No.
1 Florida (14-1) scored four runs in the first inning and junior Brian
Johnson (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) (2-0) had a season-high six strikeouts over six
innings in a series-clinching 8-3 victory over Florida Gulf Coast (6-7) on Saturday
afternoon at McKethan Stadium. The Gators increased their winning streak to 12
games, two shy of the school-record stretch of 14 done twice (March 20-April 4,
2001, and Feb. 21-March 14, 2004).
Florida
reached FGCU starter Brandon Bixler (2-2) for four runs in the first inning to
take a 4-0 lead. Junior Nolan Fontana (Winter Garden, Fla.) (2-for-3,
two RBI, two runs) drew a leadoff walk, senior Daniel Pigott (Ormond Beach,
Fla.) was hit by a pitch and senior Preston Tucker (Tampa, Fla.) earned
a free pass to load the bases with none out. Junior Mike Zunino (Cape
Coral, Fla.) (2-for-5) drove in two runs with a first-pitch single into left
field and freshman Taylor Gushue (Boca Raton, Fla.) deposited a base-hit
into center field to score Tucker. A fielder’s choice by freshman Justin
Shafer (Lake Wales, Fla.) left runners on the corners with one down and
junior Austin Maddox (Jacksonville, Fla.) (1-for-3) lofted a sacrifice
fly to center field to bring home Zunino. The Gators’ total of four runs in the
frame was their most to begin a game this season.
“We
got help with some walks there in the first inning and I thought we capitalized
on those walks and got to a 5-0 lead after two innings,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan
said. “I thought we had a really good approach early on and it was a tough day
to hit. The wind was blowing in and their pitchers, when those guys are not in
the zone all the time, they’re not the easiest guys to hit. We did enough to
win and obviously we have to do a better job in the middle innings offensively,
but that five-run cushion there certainly helped us to win.”
“I
thought overall it was a great outing for Brian Johnson. I thought he threw the
ball really well and he was much more in control today. I thought his delivery
was good, he was moving the ball back and forth and he threw his off-speed pitches
for strikes. I think that was probably his best start of the year. He looked
very comfortable.”
"To
be honest, it probably felt the best so far,” Johnson said. “I'm trying to
throw pitches for strikes, and work ahead in the count. I felt really confident
out there today."
