Hoover, AL – Following a late night loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Florida Gators (41-16) defeated the Auburn Tigers (35-24), 11-2, in an elimination game Thursday afternoon in hopes to keep their national seeding hopes alive.
Florida’s loss to Arkansas the previous night ended Josh Tobias’ 12 game hitting streak, but Tobias bounced back hitting 4 for 5, with two RBI and two runs. Logan Shore pitched 7.2 innings, striking out 7 batters and allowing 2 earned runs.
Florida was able to take charge early in the game after an 8 run inning in the 3rd.
With two outs and a hit by pitch to start the top 3rd, Tobias was able to score Dalton Guthrie after singling up to right field to give UF the lead of 2-0. Shortly after, Peter Alonso knocked in two runs to boost the Gators’ lead to 4-0.
A fielding error made by Tigers’ second baseman Melvin Gray allowed Alonso to score and prevented the third out, giving Florida a 5-0 lead and helping set up the rest of the Gators’ runs. Florida was able to glide through the rest of third inning with a 2 run RBI by Mike Rivera followed by back-to-back RBI singles made by Jeremy Vasquez and Guthrie that would expand UF’s lead to 9-0.
A pair of RBI singles in the 6th made by Tobias and Alonso would raise the Gators’ lead to 11-1. Florida would go on to win 11-2 extending their stay in the SEC Tournament for another day.
The Gators will play the loser of Game 12 on Friday following the conclusion of Game 13, which begins at 3:00pm CT.
Game Notes:
- Starting pitcher Logan Shore allowed 6 hits, 2 earned runs and struck out seven in 7.2 innings
- Josh Tobias hit 4 for 5, one hit away from his career high of five hits
- Gators improved to 7-2 all-time in the SEC Tournament against the Tigers
- After Buddy Reed’s leadoff single in the 6th, every Gator starter reached base
- A 2nd inning sac fly by JJ Schwarz gave him his team-leading 58th RBI and with team-best sixth sac fly
Postgame Quotes:
Head Coach Kevin O’Sulllivan on the Gators responding to their loss against Arkansas:
“They played great today. Bouncing back after a long night, no one cares and there’s no excuses – you have to play the same way every time, you have to play hard, you have to come ready to play and the swings were a lot better today. It’s hard to believe that it was the same group of kids but that’s baseball and that’s why we watch it and love it. Scoring first the percentages say you’re going to win. Logan (Shore) had to be shocked when we scored eight in the third inning since I don’t think we scored that many for him all year. He’s pitched really well for us and that’s the first time he could actually enjoy it and let his guard down a little bit and let the ball come out of his hand.”
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
