NASHVILLE, Tenn. – What’s that about No. 19 Florida’s lack of offense?
The first six batters in the Gators’ baseball lineup produced multi-hit nights, totaling 14 of the Gators’ 18 hits in an 8-4 Southeastern Conference victory over Vanderbilt Friday night at Hawkins Field.
The Gators (19-9) won their seventh straight SEC game by roughing up Vanderbilt left-handed starter Mike Minor, who surrendered 12 hits and five runs (four earned) while striking out nine. Minor fell to 2-3.
Combined with No. 2 Louisiana State’s 2-1 victory over No. 1 Georgia in Athens Friday night, the victory also put Florida into first place with the Bulldogs in the East Division with 7-3 records.
The victory went to Florida reliever Tony Davis, who threw 3.1 hitless innings in relief of starter Jeff Barfield and reliever Clint Franklin, who combined to allow the Commodores (17-12, 3-7 SEC East) their four earned runs and five hits.
Davis entered the game with two outs in the sixth inning after Vanderbilt had taken a 4-3 lead on Florida and he allowed just one baserunner (a walk) and struck out four of the 11 batters he faced.
The Gators finished strong by scoring two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings and a single run in the ninth.
With one out, Josh Adams singled to center and Avery Barnes followed with one of his own. After Buddy Munroe grounded to first unassisted for the second out, moving the two runners up a base, Preston Tucker doubled to center, scoring both and giving Florida a 5-4 lead, one it would not relinquish.
The Gators then scored two runs against reliever Taylor Hill in the eighth. With one out, Riley Cooper reached on an infield single. Clayton Pisani singled to left, moving Cooper to third. Vanderbilt brought in reliever Richie Goodenow, who got Matt den Dekker to ground out to second base, scoring Cooper. Pisani then took third on a passed ball and Adams followed with a single to score Pisani for a 7-4 lead.
Russell Brewer relieved Goodenow in the ninth and Munroe greeted him with a single to left center. Tucker then singled down the line in left, moving Munroe to third, and Jerico Weitzel singled to center to drive Munroe home.
Tucker finished with three hits and three RBI for Florida, while Brandon McArthur also had three hits. Munroe had two hits and a pair of RBI, while den Dekker, Adams and Barnes each had two hits each as every player in the Florida lineup had at least one hit.
The 18 hits matched a season high for Florida.
Freshman third baseman Jason Esposito had a game-tying solo homer in the third inning for Vanderbilt. It was 1-1 until the fifth when the Gators scored twice. Matt den Dekker led off with an infield single. One out later, Barnes singled to right, den Dekker stopping at second. Florida then pulled off a double steal, den Dekker going to third, Barnes to second. Munroe’s groundout scored den Dekker and Tucker drove home Barnes with an infield hit.
Vanderbilt’s Andrew Giobbi had a bases-loaded triple off Florida reliever Clint Franklin in the bottom of the sixth to give the Commodores a 4-3 lead. Two walks followed and Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan turned to Davis, who got pinch-hitter Alex Hilliard to line out back to him.
Florida right-handed starter Barfield went 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits with two walks while striking out four. Franklin officially did not get an out but was charged with one earned run on one hit and three walks before surrendering the ball to Davis.
The Florida defense played errorless ball in support of the pitching staff.
The three-game series continues Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. and will be televised by FSN Florida as part of the SEC Game of the Week package. Florida will send freshman left-hander Nick Maronde (1-1, 3.77 ERA) will oppose Vanderbilt’s sophomore right-hander Caleb Cotham (3-3, 4.54 ERA).