Freshman
right-hander Tucker Simpson (Oxford, Ala.) (1-1) worked a career-high
5.2 innings for his first collegiate win and was supported by home runs from
sophomores Justin Shafer (Lake Wales, Fla.) and Taylor Gushue
(Boca Raton, Fla.) as Florida (10-12) notched a 9-4 victory over North Florida
(15-7) on Tuesday night at McKethan Stadium. Redshirt sophomore Zack Powers
(Seffner, Fla.) also drove in two runs for the Gators, who ended a nine-game
homestand on a winning note.
“Tucker
[Simpson] did a really nice job,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.
“He got us into the sixth inning. He kept his pitch count under 75 and that was
his limit tonight, so we’ll have him available for the weekend. [Justin] Shafer
came in and threw strikes. I thought [Ryan] Harris was really sharp and Mags
[Johnny Magliozzi] threw the ball well.”
“Pitching-wise,
the game was very good. We got on the board early. [Justin] Shafer hit a homer,
then [Taylor] Gushue hit a homer, we were a little more aggressive on the basepaths
tonight. We stole some bases and we did a couple of hit-and-runs, so overall,
it was a clean game. It was a game that we put a lot of emphasis on. We’re at a
point now in the season where these midweek games are just as important as any
other games we play on the weekend. It was a good team effort and it certainly
gives us a little momentum going into the weekend.”
Shafer
opened the scoring with a two-out, two-run homer in the first inning off of UNF
junior David Trexler (2-2). Freshman Harrison Bader (Bronxville, N.Y.)
(2-for-4) extended his hitting streak to six games with a one-out single, matching
his career high, but was thrown out trying to steal second base. Powers earned
a free pass and Shafer followed with his second big fly of the year into the
left-field bleachers.
Senior
Corey Bass (3-for-4) cut the Ospreys’ deficit in half at 2-1 with a one-out
homer to right field in the third inning. Simpson had breezed through
the second frame with a pair of strikeouts. Senior Joe Wielbruda was hit by a
pitch after the homer and Simpson worked out of further trouble by inducing an
inning-ending 5-4-3 double play by sophomore Drew Weeks.
The
Ospreys squandered a prime opportunity in the fourth, when junior Tyler
Marincov drew a leadoff walk and a base-hit into right field by freshman Donnie
Dewees (2-for-4). Simpson struck out freshman Corbin Olmstead, had senior Paul
Karmeris fly out to center field and then fanned junior Peyton Walsh to
preserve the Gators’ advantage.
Florida
plated two runs on two hits in the bottom of the frame to build a 4-1 lead. Gushue
(2-for-4) led off with his first homer since March 18 of last season against Vanderbilt
by roping a 1-0 pitch into the bleachers in left field. Senior Vickash
Ramjit (Miami, Fla.) and sophomore Connor Mitchell (Tampa, Fla.)
were each hit, prompting a pitching change. Olmstead moved from first base to
the mound for sophomore Jamie Cardwell (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R). Sophomore Josh
Tobias (Greensboro, N.C.) loaded the bases with a single into left field
and sophomore Casey Turgeon (Palm Harbor, Fla.) (1-for-2, two runs)
extended the Gators’ lead to 4-1 with a sacrifice fly into center field that
brought home Ramjit.
Simpson
recorded the first two outs of the sixth before Dewees reached on an infield
hit and Olmstead punched a single into center field. Shafer replaced Simpson,
who worked a career-high 5.2 innings and allowed six hits and three runs, with
five strikeouts and a walk. Karmeris doubled to left field, barely out of the
reach of Bader, to narrow the gap to 4-3 and Shafer caught sophomore Spencer
Herrmann looking on strikes to keep Florida in front.
“I
was able to get into a rhythm there, especially in the second inning,” Simpson
said after picking up his first victory. “Knowing that we put two runs on the
board in the first, I was able to get more comfortable there and get into a
rhythm.”
Bass
had a one-out single in the seventh but was erased at second base on a nice defensive
play by Powers. Although a wild pitch with two down enabled Wielbruda to occupy
second, Shafer struck out Weeks to end the inning.
Senior
Cody Dent (Boynton Beach, Fla.) (1-for-3, two runs) began the home part of
the frame with a walk and Turgeon followed with a single through the left side
before Bader sacrificed his teammates into scoring position with a bunt. Hermann
replaced junior Ryan McMahon (0.2 IP, 1 H 2 R) and uncorked a wild pitch to
bring across Dent and Powers then stroked a double down the right-field line to
give the hosts a 6-3 advantage.
Florida
tacked on three more runs in the eighth for a 9-3 cushion. Mitchell started
things off with a walk and was forced at second base on a fielder’s choice by
Tobias. After Tobias stole second, Dent sliced an RBI single down the
left-field line to drive him in. Turgeon was hit by a pitch and Bader legged
out an infield single to load the bases before Powers earned a free pass to
score Dent for an 8-3 count. Senior Marshal Rosenberger came in for Trey
Ferrano (0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R) and uncorked a wild pitch that brought in Turgeon
with the Gators’ final run.
After
sophomore Ryan Harris (Jupiter, Fla.) worked a perfect eighth on seven
pitches, sophomore Johnny Magliozzi (East Milton, Mass.) took the mound
for the ninth. The righty retired the first two batters before yielding a
single through the left side by freshman Kyle Brooks (2-for-4). Bass delivered
a two-out triple to score Brooks and finalize the 9-3 margin.
