The Florida Gators defeated the Florida State Seminoles, 5-0, on Tuesday night, winning a game that was a pitchers’ duel for most of the night.
A squeeze bunt from Cash Strayer scored the only run of the first six innings, bringing in Ethan Surowiec, who reached on a triple. Florida State left fielder Chase Williams made a diving attempt for Surowiec’s ball, but he missed, allowing it to roll to the wall. Williams’ costly mistake didn’t decide the game, though.
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Florida scored four runs in the seventh inning as FSU’s bullpen imploded. The Seminoles hit Kolt Myers to lead off the inning, and then walked Brendan Lawson (intentionally), Cade Kurland and Karson Bowen before making a pitching change. Surowiec and Blake Cyr singled in runs to extend the lead to five.
Russell Sandefer, Luke McNeillie and Jackson Barberi each threw three innings for the Gators. Sandefer earned the win and allowed just one hit while striking out four. Barberi and McNeillie each fanned six, with the former picking up his second save of the season.
The only real trouble Florida’s pitching staff faced came in the ninth, when the umpire’s zone started to tighten up. Barberi missed a couple of borderline pitches to walk the leadoff man, Myles Bailey, and Noah Sheffield singled in the inning. Both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Barberi struck out the last two batters he faced to end the game. Fifty-six pitches is more than Kevin O’Sullivan wanted Barberi to throw, but it’s better than burning another bullpen arm for no reason.
Cyr and Surowiec led the team with two hits apiece. Cash Strayer had the only other base knock of the day for Florida, but the Gators drew eight walks and one hit by pitch.
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With the win, Florida has won eight of the last nine series against Florida State and 34 of the last 46 games.
Florida picks SEC play back up on Friday with a three-game series against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida baseball vs. FSU Seminoles recap
