Jud Fabian (3-for-4), BT Riopelle (1-for-4) and Deric Fabian (2-for-3) all homered behind starting pitcher Nick Pogue, who tossed three perfect innings to earn his first victory in 776 days.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida plated 10 runs in the first four innings to improve to 8-0 in midweek games with a 13-3 victory over Florida A&M on Tuesday night.
Jud Fabian<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15127&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=9G6cIxDfcP5pVxhcjuHN55t7VQ-P-hscyEiqpHy44Yc&e= > (3-for-4), Wyatt Langford<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15097&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=9p7Nwg4lAArG2o4GP0wJVXX6Lvy9h5kHw0M9I_CoD2E&e= > (3-for-4), Josh Rivera<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15104&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=w0KgnNHKpcIn248fsyOQUa9_cmVtIGiY6lcTtTsu3S8&e= > (3-for-5) and Deric Fabian<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15119&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=iNpB9fDONTrF-nqFQMhBhQc_SJONiyNqyH9xHMXbaKA&e= > (2-for-3) all picked up multiple hits in the win. J. Fabian, D. Fabian and BT Riopelle<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15114&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=LkubZJpwIC8xVdNbu0g4BbEFCk4Z2Tyzm5XueF1PD4s&e= > each homered in the contest, with the Fabian brothers connecting for solo homers in the fourth inning and Riopelle pacing the squad with a four RBI night.
After a clean top of the first from Pogue, the Gators (19-10, 3-6 SEC) struck for one run in the bottom half. Following a one-out double by J. Fabian, Langford produced an RBI single to left field to put Florida on top, 1-0.
The Rattlers (12-18, 6-3 SWAC) went down in order in the opening three frames, as Pogue retired the first nine batters of the game while picking up three strikeouts. That opened the door for Florida to add to its lead in the bottom of the third with four more runs. After loading up the bases, Langford picked up his second RBI of the night by drawing a walk, with J. Fabian crossing home moments later on a wild pitch. Riopelle then provided a sacrifice fly to right and Rivera capped off the four-run inning with an RBI double to left center.
With a 5-0 advantage in hand, right-hander Nick Ficarrotta<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15094&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=_CxftTBM0UmGo1w524SU9qYkWFY25T9LVkuLFpJ3gnY&e= > relieved Pogue in the fourth and proceeded to churn out another clean frame. Florida erupted for six runs in the half inning to follow to extend the lead to 11-0, beginning with a leadoff home run to center by D. Fabian. Both Fabian brothers went yard in the fourth, as J. Fabian blasted a solo shot of his own to left just two batters later. Riopelle then added a three-run homer to drive in Langford and Thompson, before D. Fabian stepped to the plate and picked up his second hit and RBI of the frame with a single to left that plated Rivera.
Ficarrotta blanked the Rattlers in the fifth before handing relief duties over to fellow right-hander Tyler Nesbitt<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15101&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=4vVkU2sFcpeDSOD7MPeifKn1ztWbr4mxy4NIYPujgSs&e= >. The Labelle, Fla. native needed just 13 pitches to work a clean sixth inning, sandwiching a groundout between a pair of strikeouts.
The Gators tacked on two final runs to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Mac Guscette<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15095&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=pKk7mr0B9tZ2ZyN3vPrLwAPRTumCgnlJUXRpboftKwM&e= > roped a double to left to bring home Kris Armstrong<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15090&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=AXzk0rjP6G8QKHOk1DRMF8tH_1YT0rId2KIHMvZHsnQ&e= > and D. Fabian picked up his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center.
Florida A&M scratched across three late runs in the eighth, highlighted by a pair of RBI singles from Broedy Poppell and LJ Bryant. That brought the score to its final tally of 13-3, as both squads were held scoreless in the two half innings to follow.
Pogue (1-1) earned his first victory in 776 days, firing three perfect innings with three strikeouts to his credit.
