The second ranked Gators baseball team falls to 31-10 on the season after losing to the University of South Florida 5-3 Tuesday night in Gainesville. Florida falls to 21-5 at home this year and 13-2 against in-state opponents.
Senior Andrew Longley did most of the damage for the visitors, going 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI. Gators freshman Johnny Magliozzi recorded his longest outing of the season in starting the game, going 4.2 innings and allowing no earned runs while striking out four. Reliever Daniel Gibson got the loss, allowing two earned runs in just an inning and two thirds of work.
The Gators’ bats struggled to put much together, leaving 10 runners on base. All three runs came in the sixth inning with Nolan Fontana and Mike Zunino each homering. Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan says it just wasn’t Florida’s night.
There is no rest for the weary as the Gators are right back in action tonight against Bethune Cookman. Florida won the first meeting between the two teams 8-6. Tonight’s first pitch will be at 7:00. Coverage can be heard on WRUF Sports Radio 850 immediately following The Cheap Seats.