Florida baseball is Underway. Ranked #5 in the polls, UF got off to a good start with three wins over USF, one over UCF and another over Siena. The first two games over USF were fairly easy wins. The Gators opened with a 6-2 victory. Josh Adams was 3 for 3 with 4 RBIs to lead a top heavy Gator attack. Only the first four hitters hit safely, but all did plenty of damage.

Game 2 saw UF win 9-1. Brian Johnson pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball while Tyler Thompson was 2-5 with 4 RBIs.

Mike Zunino was the hero in game 3 with a game winning single in the bottom of the 10th to give Florida a 7-6 win and a series sweep.

The Gators then won another nail biter against UCF by the same score on Tuesday night in Gainesville.

Kevin Chapman nailed down a five out save to preserve the win for Hudson Randall, who was named SEC Freshman of the Week.

Siena then came to the Mac on Wednesday night. Several Gators had multiple hits in that one including Matt den Dekker who went 4-6. The Gators won behind Tommy Toledo 13-3. to run their record to 5-0.

Over the weekend LaSalle was supposed to come into Gainesville for three games starting on Friday. Bad weather in Philadelphia forced the cancellation of the entire series as the Explorers were snowed in.

This set up a battle of undefeated rivals Florida 5-0 ranked #5 against Florida State at 6-0 ranked #2.

The Noles jumped all over the Gators in the 1st inning. In the first trip through the order, FSU scored 7 runs and chased the UF starter. Florida was never able to get back in it.

Several times the Gators stranded men in scoring position, some with less than two out. They were just not able to get the timely hit. Base running was also an issue. A Gator runner was picked off 1st base with nobody out in a 7-0 game. That cannot happen.

The games was played in Tampa at the Spring Training home of the New York Yankees. However, due to the Gator’s basketball game against Vandy, many Gators were no doubt in front of the tube. The Noles fans greatly outnumbered the Gators, and had plenty of occasion to make noise. With the cold and damp weather thrown in, it made for a miserable night for the Gator fans. The results of the basketball game did not help either.

Florida will now travel to Miami for a three game set this weekend. The ‘Canes will be coming off a 15-2 rout of USF. Florida will need to regroup in a hurry.

By: James Folsom