UF Baseball: #1 Florida Slugs Past UCF

The #1 Florida Gators were victorious tonight as they defeated the UCF Knights in Orlando by a score of 9-5.

Dane Dunning was called upon to start this one and did a fair job for 3.1 innings. Throwing 72 pitches, he allowed three runs on four hits, struck out six, hit a batter, and walked just one. He would earn a no decision for the contest.

Coming on in relief for Dunning was sophomore Nick Horvath, who would go on to earn his first win of the season. The lefty tossed 2.2 innings of one-run ball and gave up just one hit while striking out two and walking one.

Entering in the seventh to finish out the game was my buddy Frank Rubio. Frank had a solid outing tonight as he threw three innings of one-run ball as well, allowed just two hits, and struck out one. Just the two walks issued tonight from the pitching staff were huge in the victory as Florida pitchers made certain that UCF batters would have to put the ball in play to get on base.

Offensively, the Gator lineup continues to roll as the #1 team in the nation banged out 14 hits for nine runs. Three different Gators had three hits tonight, the first time all season such an occurrence has happened.

In the leadoff spot, Dalton Guthrie went 3-6 with a double and scored twice. Right behind him in the two-hole, Buddy Reed got his bat back on track as he went 3-5 with a double, two RBI's, a run scored, and a stolen bag. For our final trifecta hitter, look all the way down to the bottom of the lineup and you will find freshman Jonathan India.

India killed it tonight as he notched a career-high three hits in five at-bats and smashed the first home run of his collegiate career! The homer would account for his lone RBI and India scored two of Florida's nine runs.

In regards to run-production, Jeremy Vasquez was the man of the hour. With the bases loaded in the first inning and one out, Vasquez delivered with a bases clearing double to give Florida an early 2-0 lead (Peter Alonso was cut down at the plate on a debatable call). Tacking on a sacrifice fly in the third, Vasquez would finish the night 1-4 with a career-high three RBI's.

Final Takeaway:
To take the front end of the home-and-home series against UCF in the Knights' building is a huge momentum wave that the Gators can ride back into the Wednesday contest in McKethan Stadium. Before I address Game Two though, let me give my final tidbits on tonight's victory:

• Mike Rivera finally broke his 0-11 drought with a single in the third inning.
• Deacon Liput upped his hitting streak to nine games with a 1-5 performance tonight. He has hit safely in ever game as a Gator thus far.
• UCF simply did not want to pitch to JJ Schwarz or Peter Alonso tonight as the duo combined for five walks (two for Schwarz and three for Alonso).
• JJ Schwarz's only hit tonight was a double. He finished 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
• When he wasn't being walked, Peter Alonso handled the bat well as he went 1-2 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.
• UCF's No. 8 and 9 hitters were dynamic as Kam Gellinger went 2-3 with a double and three runs scored while Luke Hamblin went 3-3 with a run scored.
• Jonathan India made a spectacular web gem to kick off the eighth inning and may be seen on SportCenter's Top 10 tonight.
• UCF mustered just seven hits against Gator pitching tonight.

Concluding the mini-series in Gainesville tomorrow, the probable pitcher for the #1 Florida Gators (8-1) is unknown. Whoever Sully chooses, that player should sleep easy knowing he will have the luxury of the home crowd supporting him.

For UCF (6-3), this was their best chance to split the series. Winning in Gainesville will prove to be much more difficult, especially since the Knights haven't won at the Mac since 2011. Game time is set for 7 p.m., and the contest can be seen on the SEC Network.

*All stats accredited to FloridaGators.com