The Florida baseball team began a busy week Tuesday night with a hard fought 8-7 win over Fairfield. Florida is now 15-2 while the Stags fall to 0-4.
Righty Eric Hanhold got the start and the win on the mound for Florida, going a planned three innings, giving up no runs. The Gators gave Hanhold a three run lead in the third inning.
Ryan Larson hit a sacrifice fly to score Florida’s first run and senior Josh Tobias plated two more with a two out single to extend his hitting streak to nine games.
Fairfield made it 3-2 when lefty reliever Kirby Snead gave up a two run homer in the fourth inning but the Gators responded with a pair of runs in the fifth. Richie Martin had an RBI groundout to score Dalton Guthrie who had doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch and freshman JJ Schwarz tripled home Buddy Reed after he hit a one out double.
Schwarz was not done hitting as in the seventh inning he hit a long two run home run after Buddy Reed had doubled home a run earlier in the inning as the Gators led 8-2 going into the eighth inning.
Things got a little interesting at that point for the Orange and Blue faithful as Fairfield scored five runs in the inning to pull within 8-7. However, UF closer Taylor Lewis retired the side in the ninth inning to secure his fifth save and the win for the Gators. 7.
Florida will take on Fairfield again Wednesday night before opening SEC play against Tennessee this weekend at home.
For audio from the game, click below.