Starting pitcher Brandon Sproat threw a career-high 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball while Colby Halter, Josh Rivera, Jac Caglianone and Wyatt Langford all connected for home runs.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Florida scored multiple runs from the second inning through the fifth to win its sixth-straight game with a convincing 13-1 victory over Missouri at Taylor Stadium on Friday night.
With the 13-run offensive attack, the Gators (31-18, 12-13 SEC) scored their most runs ever against Missouri (25-21, 7-18 SEC). Eight different Gators picked up a hit, led by a three-RBI night from 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=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=Ks1r1OKWrtgupf7lfDIRyXkqOcFzAs7dLlyylxQtxjo&e= > and multi-hit performances from 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=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=bz3ibEg9vFAfPVF5Vl1_3EUw2FQ96fWq9I3l2l0uGU4&e= > (2-for-3), 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=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=34TV8g2q9cIpbUdqdyio8szVsQ08qBUN3HEXcnRicoE&e= > (2-for-3). Starting pitcher Brandon Sproat<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15106&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=6SfCXrIyx3AWYj0dH-yC0Cw0FYyyiNnViZrwbX4r7No&e= > was brilliant on the mound, tossing a career-high 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball.
Missouri opened the scoring in game one, as Trevor Austin connected for a solo shot to left center on a full count to give Missouri a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Gators answered with two runs of their own in the top of the second, as Ty Evans<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15111&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=_GZGJecm9dfXxOa8M8AX4or77fWtlo_SSXcSVY3xfs8&e= > doubled to right center and then came in to score on a two-run home run off the bat of Colby Halter<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15096&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=zpwIPB6Y1AJX-CA5idZyKh7_YDgVZaOQW4g7iVOAnMU&e= >.
With a 2-1 lead in hand, Sproat fired a clean bottom half of the frame, sandwiching his first strikeout between a pop-out to second and foul-out to third. The Florida bats proceeded to add on in the third, with Riopelle leading off with a single to right and 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=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=Ks1r1OKWrtgupf7lfDIRyXkqOcFzAs7dLlyylxQtxjo&e= > bringing in a pair of runs with a deep home run to right center.
After another scoreless frame from Sproat, the Orange & Blue put together a three-run inning in the top of the fourth to extend the lead to 7-1. Riopelle brought in Langford and Sterlin Thompson<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15108&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=oS0aKWK3W5cCNbwgg8XViS9lABxfm3-ivVumPdV1RaU&e= > on a hard-hit ball to second base that was ruled an error, while Rivera drove in his third run of the night on a ground ball to third base, as he reached on a subsequent throwing error 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=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=3EHUj3XxtDCnHQqdace6yCe8V-XNO21RDFML8VrndkE&e= > crossed home.
Florida opened up the flood gates in the fifth with five more runs. Thompson got the rally going with an RBI double to right center to plate Halter, followed by a Fabian sacrifice fly to right that brought in Langford. From there, Riopelle drove in Thompson with an RBI single through the right side and Jac Caglianone<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15113&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=MIWa5IwbswMnvTxVbe75Cj5Ph6xenorqKtcmGmTQHGI&e= > unloaded for a 480-foot blast to right field for two more runs to make it 12-1.
Langford continued his torrid season the following frame, sending a 1-1 offering over the center-field wall for a solo home run. The big fly marked Langford’s 17th of the campaign.
Sproat worked brilliantly through the middle stages of the game, producing five-consecutive shutout innings from the second through the sixth. The Pace, Fla native ceded pitching duties to righty Anthony Ursitti<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15125&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=92wmVADV7qqFpGRz9ObVzkxAbB8EUwqaUw9nz6_6nMQ&e= > with two outs in the seventh, with the freshman needing just four pitched to send the game into the eighth with a strikeout.
Ursitti closed out the matchup for the Orange & Blue, pitching the final 2 1/3 innings with zero hits allowed and one walk. He struck out three.
Sproat (7-4) earned his third win in as many starts, tossing a career-high 6 2/3 innings with one run allowed on three hits and one walk. The right-hander struck out seven Tigers, falling just one batter shy of his career high of eight.
Missouri starting pitcher Tony Neubeck (3-3) lasted just two-plus innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two.
NOTABLES
* Florida’s 13 runs tonight are the most ever against Missouri, topping the previous high of 10 (twice, most recently on April 14, 2018).
* Caglianone connected for a 480-foot home run to right field in the fifth inning.
* Sproat pitched a career-high 6 2/3 innings to earn his third-straight victory.
* Sproat has gone 5 1/3-plus innings in seven-straight starts.
* He has thrown five-plus innings in 10 of 13 starts this year while allowing three earned runs or less in nine of those outings.
* Florida is now 27-4 all-time vs. Missouri including 10-3 on the road.
* Florida is 22-3 vs. the Tigers under O’Sullivan.
* The Gators have now won 16-straight games against Missouri.
* Florida has now won six-straight games.
* The Gators have won eight of their last nine games.
* Thompson extended his on-base streak to 19 games.
* Langford extended his on-base streak to 11 games.
* Halter extended his on-base streak to eight games.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On Sproat’s outing and the game overall…
“He was really efficient, other than the home run he gave up to the second hitter of the game. He pitched really good. Wanted to keep his pitch count right around 90, because it’s going to be a short week, coming back on shortened rest. But, he was outstanding. Anthony was outstanding coming out of the pen. 33 pitches in 2 1/3. You know, I thought this was probably the most complete game we’ve played all year long. We played really good defense. Starting pitching was outstanding. Relief pitching was great. Swung the bats really well. It was really good to get some help from Josh, from Colby early in the game.”
On Halter’s offensive contributions…
“Colby’s a good ballplayer. Unfortunately, in this game, there’s going to be good streaks and there’s going to be bad streaks. But the one thing he’s never done is put his head down. He continues to work hard every day. We’ve asked for him now to move over to third base. He’s played a really good third base for us. He’s a baseball player. I’m glad he’s on our team because I love the way he plays. Obviously, tonight was a good night for him offensively.”
On the one-two punch of Langford and Thompson at the top of the order…
“Yeah, I mean, Wyatt’s been on a special streak right now and Sterlin’s seeing the ball as good as he has all year long. You know, Jud hit the ball hard twice tonight. He got us with the drag with first and second and nobody out. And BT hit two balls hard, actually three I think. Josh hit the home run and had three RBIs. Jac obviously ran into the ball. Ty has been giving us pretty good at bats… Offensively, we’re seeing the ball really well.”
UP NEXT
Florida and Missouri meet again in game two on Saturday, which is scheduled to stream on SEC Network+ at 3 p.m. ET. Right-handed pitcher Brandon Neely<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15118&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=wd_Qojywr_9YHrNyDO9T0BVQLPyPap8yOK5TmxXIQxmTdOHMEwAsOEH5ywMwwHl3&s=Aa_MPMInw6ANY7VdEWp2A_05M526FKbktuAYo7-5km0&e= > will toe the rubber for the Gators while right-hander Spencer Miles is listed as the probable starter for the Tigers.
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