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Florida baseball got back on track with a home and home sweep of North Florida in midweek action on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tuesday:

Florida pulled out a 9-6 win at UNF on Tuesday, though once again the bullpen allowed the game to be closer than it should have been.

The offense, however, continued to hum at a torrid pace. Florida opened the game with three straight singles and a sacrifice fly by Jordan Butler put the Gators on the board early.

UNF answered in the home half of the first on an error at second that allowed A Kachler to score.

Florida added four runs in the third inning highlighted by freshman Colby Halter’s first collegiate triple and three RBIs.

Jordan Butler entered in relief of Garrett Milchin in the third and tossed three innings, allowing two runs to score including a solo homer by A. Sequera.

Ben Specht pitched the final four innings and was on cruise control until the ninth. UNF scored on an RBI triple by A. Sweatt and another homer from Sequera (this one a two run shot).

Florida evened their record to 2-2 on the season.

Pitching Decision:

• W: Jordan Butler (1-1)
• L: Ethan Jones (0-1)
• S: Specht (1)

Individual Stats:

• Halter: 3-5, 3B, R, 4 RBI
• Young: 3-6, 2B, R, SB, RBI

…

Wednesday:

Florida completed the home and home sweep with a 8 – 3 win over the Ospreys on Wednesday.

Jacob Young started things for the Florida offense by extending his hit streak to 23 games with a leadoff double after freshman RHP Chase Centala completed a 1-2-3 top half of the first. The Gators, however, did strand a pair of runners in the opening frame.

Florida finally reached the scoreboard in the third when Jud Fabian crushed a first pitch fastball to left center.

The Gators then added four runs in the fifth that included Fabian’s second homer of the game, a three run blast to left.

UNF’s R. Scott hit a bases clearing double, but that would be all the Ospreys could muster on Florida’s staff on this day. The Gators added two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to complete the scoring.

For Centala, the game represented another opportunity to show he belonged after a rough outing against Miami Friday night. Centala tossed four innings of scoreless ball while only allowing four hits. More importantly, the freshman didn’t walk anyone.

Christian Scott and Timmy Manning closed out the final three innings without yielding a run to clinch the victory.

Pitching Decision:

• W: Trey Van Der Weide (1-0)
• L: M. McKinley (1-1)

Individual Stats:

• Fabian: 2-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 R, BB
• Calilao: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, SF
• Carrion: 2-3, BB, R

…

What’s Next:

Florida will face Samford in weekend action. The series will span Friday through Sunday. The Bulldogs are 3-1 on the season after sweeping UT – Martin. They did drop a 11-9 decision to Alabama State on Saturday, however.