On Friday, Florida took on Columbia in game one of the weekend series. They took game one by a score of 15-6.
Cade Fisher took the mound for the Gators after his shaky start to the season last Friday.
Fisher showed his last start did not phase him in the first, striking out two batters.
In the bottom of the first, Kurland got things started with a single up centerfield. To follow up, Caglianone reached base on a walk. Shelton got the scoring going with an RBI single to score Kurland. Gators up 1-0. Ty Evans kept the momentum with a 2 RBI triple to centerfield, scoring Caglianone and Shelton. Gators added to their lead 3-0.
Shelnut was then hit by a pitch. Thomas reached base on a Columbia error; both Shelnut and Evans scored. Gators 5-0. It didn’t stop there. Brody Donay added to the offensive showcase with a two-run homerun. Gators looking unstoppable up 7-0.
Columbia made a pitching change to Will Parkinson to try to stop the bleeding, but that didn’t help. Robertson singled to left field. Kurland was hit by pitch. Caglianone singled. The offensive just didn’t stop. Luke Heyman added to the fun with a 2 RBI double to score Robertson and Kurland. Gators up 9-0. They still weren’t done. Shelton had a sacrifice fly to score Caglianone. Gators 10-0. The first inning finally came to an end on a groundout from Evans.
After not being on the mound for 30 minutes, Fisher took his place on the mound. He recorded two more strikeouts, stranding two two Columbia players on base.
The bottom of the second was a scoreless frame for Florida too. They couldn’t seem to get the same momentum as the first.
Cade Fisher went 1-2-3 in the third, striking out two, keeping the Lions scoreless.
Heyman and Shelton both reached by walks, then Evans was hit by a pitch and all of the sudden, the bases were loaded. The Gators couldn’t convert as Shelnut’s fly ball was caught to end the inning.
In the fourth, the Lions got on the board with a two run homerun by Anton Lazits. Gators still hold a strong lead up 10-2.
Brandon Madrigal went in to pitch for the Lions in the fourth. The Gators were silent again.
Fisher continued his career day, going1-2-3 again in the fifth, recording two more strikeouts.
Despite getting the bases loaded in the fifth, the Gators couldn’t convert. They still struggled to find the same momentum they started with.
Fisher Jameson took the mound in the sixth. Fisher’s day ended after five innings, throwing 86 pitches. He recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts. Lazits hit his second home run of the night to bring the score to 10-4.
The Gators were unable to get on the board in the sixth. The bats were connecting, but they had trouble finishing to get on the board.
Blake Purnell came in for the Gators in the seventh. Jameson’s day was done after one inning and one strikeout. Slater replaced Purnell after Griffin Palfrey had a 2 RBI double to left field. Gators still held on to the lead 10-6.
Shelnut got the Gators back on the right track with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh. Gators up 11-6.
In the eighth, Slater went 1-2-3 with three strikeouts.
In the eighth, Robertson got things started with a double. Armando Albert recorded a RBI single, scoring Robertson. Gators up 12-6.
Caglianone reached base from a walk and Heyman followed up with a two run homerun to increase the Gators lead to 14-6. Shelton reached on a walk and Evans singled to right field. Shelnut continued his strong outing with a RBI single to score Shelton, Gators 15-6. The bases were loaded after Thomas reached first on a walk. But, the Gators couldn’t put another run on the board.
Reilly Witmer went in to pitch for the Gators in the ninth. Slater ended his day with four strikeouts. The Gators closed out the game in the ninth with a strikeout to end it from freshman pitcher Witmer. Final score 15-6. Their record is now 3-1 on the season.
The Gators and Lions will play game two of the series Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
ChompTalk.com 
Leave a comment