Hudson Randall (1-0) and Austin Maddox (2 saves) combined to hold the William and Mary Tribe (2-3) to one run on six hits and eight strikeouts with no walks to help number one Florida (5-1) to the win 4-1. Randall allowed one run on five hits before Maddox came in for the final 2 2/3. In Maddox's three appearances, he has pitched 8 1/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. Oh yeah, and his bat is pretty potent. Last year Maddox batted .280 with 35 RBI, 30 runs scored, and six home runs. It's great to see that the Gators have this much depth that a bat like Maddox's hasn't been missed in the lineup thus far. UF beat W&M for the first time since 1966 and improved to 3-0 all time versus the College of William & Mary.
The Gators got off to a hot start for the second straight game with Mike Zunino hitting a sac fly scored Nolan Fontana and put Florida ahead, 1-0. Tribe freshman Josh Smith tied the game at one in the third with a leadoff, solo shot to left.
Tyler Thompson put UF up 2-1 with a two-out solo home run in the fifth. The homer was Thompson's first since April 20 of last year against UCF. The Gators added two insurance runs in the eighth. Zunino started the inning with a single, bringing his hitting streak stretching from last season into double digits at ten games. Zunino later scored on a Tribe error. Justin Shafer hit a grounder to the mound that Ryan Williams threw past the first baseman, allowing all of the Gators on base to move up a base, and Zunino to score. Casey Turgeon finalized the Florida scoring with a sac fly to plate fellow freshman Taylor Gushue and bring the score to 4-1.
Today features a pitching matchup of junior southpaws. Brian Johnson (0-0, 0 ERA) goes the the bump against Matt Wainman (1-0, 1.50 ERA). at 4 p.m. The game can be heard on the Gator Radio Network and seen on Gatorvision Online.