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Final: Florida 7, Stetson 6

Despite a shaky defense that made four errors on the night, the Gators held on to defeat the Stetson Hatters 7-6 on Tuesday.

How It Happened:

Florida got on the scoreboard early as Jacob Young scored on a sacrifice fly by Kirby McMullen.

The Hatters evened it up with a solo homer by Brandon Hylton in the second and took the advantage in the fourth with a solo shot from Hernen Sardinas.

The Gators responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jordan Butler singled up the middle to score Sterlin Thompson. Kris Armstrong followed with a single to left that scored Jud Fabian which was followed by a Josh Rivera RBI double.

Florida added two more in the fifth as Young reached home plate on Thompson’s double and Fabian hit a sacrifice fly to score McMullen and increase the Gators’ lead to 6-2.

The Hatters plated a pair of runs in the eighth as Rivera’s throw went way beyond the reach of Butler at first.

Rivera bounced back in the bottom of the inning with a bomb that easily cleared the visitors bullpen in left.

Stetson wouldn’t go down quietly, however. The Hatters scored two more runs in the ninth on a homer by Christian Pregent that chased Brandon Sproat. Franco Aleman came on for the save and allowed just a two-out single. For Aleman, it was his fourth save of the year.

Pitching Decision:

• W: Garrett Milchin (2-1)
• L: Jonathan Gonzalez (2-1)
• S: Aleman (4)

Individual Stats:

• Rivera: 3-4, HR, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R
• Thompson: 3-4, 2B, RBI, R
• Young: 2-4, BB, 2 R
• Butler: 2-4, RBI, R
• Milchin: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 0 BB
• Cabarcas: 2 IP, 2 H, O R, 3 K, 0 BB

On Deck:

Florida will face Florida A&M on Wednesday. The Gators will throw LHP Timmy Manning against the Rattlers. FAMU is 10-16 overall in 2021, but have won five straight games.

Florida swept the Rattlers in a three game weekend series in the beginning of March.