The Gators improve to 4-0 all-time vs. Cincinnati including 1-0 under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan after defeating the Bearcats 13-6 inside Condron Family Ballpark.
Florida’s bats were very much alive on Friday night as the Gators collected 16 hits in the contest, bringing their season total to 78, an average of 13 hits per game. The Gators have a combined 33 hits in their last two games and have recorded nine or more hits in every game this season.
Cade Kurland is quickly becoming one of the most impressive freshmen in the country. The 5-11, 190-pound infielder recorded his first career three-hit game while adding three RBIs, two runs and blasting his 2nd career home run out of the ballpark.
The Tampa native has recorded two or more hits in every game he’s started this season (4), while holding a batting average of .600 (team high).
Jac Caglianone was the other Gator to hit the long ball tonight, cranking his third homerun of the season (team high) in the bottom of the third inning, extending the Gators lead to 4-0.
Richie Schiekofer took over in left field after Michael Robertson left the game in the first inning with a knee injury after landing on it wrong while tracking a ball in center field.
The Rutgers transfer filled in nicely, going 2-5 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Robertson is expected to miss tomorrow’s game.
Brandon Sproat (2-0) made his second start of the 2023 season, picking up the win after throwing five innings and allowing three runs, four hits, two walks, and two HBP while striking out nine Bearcats in the contest.
Sproat was fairly dominant once again, but let his command get in the way of what was otherwise a fantastic outing. Sproat plunked back-to-back batters in the 5th inning, which would both come around to score after a Cincinnati double down the left field line. The hard throwing right hander missed his spots a few times tonight, but there’s no denying his ability to get hitters to swing and miss.
It wasn’t just Sproat who struggled with his command, everyone in the Gators’ bullpen did with the exception of Blake Purnell, who got the final two outs for Florida, sealing the victory.
Ryan Slater threw 2.2 innings of relief and allowed three runs, two hits, four walks, and one HBP while striking out two batters. Slater gave up a run in the 6th inning without allowing a single hit by walking three batters and hitting the next.
Redshirt sophomore Tyler Nesbitt made his first appearance of the 2023 season on Friday night, throwing 2/3rds of an inning, allowing zero hits and two walks in the process.
Florida’s pitching staff gave Cincinnati 11 free passes in tonight’s game, posting a strike percentage of 58.7, a season low.
The Gators will look to take the series tomorrow at 4:00 PM.