Florida Baseball Welcomes Harvard With Run-Rule Win

Update (3-8-25, Noon): Today’s doubleheader is in a weather delay. Check here for today’s updates.

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The No. 7 Florida baseball team shut out Harvard, 12-0, in a quick seven inning run-rule Friday at Condron Family Ballpark.

Florida’s pitching staff executed well vs. a team the Gators (13-2) are 7-0 against in posting their fifth run-rule win of the season.

Right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson matched his personal best strikeouts total with 11 in five innings. With a 0.86 ERA, Peterson has a 34-6 strikeout to walk ratio through four winning starts. He threw a quick one-two-three to end the first inning. He continued this stride in striking out the next two batters at the plate. Throwing 85 pitches, Peterson harnessed his energy and helped the Gator defense by giving up only four hits and two walks.

“I thought my slider was moving a good bit, and I thought I attacked the zone for the most part even though I had kind of a high pitch count,” Peterson said. “But looking back on some of the stats, I thought I threw a good amount of strikes, so I did my job.”

Closing for the Gators, Niko Janssens got the job done in 23 pitches. He struck out one and kept the Crimson from getting on base.

“I thought Nico threw the ball good too,” Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He kept his pitch count down as well. So, we’ll get to use him again tomorrow.”

Chomping The Crimson

Colby Shelton started the run-rule for the Gators by driving in a run on a single in the first inning. Brody Donay continued in the third with his first RBI by doubling down the right field line.

Harvard reliever Will Burns loaded the bases and walked in a run on a hit by pitch in the forth. Shelton used this perfect opportunity to hit a three-run double that cleared  the bases and put UF up 6-0.

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“I think that was one of the bigger moments in the game, kind of opening the game up … and then we kept scoring and scoring and shutting down when we went out on the field too to get back in the dugout and score more runs,” Shelton said.

The Gators continued to be dangerous at bat in the fifth. Blake Cyr hit an RBI single to left field. Ty Evans then hit a two-run double down the left field line, one of his best bats this season. Not done yet, Hayden Yost hit a sacrifice fly to lead the Gators to a 10-0 advantage.

Immediately after, Bobby Boser recorded another RB after reaching first on a fielder’s choice. Donay then tripled to right center to bring in Boser for the final run of the game.

The Gators were unstoppable on offense. Shelton had the most RBIs of the night with four, with Boser, Donay and Evans following with two each.

Saturday’s Doubleheader

Due to potential severe weather conditions Sunday, the Gators and Crimson will play a doubleheader on Saturday with seven innings each. Freshman right-hander Aidan King will get his first collegiate start in Saturday’s first game at noon. The final game of the series will start about 45 minutes after Game 2. RHP Jake Clemente is experiencing a back issue, so if he is unable to play Matthew Jenkins will start.

Tickets for Saturday’s originally-scheduled 3 p.m. game will be good for Game 3 of the series on Saturday afternoon. Tickets for Sunday’s originally-scheduled 1 p.m. finale can now be used for Saturday’s 12 p.m. game.

Coverage of both games will be on SEC Network+ and ESPN 98.1-FM/850-AM WRUF.

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