Gators power way past USF with huge ninth inning
The final score doesn’t indicate how close the game was but it does serve to show how dangerous the Florida Gators can be. Gripping to a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning the Gators exploded for four runs on three home runs to put the game away 6-1.
Tyler Shelnut got the home run parade going, punishing a hanging offspeed pitch well over the wall in left field. Freshman Cade Kurland, playing back in his hometown of Tampa, followed that up with his first career home run in back-to-back fashion. Wyatt Langford got himself on the home run board with his first of the year, following a record 26-home run performance in 2022.
“Cade had a big night, too. Coming back home, in front of his home crowd. He got the two-out RBI back through the middle to give us a 2-1 lead and obviously, we had the big ninth inning there with quite a few home runs,” Kevin O’Sullivan said after the game.
The bats came alive in the ninth inning but it was the pitching that kept Florida in the game. Freshman lefty Cade Fisher got the nod to start for the first time in his career. Fisher’s first six outs came by way of strikeout but an error and a hit left Florida in a 1-0 deficit after one.
Jac Caglianone would take care of that in the fourth inning, blasting a home run to center field.
Fisher was solid in his first career start. The lefty rookie scattered four hits over four innings of work, allowing just one run, and struck out six.
“I’ve been saying this all along. He’s advanced. He’s got the right demeanor. His heart rate never gets sped up. He slows the game down,” O’Sullivan said. “And I think that was evident with how he handled the first inning.”
The Gators will host USF at 6 pm on Wednesday night at Condron Ballpark. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Notable
- The Gators struck out 15 Bulls in Tuesday’s road win.
- Florida starters have struck out at least six batters in all four starts so far this season.
- The Gators have outscored opponents, 43 to 6, to open the campaign.
- Shelnut and Kurland connected for back-to-back home runs in the ninth inning.
- Florida hit four home runs on Tuesday for the first time since May 19, 2022 vs. South Carolina.
- The Gators hit three homers in the ninth inning alone.
- The Gators start 4-0 for the first time since the 2020 campaign.
- Making his collegiate debut on the mound, Fisher pitched four innings with one unearned run allowed on four hits while striking out six batters.
- The Gators improve to 64-27 all-time against the Bulls including 19-15 on the road.
- Florida has won 26 of the last 30 against USF.
- UF has won five of the last six road meetings.
