Logan Shore tied a school record with his 12th consecutive win as the No. 2 Florida Gators (32-5, 10-4 SEC) beat the Arkansas Razorbacks (21-14, 4-10 SEC) to clinch the series on Friday with a 9-2 victory.
Florida jumped on Arkansas starter Keaton McKinney early. Dalton Guthrie led the game off with a double and scored on Buddy Reed’s single two batters later. McKinney regrouped and struck out two to end the inning and then stymied the Florida bats with a great changeup.
McKinney allowed just two more hits through four innings before the Gators exploded for five runs in the fifth. A Deacon Liput swinging bunt started the frame and ball four to Buddy Reed would be McKinney’s last pitch of the night. James Teague replaced him and Florida welcomed the new arm with three singles, a walk and four runs before Teague was able to strike out Jeremy Vasquez. Jonathan India scored on a throwing error to cap the scoring at five and extending the lead to 6-1.
Shore, who gave up a solo home run in the fourth, won his seventh game of the season. Florida, as a team, has won the last 14 games that Shore has started. Shore gave way to Kirby Snead, who made his team-high 22nd appearance of the season, with two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh. Snead struck out Clark Eagan to end the 7th.
Kevin O’Sullivan turned to Dane Dunning in the eighth after Snead allowed a leadoff double to Carson Shaddy. Dunning cashed in Snead’s run two batters later but retired the next five batters he faced, four by way of strikeout.
The win clinches the series for Florida, who will hand the ball to sophomore Alex Faedo on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
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