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It was an electric atmosphere at McKethan Stadium Tuesday night as the Florida baseball team played host to in-state rival Florida State. Florida was able to defeat the Noles in one of the highest scoring games this season, winning 14-8 to improve to 19-3 on the season.
Florida’s head coach Kevin O’Sullivan knows home field advantage helped them out Tuesday night.
“The atmosphere was great, I appreciate all the fans coming out. Kind of had an indication that it was going to be a great night.”
Both teams wasted no time hopping on the scoreboard early in this one. The Noles took the lead in the top of the first after Taylor Walls and John Sansone reached home in the inning.
Florida would poise themselves in the bottom half of the inning when Harrison Bader tripled in a run and Josh Tobias followed with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Jeremy Vasquez had a two run double as Florida scored five runs in the inning.
After the game Bader talked about this team being able to bounce back when they needed it.
“It’s the nature of our team, it’s our mentality. Some pitchers aren’t gonna make pitches some innings but you know what, it’s our job as hitters to pick them up.”
The Orange and Blue kept the pedal to the metal in the second inning when they tacked on another run on a Bader sacrifice fly that scored freshman Dalton Guthrie; Guthrie has now hit in 12 of his last 13 appearances.
Florida State would claw their way back in the third inning when Chris Marconcini doubled to drive in one and Dylan Busby sent home two more to make it a 6-5 game.
The score was tied 7-7 when Florida scored three runs in the fifth inning. Ryan Larson singled home Vasquez who had doubled to plate the first run. Guthrie singled and Richie Martin reached on an error. Martin later touched home on a nifty double steal and Bader picked up another RBI with a sacrifice fly to give Florida a lead it would not give up.
Florida put the game away in the seventh when freshman JJ Schwarz put a dagger in the Noles with a three run homer to deep left.
Schwarz discussed his homer.
“Well it was a hitters count, so I was just looking for a fastball and he put it right where I wanted it. It just worked out.”
In all 13 different pitchers between both teams saw action on the mound. Florida starter Eric Hanhold gave up five runs in just two and a third innings pitched. Mike Vinson, the fourth of seven pitchers used by Florida, got the win in relief as he improves to 2-0 on the year.
Next up Florida will take on Ole Miss in Oxford this weekend in their second SEC series this season.
Sound from the game, click below.
