Florida held the Ospreys to just four hits while Sterlin Thompson, Deric Fabian and Josh Rivera all homered for the Orange & Blue.
Jacksonville, Fla. – Backed by a four-hit performance by the Gators pitching staff, No. 14 Florida beat down North Florida by a score of 11-2 at Harmon Stadium on Tuesday night.
With the victory, Florida (7-2) sweeps the season series over North Florida (1-8) after the Gators defeated the Ospreys, 3-1, in Gainesville last Wednesday. Florida has now won six-straight games heading into Wednesday’s home tilt vs. Florida A&M.
For the third-consecutive game, the Gators churned out double-digit hits, finishing with 13 knocks in tonight’s victory. The win over North Florida also represented the second time in the last-three games that the Gators scored in at least six different innings.
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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=YMOe8qG1Vnc065Ag_AvRgwchxw_WkShUNWk208JIsDU&e= > 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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=C2BPfZjKLf93VZVGjly4O1vzqcZybKYgkTBdj34G1YI&e= > led the offensive charge, as D. Fabian (3-for-4) notched his first three-hit game and drove in two runs with the help of career home run number one. Rivera (2-for-4) also had a memorable night, setting a career high with five RBI and hitting his second homer of the campaign.
Florida 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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=YkmCtx18NZzIjN9l8MKlvod1fQ50B0WsQG9mkb6Nu0s&e= > and Ospreys starter Ryan Jean traded zeros through the first-two innings. Left-hander Carsten Finnvold<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15124&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=qSuSzFg2x7_aDiKBhPRQtiNVEwrJAVttVm1Ds9wjJds&e= > relieved Sproat in the third, as both teams remained scoreless through three innings of play.
In the top of the fourth, Florida broke open the scoring with a three-run frame. Following a pair of singles by 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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=Ykt0AbHPwVqLX2rQrbiKCaZcxk39btxQZ4cGhvaYzrE&e= > and 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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=jpJOJyBhwaLmDTlKEU2CV4bchqNKRDviQOZyfjeHRwI&e= >, the Gators loaded up the bags thanks to a 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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=pKfd4sXbQYwFBD6IDRL7VIvoAYC7FcRnl41wWestOmk&e= > walk. From there, Rivera drove in a pair with a single off the shortstop’s glove and 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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=M7TTRGCYTq2L4E_YvOBKbQvh7nXTdvusC9pPnLQ9mKI&e= > capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Gators tacked on two more runs in the fifth, plating the first as 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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=aiWoIOWf9W0cueGmnqk0AFnf4UnHuuv7ML-D2AE1iPA&e= > was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Rivera collected his third RBI of the night by drawing a bases-loaded walk to score Halter and make it a 5-0 game.
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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=oOWYAUX5WYTcS8KsUFKfCRegokzSZ8pRIR2h8gy2CYE&e= > took over for Finnvold in the bottom of the fifth, blanking the Ospreys and passing the torch to the Florida bats. With two outs in the bottom half, Halter picked up a single to right and moved into scoring position with his second stolen base of the year. On a full count, J. Fabian delivered an RBI single to left to extend the Gator lead to 6-0.
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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=iyxKTn7Ecl04Ksg8yqEVP1PtfEN6E0775b_F0VMd6uo&e= > added to his team-leading 11 RBI in the seventh, sending a 2-0 offering over the left-center field wall for a long home run. D. Fabian did his best to replicate Thompson in the top of the eighth, connecting on a two-run shot to left center to put the Gators up 9-0.
Rivera finished off the onslaught with a two-run homer in the eighth, scoring Calilao for Florida’s 10th and 11th runs of the contest.
North Florida added two late runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Dallen Leach came in on a wild pitch in the eighth while Grant Grodi drove in Cade Westbrook for the second run with an RBI groundout.
Sproat pitched 2.0 shutout innings to open the matchup with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.
Neely earned his first win as a Gator, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with one hit allowed and a career-high five strikeouts. Finnvold turned in 2.0 scoreless innings of relief as well, while right-hander Blake Purnell<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15103&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=kHkkGOCc4LIsWwc5M7i7n5QjFKjGmi5DqOSfb48nN-4&e= > threw a scoreless frame in the seventh with two strikeouts.
Jean was saddled with the loss, going 3.1 innings with three earned runs allowed on five hits and one walk.
Halter (2-for-3), J. Fabian (2-for-5), Kendrick Calilao<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15092&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=qUMS2G6Ke5W8EpppdGNWjIDsAbbOC6FCUvX9tLtfAKw&e= > (2-for-2), Rivera (2-for-4) and D. Fabian (3-for-4) all registered multi-hit performances.
NOTABLES
* The Gators improve to 11-1 vs. North Florida over the previous-12 meetings and now own a four-game winning streak against the Ospreys.
* Florida is 17-5 against North Florida 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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=33Z0FIqTpgZ4cXk_Y8L2O6h5bB3zYA4Xiaz4r_hf6rM&e= >.
* The Gators now own a six-game winning streak.
* Florida is 2-0 on the road this season.
* Thompson and Halter extended their season-opening hitting streaks to nine games.
* Halter owns an 11-game hitting streak dating back to last season.
* Freshman 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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=pKfd4sXbQYwFBD6IDRL7VIvoAYC7FcRnl41wWestOmk&e= > made his first-career start, batting seventh as Florida’s designated hitter.
* Florida posted its third-straight game of double-digit hits.
* The Gators have scored in six-plus innings in two of their last-three games.
* D. Fabian launched his first-career home run and notched his first three-hit game.
* Rivera set a career high with five RBI while going 2-for-4 with a home run.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On tonight’s win…
“We’ve had games where we’ve come up here and won on the road against some of our in-state rivals and may not have been ready to play, but we came ready to play tonight. That’s been the message the whole week. I mentioned it again at the end there that we’re not going to look past FAMU tomorrow. Obviously, we know we have a big weekend coming up, but I was really pleased with how they came out tonight and focused on tonight. Swung the bats well, obviously. Deric had a great night defensively and offensively. Hit his first home run. Sterlin had a home run to dead center there, just to left center. The field was playing pretty big tonight. Kendrick came off the bench, hit a ball the other way. I thought the first-three innings went fairly quickly, but I thought we had some really good at bats. We hit the ball hard. But Brandon set the tone and looked really good again. Gives us some options on the weekend. Defensively, we were good and I thought we ran the bases good. Overall, I thought it was a really clean game in pretty much all phases.”
On Brandon Sproat’s<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=kYyzSzPYx8RWKYdoeZ0KMj_CL2tVyVb7vtt6DwaCB9_P1DcwB3kqvNi0zBYQv20-&s=YkmCtx18NZzIjN9l8MKlvod1fQ50B0WsQG9mkb6Nu0s&e= > start…
“The last-two times out, he’s looked like when I was with USA to end the summer. That’s how he’s looked. His demeanor is different. He’s attacking. He’s in a rally good spot. If he continues to throw the way he’s been throwing right now, obviously that’s going to be a huge, huge help.”
On three-straight games with double-digit hits…
“I said before the season, I think the strength of our team is going to be defense and offensively. I liked our lineup. I know we got off to a little bit of a slow start, but I think going into the game we’re batting as a team .292. So, from an offensive standpoint, I feel good about where we’re at, but obviously it’s a long season. But I do like the length of our lineup and I do think we get production up and down.”
UP NEXT
Florida hosts Florida A&M on SEC Network+ on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Coral Gables, Fla. for a three-game series at No. 22 Miami.
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