The Florida Gators run-ruled Siena for the second day in a row, defeating the Saints 12-2 after seven innings on Sunday afternoon.
The victory marks the Gators’ third three game sweep of the 2023 campaign (Charleston Southern, Cincinnati, Siena) and improves Florida’s record to 15-3.
Jac Caglianone took the mound for the fourth time this season, tossing three scoreless innings in the process. Kevin O’Sullivan didn’t allow a single pitcher to throw more than four innings this weekend as Florida’s first SEC series begins on Thursday, March 16th.
With the possibility of rain coming through Gainesville on Saturday (when Caglianone would pitch), Florida may play a doubleheader on Friday, which would mean Caglianone would pitch on two days shorter rest.
Caglianone allowed no runs, one hit, two walks, one HBP, while striking out three batters across three innings of work. Command was a slight issue for the Gators’ two-way player, who found the strike zone on just 27 of his 48 pitches (56.25%).
The Gators’ two-way player continues to destroy the baseball, homering in the second and fourth inning of today’s game. The pair of home runs marks the 12th and 13th long ball of the season for Caglianone, which makes him the Nations home run leader a month into the season.
Caglianone reached base in all four of his plate appearances, totaling three hits, four runs, and four RBIs. Pitching and hitting at the same time was a fear for the Gators’ coaching staff entering the season as they weren’t sure how the Tampa native would carry the workload. However, Caglianone is 6-12 at the plate with five home runs and nine RBIs when he hits on days that he’s the starting pitcher.
Josh Rivera was the only other Gator to record a multi-hit game, totaling two hits in three at bats. Rivera blasted his eighth home run of the season immediately after Caglianone’s in the fourth inning. The back-to-back big flies extended Florida’s lead to 9-0.
Siena found their only two runs in the top of the fifth inning off the arm of Blake Purnell. The St. Thomas Aquinas product pitched 1.2 innings, allowing two runs, one hit, and two HBP. Purnell now holds a 9.53 ERA and doesn’t sit in a good place with SEC play right around the corner.
Clete Hartzog took over for Purnell and dominated after allowing a single to the first batter he faced. Hartzog tossed 1.1 innings, striking out all four of his retired batters while allowing just one hit.
The Panama City native has 3.1 innings pitched this season and has struck out every batter he’s retired (10). Hartzog is making a great case for more innings in this Gators’ bullpen.
Philip Abner took over in the seventh and put together his third consecutive good outing. Abner walked the first batter he faced, which has historically been bad news for the left hander. However, Abner retired his next three batters, striking out two of them.
The Gators have scored 23 runs in their last 12 trips to the plate after scoring just three runs on Friday.
Florida is set to take on North Florida on Tuesday at 6:00 PM inside Condron Ballpark.