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After a so-so stretch of games in the past seven days, including losses to Miami and UCF, the Florida Gators needed a no-nonsense performance to kickoff the last weekend series before a trip to Tennessee to begin conference play.

They executed the plan to perfection, ending the game as early as possible in a run-rule rout of the Harvard Crimson.

No. 7 Florida (13-2) defeated Harvard (0-7) 12-0 in the first game of its weekend series. Starting right-hander Liam Peterson was awarded the win, tossing five scoreless innings and tying his career high of 11 strikeouts while allowing just four hits and two walks.

“I thought I did my job,” Peterson said.

Peterson got off to a rolling start in his usual Friday outing, striking out his first five batters faced. Florida’s bats followed suit. Colby Shelton put the Gators in front early on an RBI single which scored Hayden Yost.

Peterson gave up his first hits of the game on a pair of singles which put runners on the corners with one out. He’d pick up his seventh and eighth strikeout of the night as he broke free from the jam.

The Gators added some insurance in the bottom third as Brody Donay scored Bobby Boser on a broken play double. After three frames, UF led 2-0.

UF found itself in a bases loaded situation in the bottom fourth and having already scored a run on a hit-by-pitch with juiced bags. Shelton cleared the base paths on an RBI double to make it a 6-0 ballgame after four innings played.

“Just trying to hit something hard back up the middle,” Shelton said. “Didn’t try to do too much. The flood gates just opened up.”

Peterson kept it scoreless through the fifth and tossed his 11th strikeout, matching a career-high he set on opening day against Air Force.

Florida added its seventh run of the game in the bottom fifth frame as Cyr got in on the fun with an RBI single to score Brendan Lawson. Luke Heyman singled behind Cyr to load the bases for Ty Evans. He doubled to tack on two more runs. Yost pushed the Gators over the threshold into run-rule territory on a sacrifice fly, scoring Heyman.

The Gators added two more before the Crimson could make the third out and led 12-0 after five.

Peterson wouldn’t get the chance to eclipse his career high after being pulled for left-hander Niko Janssens to start the sixth inning. He’d retire the side in order to keep Harvard scoreless.

“[Peterson] was good tonight,” O’Sullivan said. “He got us off to a good start on the weekend.”

Janssens returned to the hill seeking three more outs and the win. He’d retire the side in order to secure game one for the Gators.

Florida will seek a series win and sweep in tomorrow’s doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set for noon and will stream on ESPN SEC Network+.