Behind a strong offensive performance and a season high 20 hits, the top ranked Florida baseball team defeated the Harvard Crimson 16-5 Friday night at McKethan Stadium. This win improved the Gators win streak to nine games as they are now 15-1 on the season. The Crimson fell to 2-3 on the season.
The Gators jumped out to an early lead in the bottom half of the first after Deacon Liput hit an RBI single to center field. Mike Rivera came up next and cleared the bases with a three-run homer to left-center field.
Rivera says it was good to get out to a fast start.
Harvard cut the lead in half with a couple of runs in the second inning. The runs ended Logan Shore’s scoreless inning streak at 18.1 innings. The two teams would score runs again in the next inning to make the game 5-4 in favor of the Gators.
But Florida pulled away in the third inning, scoring six runs. The Gators added four more insurance runs in the sixth highlighted by a JJ Schwarz two run double. Freshman Deacon Liput led the charge for the Gators by driving in a career best four runs.
Shore picked up his fourth straight win of the season in six innings of work, although this was not his best outing of the year by far. He gave up nine hits, struck out six batters, and gave up five runs en route to his ninth straight win dating back to last season.
The Gators will conclude the series Saturday with a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled at 4 p.m. with AJ Puk getting the start, The second game is scheduled for 7 with Alex Faedo getting the nod. Both games can be heard on ESPN Gainesville 95.3.