Preston Tucker could go down as the greatest Florida Gator to ever take the McKethan Stadium diamond. On Saturday, in Florida's 5-1 win over William and Mary, he claimed at least one record to use as evidence.
Tucker's solo homer in the third inning gave the Gators a 2-0 lead over the Tribe, but it also gave him sole possession of Florida's career RBI record, with 215 in 205 games as a Gator; Brad Wilkerson had 214 in his three years in Gainesville from 1996 to 1998. The homer was Tucker's fourth of the season and 45th in his career, and helped give Brian Johnson the lead he needed to get an easy win in his first start of the year.
Johnson pitched 6.1 innings, scattering five hits and carrying a shutout into the seventh, before leaving. Greg Larson shut down the Tribe in relief, pitching 2.2 hitless innings and allowing just two baserunners while striking out three.
Daniel Pigott opened the scoring for Florida with a sacrifice fly in the third inning, and freshmen Taylor Gushue and Casey Turgeon knocked in the remaining three runs, Gushue on a double in the sixth inning and Turgeon on his first career homer, a two-run blast that scored Gushue.
The Gators ran their record to 6-1 on the year with the win, and play William and Mary at 12:35 p.m. on Sunday. Florida is looking for its first weekend sweep of the 2012 season, and sophomore phenom Karsten Whitson will take the bump for the Gators.