The streak is finally over. The fourth ranked Florida Gators (36-12, 18-6 SEC) baseball team managed to win the series finale at number 18 Arkansas Razorbacks (32-15, 12-12 SEC) to avoid losing their ninth straight game in Fayetteville, 5-3.
UF used a dual effort by sophomore Austin Maddox to overcome the 'Hogs. Maddox threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win (his second of the year) and also went 1-3 at the plate with an RBI single. Maddox's RBI single scoring Daniel Pigott in the second inning started the scoring for Florida, giving them a 1-0 lead.
Nolan Fontana added to the Gators lead with one out in the fifth with a solo homerun, his second of the year and first since March 22. The shot put Florida up 2-0.Arkansas' Matt Reynolds cut the lead in half with a solo homer of his own in the bottom half of the fifth, his third of the year. Reynolds bomb was the first homerun allowed by Florida starter Karsten Whitson this season in 62 2/3 innings.
The Razorbacks took the lead in the sixth inning when Gator killer (at least during this series) Dominic Ficociello smashed a two-out, two-run double to the gap in left center. Ficociello's team leading 15th double of the season put the 'Hogs up 3-2. During the series, Ficociello hit .333 with 4 RBI.
The Orange and Blue answered in the seventh with three runs on four hits to put the Gators up for good, 5-3. Preston Tucker's RBI single tied the game at 3's and Pigott's two-run single put Florida on top for good. Both Tucker and Mike Zunino stretched their respective hitting streaks to 12 straight games.
Florida returns to the friendly confines of McKethan Stadium when they host the North Florida Ospreys (24-21, 12-14 A-Sun) Wednesday night.