No.4 Florida (4-1) defeated Columbia 7-3 behind a six-run 8th inning on Saturday night, clinching the series with the victory. The Gators found four scoreless innings from starting pitcher Liam Peterson and dominant relief pitching which held the Lions scoreless until the 9th frame.
Peterson struck out six batters in four innings pitched, allowing two hits and three walks across 74 pitches. It wasn’t Peterson’s best night from a command standpoint, but the freshman pitcher struck out back-to-back Lions to leave the bases loaded in the 4th inning, which served as a critical momentum shifter in this game.
“I think you’re just amped up. His first start in his career at home, over 8,000 people. It’s expected,” Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan said on Peterson’s first home start. “The bottom line is that he made some pitches and the stuff was really good again. Really easy decision to take him out after four after that emotional fourth inning.”
Senior third baseman Dale Thomas put the Gators on the board with a two-out solo home run to left field in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Thomas is getting his chance to be an everyday starter for Florida after making just 14 starts in 2023. As a leader in the clubhouse, Thomas brings a great approach to the plate and has shown the ability to play above average defense at the hot corner.
“He was an emotional leader last year, too, even though he didn’t play. So, he’s older, he’s played college baseball for four or five years now. He’s kind of that spark plug and plays really, really good defense at third base. He’s an emotional leader and he brings his energy every day. We’re just glad that he’s getting the opportunity to play and he’s making the most of it, for sure,” O’Sullivan said on Thomas’ impact.
Both teams were held scoreless from innings 3-7 on Saturday night.
“As a club, we needed a game like that. It was a one-nothing game through seven, every pitch mattered, every play mattered, every at-bat mattered, so it was just a great game all around. Their starter was outstanding as well. They had a good plan and it was just a really good game. I think it’s one that’s going to help us moving forward,” O’Sullivan said postgame.
Freshman RHP Luke McNeillie made his collegiate debut in the contest, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings while allowing three hits. McNeillie’s quick pace and command were impressive in his Gators’ debut, walking no batters across 34 pitches, 24 of which were strikes.
“He was really good,” O’Sullivan said on McNeillie’s outing. “With both of them, with Liam and Luke, the situation bases loaded and one out and had to figure out a way to get through it. Luke comes in and gives up a leadoff double and figures out a way to make some big pitches. Both of them, you couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Florida’s closer Brandon Neely also made in appearance against Columbia, entering the game in the 7th inning with the Gators up just one run. Neely tossed a perfect 1.1 innings including three strikeouts.
“The plan with Neely was to use him in the eighth and ninth. They got arguably one of their best hitters in Palfrey coming up, so he was ready to go so we brought him in there for the last out there in the seventh,” O’Sullivan said postgame. “I thought his stuff was really sharp, too. And that was the thing going in, he’d only thrown one inning over the first four games. He needs to pitch. Even if the game had been out of hand, one way or the other, he was going to go to the mound tonight at least for an inning or so.”
Neely didn’t need to pitch the 9th inning after Florida exploded for six runs in the 8th inning, which included a two-run blast from Ty Evans and a two RBI single off the bat of Jac Caglianone, who went 4-4 in the contest.
Columbia starter Andy Leon (0-1) was hung with the loss. He pitched five innings of one-run ball on two hits and two walks, striking out four.
UP NEXT
The Gators and Lions meet in the series finale on Sunday at 11 a.m. on SEC Network+. Jac Caglianone (7-4, 4.34 ERA) makes his season debut on the mound against Columbia’s JD Ogden (0-2, 10.98 ERA).