The Gators scored 51 runs and pounded out 48 hits against a horrible
George Washington pitching staff that seemingly surrendered as if they
had to cross Lake Alice. When they weren't putting the bat to the ball,
they paid the price. Florida batters were hit 11 times in the series.
A Florida squad that had already scored 31 runs in their prior two
meetings wasted little time jumping on the Colonels today.
Leadoff hitter Jon Townsend singled to right field and moved to second on
a passed ball. Second baseman Cole Figueroa walked after working Colonels
starter Bobby Lucas to a full count. First baseman Matt LaPorta was
promptly plunked by the first pitch, marking the third time in the last
five at bats that the slugger was hit by a GWU mound hound. Clean-up
hitter Austin Pride singled home Townsend for the Gators first run.
Bryson Barber was then walked on four consecutive pitches, which brought
Figueroa home. Catcher Cody Neer grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, which
scored LaPorta. However, Neer rolled his ankle as he stepped on the bag He
was helped off the field and replaced in the lineup with Hampton Tignor.
Lucas walked three of the five Florida batters he faced in the bottom of
the second. After intentionally walking LaPorta with two on and two out,
Lucas was lifted for Ryan LaPointe. Despite not securing a hit, the Gators
scored two in the inning to pull out to a 5-0 lead.
Right fielder Brian Leclerc hit a fly ball that GWU center fielder Matt
Boyd failed to track down and advanced all the way to third base to start
the third inning. Left fielder Jonathan Pigott then singled to center
driving home Leclerc. Pigott moved up on a wild pitch thrown by LaPointe.
Avery Barnes then laced a single to center scoring Pigott. Townsend
ripped a 2-2 offering to left, scoring Barnes. He scored two batters later
on LaPorta's ground ball to short giving the Gators a 9-0 advantage.
Meanwhile, freshman right hander Billy Bullock was in the midst of tossing
five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. Bullock (2-2) struck out
four, while walking only one along the way.
He was relieved by left hander David Hurst, who gave up a home run to GWU
left fielder Charlie Kruer that got into the winds and carried out of
McKethan Stadium.
The Gators added injury to insult in the sixth. Yes, injury to insult.
Matt den Dekker led off the inning with a long home run over the right
field wall. Two batters later, Barnes tripled to left-center. He scored on
Townsend's ground ball to short. Figueroa was hit on a 1-2 pitch. George
Washington reliever Pat Lehman delivered his next pitch into LaPorta's
back. LaPorta is now one shy of the Florida record currently held by St. Louis Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein. As a team, the Gators were hit
11 times by GWU pitchers.
Pride then stepped up and cleared the bases with a ball that carried just
over the left field fence giving Florida a 16-1 lead.
Florida added four more runs as head coach Pat McMahon emptied the benches.
Austin Pride was 3 for 4 today, Avery Barnes went 3 for 5, and Jon
Townsend added a 2-4 performance for the Gators. Florida will play
Jacksonville University on Tuesday night at McKethan Stadium. First pitch
is scheduled for 6:30pm.