Special to The Sun
KNOXVILLE, TENN. — A five-run inning and back-to-back seven-run innings Saturday surged top-ranked Florida to a 22-6 win over Tennessee.
The Gators (27-5, 8-2 SEC) recorded season-highs in runs and hits (20) and extended their winning streak to eight games.
UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan reached 200 wins in the Southeastern Conference. He has a career record of 200-109 (.647) in SEC play.
Florida put a five-spot on the board in the second inning courtesy of a pair of home runs. Nick Horvath hit a three-run homer for the second game in a row and Deacon Liput made it 5-0 with a two-run shot.
The Vols (18-13, 4-6) got back in the game with three unanswered runs to cut the deficit to two, but the Gators responded with seven runs in the fifth inning.
Jonathan India led off the inning with his 12th home run of the season, extending his hitting streak to 17 games. Blake Reese had a two-run single in the inning.
The Gators blew it open with seven more runs in the sixth inning, stringing together seven singles and taking advantage of three walks in the frame.
Brady Singer (7-1) went five innings and allowed three runs on four hits. Three relievers, including outfielder Austin Langworthy, closed it out.
Horvath went 4-for-7 on Saturday with a team-high four RBI on the night. It was the first time in his career with a four-hit game and marked the second time this season Horvath had four RBI in a game.
Today
Who: No. 1 Florida at Tennessee
When: Game 2, 12 p.m., SEC Network; Game 3, 45 minutes following Game 2, SEC Network+
Radio: 103.7-FM
Florida has now scored five-plus runs in an inning 12 times this season. Last season, Florida notched five-plus runs in a frame just nine times all season (71 games).
The teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 12 p.m. Both games will be seven innings each. The first game of the doubleheader will air live on SEC Network with game two streaming live on SEC Network+.
Florida will throw Jackson Kowar (5-1, 2.68) in Sunday’s first game against UT RHP Garrett Stallings (4-2, 2.98). The second game of the day will have right-hander Tyler Dyson (4-1, 2.33) starting for the Gators against the Vols’ righty Will Neely (3-1, 3.00).
Coach really needs to fire the hitting coach. We went scoreless in several innings. Go Gators
wonder when the “Fire Kevin O’Sullivan” page will start! LOL!
We really need to look at this. A 16-run win at Rocky Flop is just unacceptable.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Lets get the sweep on Rocky Flop Gators! Remember last year, they took the series in Gville. Go Gators!
Wow, just Wow. I do wonder how they scored six against our pitchers.