Rattlers starting pitcher Dylan Tease (0-4) was saddled with the loss, lasting 2 2/3 frames with five earned runs allowed on four hits and four walks. He struck out two.
NOTABLES
* Pogue won his first game in 776 days – since Feb. 19, 2020 vs. Jacksonville.
* In the fourth inning, brothers Deric and Jud Fabian<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15127&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=9G6cIxDfcP5pVxhcjuHN55t7VQ-P-hscyEiqpHy44Yc&e= > hit home runs in a span of three batters.
* D. Fabian previously scored on two J. Fabian homers earlier in the season, but tonight represented the first time both Fabians have gone deep in the same inning.
* Florida improved to 8-0 in midweek games and 10-1 vs. in-state teams in 2022.
* Three of Florida’s 10 wins vs. in-state teams were top-25 wins.
* J. Fabian hit his SEC-leading 13th home run of the season.
* The long ball marked the 45th of Fabian’s career – just two homers behind Mike Zunino for fifth on Florida’s all-time home run list.
* The Gators improved to 28-1 all-time vs. Florida A&M and now own a 10-game winning streak over the Rattlers.
* Florida is 12-1 against Florida A&M under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_coaches.aspx-3Frc-3D1445&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=ED4wzdSasBlmYYedFA6MpUXUBkUgsLaua2gVQx8TAyInr7naANoDDDYkzMOceRnU&s=k0Qv649YN3OsvcD1mNwztmjvGbMoeomt8nL2APIhTzU&e= >.
* Florida is 39-9 across the program’s last 48 regular season games at Florida Ballpark.
* The Gators are 24-6 in their last 30 regular season home games.
* Thompson extended his team-leading hitting streak to 10 games.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On Pogue’s performance…
“I’m thinking he was a little more consistent with his fastball. It looked like it was 90-92 for the most part. The command is starting to come on a little bit more. The secondary pitches were better, but it’s going to take some time. He certainly was better tonight. It was good to see him with his velocity starting to get back a little bit.”
On the team’s improvements…
“We spent a lot of time yesterday talking to our team. Just being very honest and up front and being very specific. Obviously, coming off the weekend everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The bottom line is Hunter’s got to pitch like he’s been pitching. It’s just tough when you got to use Ryan [Slater] in the sixth inning and then you don’t have him available for Saturday. The bottom line is our two starters have to be good. Offensively, five of our nine guys in the lineup had off weekends. They were .130 or something between five of those guys. We talked about team offense. It’s about quality at bats. Young hitters sometimes get caught up. They determine the success of their at bats on base hits. There’s quality at bats that we had with hit by pitches and walks getting the leadoff man on. Moving runners up… We just made some mistakes. It’s subtle things that have cost us.”
On the upcoming series versus Arkansas…
“You expect Arkansas to play hard. They’re playing really good defense. They have three good starters. They got a guy in the back end that they trust. Their bullpen is a little bit older. They’re playing good, but I would expect Arkansas to be like that every year. I’m sure they’re going to come in here knowing we’ll be prepared to play. It doesn’t matter. That’s the other thing we talked about yesterday. It’s not who we are playing. We got to focus on ourselves. We can beat anybody on our schedule or we can lose to anybody on our schedule. We got to focus on our team getting better and identifying what our strengths and weaknesses are. We got to make our strengths even better and try to make our weaknesses not weaknesses.”
FROM STARTING PITCHER NICK POGUE
On his injury and the road back…
“It kind of hit me pretty quick, but you can’t really dwell on it. From the time I got hurt to the time I had surgery was probably a week and a half. Coming back, I just tried to be the best teammate I could until I was able to get back on the mound. Coming back this season was really exciting, even though I didn’t have the first couple starts that I wanted to. Just trusting the process and not worrying so much on the outcome.”
UP NEXT
The Gators welcome No. 2 Arkansas to Florida Ballpark for a three-game series spanning from Thursday, April 7 to Saturday, April 9. Game one airs on SEC Network at 6 p.m.
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