ESPN 98.1 FM – 850 AM WRUF ESPN 98.1 FM – 850 AM WRUF
The Florida baseball team carried series momentum into the weekend’s final game on Sunday after defeating Tennessee Saturday night as the Gators come away with a 9-4 win on Sunday in Gainesville.
The Orange and Blue would jump ahead early on Sunday with a run in the first. Florida’s Harrison Bader proved he is back to full strength when he gave Florida the lead with his seventh home run this season.
Bader puts his individual success behind the team winning.
“The most important thing about the nature of our team is what we did on Saturday. Friday, we didn’t really pitch too well or hit too well. To come out and finish up the series today was huge. That’s kind of our make-up, and that’s what we’re capable of doing.”
After Tennessee tied the game 1-1, Florida took the lead again in the second when JJ Schwarz reached home on a passed ball with two outs remaining in the inning.
Florida left an unfixable dent in the side of Tennessee’s chances to win in the third inning. With the bases loaded and one out, outfielder Buddy reed knocked his second triple of the series to deep right center to clear the bases for a 5-1 lead. Florida extended the lead again in the inning when they added their sixth run on a passed ball.
Gator starting pitcher Dane Dunning lasted 3 full innings before getting pulled in the top on the fourth. He threw just 51 pitches, allowing two hits and one run. However it was reliever Danny Young that put his stamp on this game. Young went five innings strong allowing just three hits.
Gator coach Kevin O’Sullivan was satisfied with his pitching Sunday afternoon.
“I thought that Danny Young was outstanding out of the bullpen. We extended him, so he did what he needed to do. It was good to get Taylor Lewis back out there too.”
The Gators tacked on a couple more late insurance runs to give the now 18 and 3 Gators a final victory of 9-4. Florida will next match up against rivals Florida State this Tuesday.
Sound from the game, click below.
