April 12, 2015
GAINESVILLE, FLA. – Florida jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning and scored in six of eight innings at the plate on the way to a 12-2 win over 20th ranked South Carolina on Sunday afternoon. The 10th ranked Gators improve to 28-9 and 9-6 in the SEC while the loss drops Carolina to 23-14 and 6-9 in league play.
Florida starting pitcher Alex Faedo earned the win in his first career SEC start. He allowed one run on two hits in 5.2 innings with a walk and six strikeouts. He is 3-1 on the year. Gamecock starter Taylor Widener suffered the loss in his first start of the year. He allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work. Widener is now 1-3 on the year.
Florida sent eight batters to the plate in the second inning and took a 4-0 lead. Josh Tobias led off with a single and Buddy Reed walked to get things started. After a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners, Mike Rivera singled to left-center scoring Tobias. A bunt for a base hit by Ryan Larson would load the bases and Dalton Guthrie would single to left field to drive in a run, an errant relay throw allowed a second runner to score. Richie Martin’s sac fly plated the fourth run of the frame.
JJ Schwarz increased the lead to 5-0 with a homer in the fourth inning. The Gators would score two more in the fifth inning on a pair of two-out RBI singles courtesy of Rivera and Larson.
South Carolina got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning on a solo homer by Gene Cone. The sophomore outfielder launched a 2-1 pitch from Faedo over the right field wall.
Florida added three runs in the sixth inning with two more in the eighth. Kyle Martin’s solo homer in the ninth inning for the Gamecocks completed the scoring on the afternoon.
GAME CHANGER
Florida’s four-run second inning gave the Gators a lead they would not relinquish.
KEY STAT
Eight of nine Florida position starters had at least one hit with the 6-9 hitters driving in eight of the 12 runs for the Gators.
NOTABLES
• Gene Cone’s homer in the sixth inning was his second of the year.
• Junior left-hander Vince Fiori made his team-leading 19th appearance of the season.
• Kyle Martin’s ninth inning homer marked his team-leading eight homer of the year.
• Elliott Caldwell went 2-for-4. He leads the team with 15 multi-hit games on the year.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Chad Holbrook
“(Taylor Widener) hadn’t been able to pitch any meaningful innings as of late other than The Citadel game. We just wanted to give the ball to the guy we best thought would get us off to the best start. He threw a good first inning and then we had some walks in there and you can’t walk those guys, they make you pay. It was kind of what occurred all weekend long. We just couldn’t hold them at bay.
“We have some games in front of us and we are going to try like crazy to finish on a strong note. 9-6 in the last 15 (SEC) games, that’s going to be the message. If we do, we’ll have a shot.”
UP NEXT
South Carolina returns to action on Tuesday hosting Presbyterian. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. with the game broadcast on SEC Network Plus and available on the Gamecock IMG Network including flagship station, 107.5 FM, “The Game.”
