Rain all day in Tallahassee had fans wondering if there would be a baseball game. After Florida’s 8-2 win over Florida State on Tuesday, most of the hometown fans probably wished the game would have been rained out.
The Florida Gators (30-5) won their fifth consecutive game over the Noles (22-9) with three-hit nights from Dalton Guthrie, JJ Schwarz and Pete Alonso.
Florida scored three runs in the first four innings with Guthrie being the catalyst for all of them. Guthrie led the game off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Buddy Reed’s grounder to short. His two-out double in the second inning brought home Jeremy Vasquez from third and another two-out hit in the fourth scored Nelson Maldonado.
Florida started freshman Jackson Kowar for the second time against the Noles this season. Kowar lasted five innings, allowing five hits and one earned run when he faced FSU in Jacksonville two weeks ago and built off of that performance.
Kowar cruised into the fourth inning before allowing a home run to Jackson Lueck; the freshman turned on a 95-MPH fastball and sent it over the wall in right-center, the deepest part of Dick Howser Stadium. Kowar rebounded with back-to-back strikeouts and a grounder to get out of the inning. Kowar lasted four innings on Tuesday, surrendering just the lone run. In 11 innings against the Noles Kowar posted a 1.64 ERA and struck out 16 batters to just three walks.
Florida got the run back from FSU in the top of the fifth when Deacon Liput reached first on a throwing error by pitcher Chase Haney, moved to second on Buddy Reed’s sacrifice bunt and was driven home by a Schwarz single up the middle.
Things got hairy for the Gators in the seventh inning. Frank Rubio, who entered the game after sophomore Nick Horvath walked the only batter he faced in relief of Jackson Kowar, had gotten Florida out of a jam unscathed in the fifth. Rubio walked the first two batters to start the frame and was quickly replaced by Kirby Snead. Snead cashed in one of Rubio’s runners with an infield single and a fielder’s choice.
The fielder’s choice may have been the turning point in the game. John Sansone lined a ball down the third base line but was robbed by a diving Jonathan India. India was able to pop up and get the force at third and saving what would have likely been a bases-clearing double, and holding Florida State to just one run.
Florida kept answering Tuesday night. Schwarz led the top of the eighth off with a solo home run, his first since Sunday, March 6 against Dartmouth.
Florida State’s pitching fell apart in the top of the ninth inning, allowing three runs (two via walks with the bases loaded) on three hits.
Freshman Brady Singer came on for the final two outs of the game.
Florida has a quick turnaround with just one day between road trips. The team’s equipment truck left Tallahassee Tuesday night, heading straight for Fayetteville, where the team will meet up with their gear Wednesday night after bussing from Tallahassee to Gainesville and a charter flight into Arkansas.
Florid will throw junior left-hander A.J. Puk on Thursday night, junior righty Logan in his usual Friday night slot and sophomore right-hander Alex Faedo on Saturday to close out the three game set.