner,
a freshman, threw four innings, struck out three and did not allow an
earned run. He missed some of his senior year of high school with a
torn labrum but has looked strong at Florida. In five games this
season, he has a 1.04 ERA.
"It's
huge for your confidence," he said. "Going from not being
able to throw and every throw hurting to feeling good again is huge."
Coach
Kevin O'Sullivan added, "We knew what he was about before he got
here. What he's done so far is not surprising."
Meiers
gave up eight earned runs in two innings for the Owls (8-5).
Mike
Zunino, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, hit two home runs off
Meiers and drove in five. He is batting .465 and has a 15-game
hitting streak dating to last season.
Florida's
Tyler Thompson, a senior from Jupiter High School, hit his second
home run of the season, a two-run drive to right field. He went
2-for-4 with five RBI and is hitting .333.
"He's
much more balanced and he's not swinging at balls out of the zone,"
O'Sullivan said. " He's seeing the ball better and he's not
chasing."
The
Gators (11-1) began the year ranked No. 1 in the country and have
lived up to it . Their only loss was to No. 19 Cal State Fullerton in
the third game of the season-opening series.
