Gators' offense provides enough to down Cincinnati

On3 imageby:Nick de la Torre02/24/23

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — On a 3-2 count with one out in the second inning Cade Kurland’s only thought was to protect the zone and stay alive. Rather than just staying alive, he murdered a hanging slider over the left field berm to give the Florida Gators a 2-0 lead.

“It was my first time running around the bases with the lights flickering,” Kurland said after the game. “It was truly amazing. I’m honored. Definitely, a moment I’ll remember for a long time.”

Kurland is off to a fast start after reclassifying and enrolling at Florida a year early. The freshman infielder was 3-5 on the night, bringing his season average to .600 through six games.

On the mound, Brandon Sproat assumed his role as Florida’s Friday night guy. Sproat was dominant through four innings. At one point, Sproat struck out eight in a row and he set a career-record with nine strikeouts in the game.

“I thought Brandon was sharp through the first four. I think maybe he just over-thought, because he does call his own game, the eight- and nine-hole hitters because he hit them both twice. Then, he hung a breaking ball down the left field line and just missed the spot on their three-hole hitter. Overall, I thought he threw the ball well. He will throw better and I’m sure he’ll tell you that.

Sproat would make it out of the fifth inning, but not until he had surrendered three runs.

Florida’s bats remain red hot

The Florida bats have come out hot. Nine Gators collected hits in the victory while six picked up multiple knocks. Caglianone picked up his third home run of the season, a majestic shot well over the wall in right field.

As a team, Florida is hitting .371 through six games. The Gators have 31 extra base hits and are slugging .671

Notes

  • For the fifth time in six games this year, the Gators recorded double digit hits – finishing with 16 on Friday.
    • Florida has posted nine or more hits in every game this season.
  • The Gators have 78 hits through six games (13.0 hits/game).
  • Sproat struck out a career-high nine batters in Friday’s start.
  • Dating back to April 29 of last season when he took over the Friday night role vs. Kentucky, Sproat has made eight starts and is 7-0 with a 2.32 ERA, 49 strikeouts and 16 walks across 50 1/3 innings – and Florida is 8-0.
    • Sproat has pitched at least five innings with three earned runs or fewer in every outing..
    • Sproat did not surrender a hit across hit first 6 1/3 frames of the 2023 season.
  • Kurland continued his torrid start at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one homer, three RBI and two runs.
    • Kurland has registered at least two hits in all four of his starts to begin his career.
  • Evans drove in two more runs on Friday to raise his team-leading total to 13 RBI.

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