No.10 Florida baseball run-ruled Dayton for the second consecutive game, taking the series after Saturday’s 11-1 win (8 innings). The Gators improved to 6-0 on the 2025 season, with three of those wins coming via run-rule.
With the Gators leading 1-0 in the bottom of the 3rd, freshman infielder Brendan Lawson emptied the bases with a grand slam, a 109 MPH laser beam that cleared the fence in right field. The grand slam marked Lawson’s first home run of his collegiate career. The Canadian rookie added his 5th RBI of the game with a sac fly in the bottom of the 8th.
“He’s got a slow heart rate. Doesn’t seem to ever get too excited. The game doesn’t speed up on him. His zone control is exceptional, especially for a young hitter. He doesn’t chase out of the zone very much,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said on Lawson. “We put him in the fifth spot tonight for a reason. He’s been swinging the bat really good. A lot of his outs have been hard hit. He’s an advanced hitter and I think I’ve said that even before the season started. He’s been doing that against our own pitchers as well.”
Junior shortstop Colby Shelton contributed a three hit, three RBI day including two doubles. With the Gators leading 5-0 in the bottom of the 6th, Shelton broke the game open with a two out, two RBI double down the left field line.
“I thought the other real big at bat was Colby’s double with two outs, drove in two there down the left field line. What a really good swing,” O’Sullivan said on Shelton. “We got production up and down the lineup again. Played clean baseball. Overall, it was a good night.”
As a team, Florida was 9 for 32 (.281) at the plate including six doubles. Once again, the Gators were able to get their leadoff man on (4-8) and take advantage of scoring opportunities. The Gators were 2 for 4 with the bases loaded in the contest, scoring seven of their 11 runs with the bags juiced.
Florida only got four innings from starter Jake Clemente, who struggled with his command particularly late in his outing. Even Still, Clemente tossed four scoreless and allowed just one hit. The issue was the two walks and hit by pitches (4), which smoked Clemente’s efficiency. Clemente was removed after 74 pitches (42 for strikes).
LHP Frank Menendez was able to give Florida three much needed innings of relief, however. Menendez allowed just base runner while striking out five in his first appearance of the 2025 season.
“Frankie was outstanding, 32 pitches over three. He threw the ball really good,” O’Sullivan said postgame.
O’Sullivan previously noted that Menendez was one of Florida’s most improved pitchers this offseason. A dominant lefty can be very valuable out of the bullpen, and the Miami native certainly looked the part in his 2025 debut.
Dayton’s offense had a hard time picking up fastballs on Saturday, which generated a number of awkward swing and misses throughout the contest. Florida pitching struck out 13 batters across eight innings in game two.
Through 49 innings on the 2025 season, UF pitchers have allowed just seven earned runs on 28 hits and 11 walks on the year, equating to a 1.29 ERA and .163 batting average against. All 19 UF pitching appearances have featured at least one strikeout.
The Gators continue to be aggressive on the base paths, stealing three more bags on Saturday. After stealing 43 bases a year ago, the Gators have already swiped 24 bags (55.8%) through six games.
UP NEXT
Florida looks for the sweep of Dayton on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.