Someone was going to pay for Florida being swept in its Southeastern Conference opening series last weekend at Arkansas.
The Tennessee Volunteers just so happened to be the next SEC opponent on the schedule.
Following Friday’s dramatic 3-2 victory delivered by Matt den Dekker’s 2-run home run in the eighth inning, the No. 25 Gators showed an effort that was similar to the perfect storm.
Florida banged out 16 hits while the pitching staff limited Tennessee to just five in a 10-2 victory before 2,929 fans at McKethan Stadium.
“We’ve got to take it one game at a time,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Tomorrow is a new day and we’ve got to bear down. I certainly don’t want us to get complacent. I want us to play as well tomorrow as we did the last two games.”
The victory was the fourth in a row for the Gators following their three losses last weekend in Fayetteville. Florida (13-7, 2-3 SEC East) and Tennessee (9-11, 1-4 SEC) conclude their series Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Senior right-hander Patrick Keating (2-3, 4.37 ERA) will take the mound for Florida against Tennessee sophomore Bryan Morgado (1-0, 6.23 ERA).
The Gators got out in front of the Volunteers from the beginning and never looked back as they roughed up starter Stephen McCray, who allowed six earned runs on nine hits in 2.2 innings.
Matt den Dekker led off the first inning with a single into right field. After Josh Adams lined out, Avery Barnes lifted a fly ball over the fence in right field. Buddy Munroe then gave the Gators their first back-to-back homers of the season when he blasted a towering fly ball over the scoreboard in right field.
“It’s been a while since we played with a lead,” O’Sullivan said. “We got an early lead and played relaxed at UCF, and I think we did today, too. We got to take a little pressure off. I thought today’s batting practice was the best we’ve taken in a long time. It was good to see it carry into the game. Hitting is contagious. The top of the order did what they needed to do.”
The early lead also helped the pitching staff. Starter Nick Maronde went three innings, allowing two hits and zero runs, while striking out four Volunteers. The freshman was pulled from the game in the fourth inning because of an injury after lowering his ERA to 1.67.
Freshman Will Jolin ended the game, going 2.1 innings while allowing three hits and two runs, both of which came in the ninth inning.
But the key performance came from junior Clint Franklin. The right-hander came in relief of Maronde, going 3.2 scoreless and hitless innings. He picked up the victory, his first career SEC triumph. Eight of the 10 outs he recorded came on ground balls.
The early lead gave all the Florida pitchers the ability to relax when on the mound.
“It’s a lot easier,” Franklin said. “A bunch of fastballs is all you need to throw. I throw a lot of two seams, so I get a lot of sink on my balls. It’s a lot easier to field ground balls than (let) them hit the ball all over the yard.”
The Florida onslaught continued in the third inning when den Dekker started it with a single into center field. Adams bounced a single over the head of the first baseman, moving den Dekker to third. Barnes grounded out to first base, scoring den Dekker and moving Adams to second. After Munroe struck out, Preston Tucker singled up the middle to score Adams. Brandon McArthur followed by fisting a single into left field. Tennessee reliever Ryne Simpson came in only to walk Pisani, loading the bases. Jonathan Pigott then walked, bringing in Tucker.
Barnes, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and 3 RBIs in his third game batting third, has hit four of his eight career homers against Tennessee. Despite his new spot in the order, he says there is no different mindset.
“It’s the same mentality,” Barnes said. “I know I’m no big power guy by any means. I’m just trying to do anything I can to help the team out.”
The Gators tacked on a run in the fourth inning, started by a one-out walk to Adams. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and scored on a two-out single to right field by Munroe, giving the Gators a 7-0 lead after four innings.
“I’m seeing the ball well,” Munroe said. “I’m seeing spin and jumping on fastballs. I feel a lot more comfortable at the plate.”
Florida scored three more runs in the sixth inning for a 10-0 lead. Pigott singled up the middle and advanced to third when Mike Mooney tapped a single into right field. Den Dekker reached base on a fielder’s choice, allowing Pigott to score. After den Dekker stole second during Adams’ strike out, Barnes worked a walk. After den Dekker stole third base and Barnes advanced to second on the throw, Munroe, who finished the day going 3-for-4 with four RBI, followed with a double down the left-field line to score both runners.
With 16 hits Saturday, it would be difficult to think den Dekker’s game winning home run Friday night didn’t seep over into how the Gators swung the bats.
“A play like that can certainly ignite a team,” O’Sullivan said. “Matt has been a totally different hitter once we put him in the leadoff spot. In that three spot he was looking to yank balls.”
On the day, Florida’s Nos. 1-4 hitters (den Dekker, Adams, Barnes and Munroe) were 7-of-14, driving in eight runs and also scoring eight runs.