Gator Baseball Cruises to Game One Victory Over South Carolina

The Florida baseball team uses a lot of hitting and enough pitching to defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks 14-3 Friday night in Gainesville in the first of a three game series. The Gators offense has scored 36 runs and gotten 39 hits in its last two games.

Gator coach Kevin O’Sullivan was pleased with the win.  

“Tonight was big especially after the Missouri series where we only had nine hits the last two games but that’s baseball. Hitting’s contagious sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a bad way and it seems like things are kind of going our way right now. Kind of a weird game the way it started, both starters seemed to struggle a little bit; I mean we scored three and then turn around and give up two. Both guys were a little bit off and left the ball a little bit up.”

The Gators jumped out to an early lead in this one thanks to Harrison Bader hitting his team leading 10th home run in the bottom of the first to give Florida the 1-0 lead. Later, Jeremy Vasquez hit a two run single to push the cushion to 3-0.

Bader says getting out to an early lead is big for this team.

“The big thing about our hitting is when we get out ahead early we kind of seem to get things rolling so I got a good pitch and did what I did with it.”

The Gamecocks would answer back with two runs of their own in the second after sophomore Gene Cone hit a two-out single off of Logan Shore and Kyle Martin made it 3-2 with an RBI hit.

South Carolina would tie things up in the fifth inning. Bobby Poyner replaced Florida starter Logan Shore (4.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R) after Shore loaded the bases with no outs. Poyner would get the first batter he faced to hit into a double play to tie the game but a big inning was avoided.

Poyner talks about coming into the game in that situation.

“I knew it was a real turning point in the game. I had to jump ahead and throw strikes early. The goal was to get a strikeout or a double play.”

The Gators responded with five runs in the bottom half of the frame. Freshmen Christian Hicks got things going with a lead off home run to right field, his second long ball of the year. Harrison Bader, Buddy Reed, and JJ Schwarz all had RBI doubles in the inning as well.

Florida would add insurance runs the next couple innings that included Schwarz leading the seventh off with his fifth home run in the last two games. The Gamecocks wouldn’t score another run the rest of the game as Poyner, Shaun Anderson, and Frank Rubio didn’t surrender a single hit in five innings of relief work.  

Game Two of this three game series will take place Saturday; you can catch the game live on ESPN 850 WRUF starting at 5;55 pm.

Sound from tonight’s game below:

Bader 1

Bader 2

Poyner 1

Poyner 2

Sully 1

Sully 2

Sully 3

 

 

 

 

About Sean McKenna

Im a senior at the University of Florida currently pursuing a degree in Telecommunications. I work for ESPN Gainesville 95.3 and anchor the Monday sports broadcast for WUFT First At Five. Im from New York and an avid sports fan of all New York teams.

Check Also

Orange & Blue Sports Network

Catch the student-led broadcasts from the College of Journalism and Communications right here.

LIVE THREAD: National Signing Day

Here’s an updated thread of all the recruits who picked the Gator hat today! RB …

AFC Divisional Round Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers

During last weekend’s NFL Wild Card round, the Steelers made a statement by handing the Dolphins a …

Houston Looking For an Upset in Foxborough

The saying has always been “it’s hard to beat a good team twice,” and in …

Blue Jackets vs. Lightning Tonight

The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Tampa Bay Lightning will be facing each other once …

Possible Additions to McElwain’s Recruiting Class Visiting this Weekend

With National Signing Day less than three weeks away, the Gators are hosting several talented …

Florida Gymnastics Prepares for Season Opener

GAINESVILLE, FL – The Florida Gator gymnastics team will kick off their season this Sunday …

Surprised Gators Promote Randy Shannon To Defensive Coordinator? You Shouldn’t Be

Florida’s head coach, Jim McElwain, announced Friday morning that Randy Shannon would be making the …

Quarterbacks in Spotlight for NFL Wild Card Weekend

The NFL Wild Card kicks off Saturday and the quarterback situations could not be any more different. On …

College Football Playoff Shakes Up Schedule

The College Football Playoff was a success in its first year. Yet, that doesn’t stop …

Michael Jordan Speaks out about Shootings, Police Officers

NBA great Michael Jordan opened up about his thoughts about shootings of African-Americans and the …

Treon Harris to Transfer

With the college football season approaching, the Florida Gators have announced that former starting QB …

USA Basketball Wins Second Exhibition Game

Just a few short days after their big win over Argentina, team USA won its …

Charlotte Is No Longer The Home Of The 2017 NBA All-Star Game

The House Bill 2 came between Charlotte, North Carolina and the 2017 All-Star Game. The …

Tampa Bay Rays Continue Series Against Oakland

The Tampa Bay Rays are continuing their three-game winning streak. The Rays defeated the Oakland …

MLB Preview Tonight

It’s summer time—the best time to go to a baseball game and experience the atmosphere. …

Braves Begin Series With Rockies

The Atlanta Braves (33-62) open up a four-game road series with the Rockies (43-51) tonight …

Marlins To Close Out Series With The Phillies

The Miami Marlins are in the middle of a crucial ten game span against NL East …

Rays Crush Rockies 11-3, Face A’s Next

In the midst of a terrible season that has seen the Tampa Bay Rays (37-57) …

American League Second Half Outlook

The second half of the baseball season is in full swing which translates to? Pennant races. Teams …

National League Evening Preview

Tonight is a busy night for the National League in the MLB. Starting with the …

Big 12 Looks To Expand

Following a Tuesday meeting between Big 12 presidents, Oklahoma president David Boren announced that the …

LSU Looks To Capitalize On Its Opportunity

The Louisiana State University Tigers will enter the 2016 college football season with high expectations, …

Muschamp Helps Close Out SEC Media Days 2016

It wasn’t Will Muschamps first SEC Media Days experience, but 2016 marked the first time …

Phil Mickelson Leads British Open After First Day

The 145th annual 2016 British Open is underway at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. The …

Missouri’s Football Crisis: Rebuilding A Program

On the final day of SEC Media Days, Barry Odom took the stand as Missouri’s head …

Second Half Of MLB Season Begins

The All-Star Break is a good time for teams to rest up and reform themselves …

British Open Underway

The 145th Open Championship is already underway at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. Welcome …

Gators Softball Blows Six-Run Lead, Drops First Game Against Bulldogs

The No. 10 Florida Gators softball team lost to the No. 17 Mississippi State Bulldogs, …