GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida left-hander Brian Johnson allowed one run on seven hits in 5.2 innings and also recorded three hits at the plate to lead the Gators to a series clinching 7-3 win over Vanderbilt Saturday afternoon at McKethan Stadium.
UF improved to 20-6 overall and 6-2 in Southeastern Conference play while VU fell to 23-6 and 4-4 in league action.
Johnson had a shutout threw five innings before giving up a solo homer with two outs in the sixth. He struck out one and walked one and improved to 3-1 on the year. He made just his second start offensively yesterday and recorded a hit last night and three more today.
Daniel Pigott put the Gators on the board in the second with a two-run homer to right, his first round-tripper of the year. Johnson reached on a single to right-center with one out, before Pigott lofted a ball into right that carried out of the park.
Preston Tucker’s RBI double down the right field line in the second extended the lead to 3-0.
The Gators added an unearned run in the fifth on a fielder’s choice by Austin Maddox to make it 4-0. UF had runners on first and second with one out when Maddox hit a grounder to second baseman Riley Reynolds that was fielded and thrown to Brian Harris at short for the second out. Harris then tried to throw Maddox out at first for a potential double play but the throw was low and wide to the wall, allowing the runner from second to come in and score.
Joe Loftus’ solo homer in the sixth put the Commodores on the board at 4-1. It was his fourth homer of the year and the first since hitting one against Ohio on March 13.
Florida broke open the game with three runs in the sixth to extend the lead to 7-1. Mike Zunino had the big hit in the frame, a RBI single to left that plated two runs. It was his first hit in SEC play in 22 at bats.
Hill (3-2) allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits in five innings with three strikeouts and three walks.
Commodore reliever Corey Williams was injured in the seventh inning on a line drive by Maddox right back up the middle that hit him in his right knee. He couldn’t move, but was able to get the ball and toss it towards first base, where Aaron Westlake picked it up and tagged the runner out. Williams remained down on the mound and had to be carted off the field with the leg injury. He was getting an x-ray taken at the end of the game.
Giobbi led off the eighth with a double down the left field line and Westlake came up with a two-run homer to left to cut the lead to 7-3. It was Westlake’s fifth homer of the year and first since hitting one against Ohio on March 13.
Westlake led the Commodores with a 3-for-4 day, while Giobbi added two hits and a run scored.
Navery Moore pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts and two walks.
The Commodores and Gators will play the final game of the series tomorrow at Noon CT. Sophomore right-hander Jack Armstrong (3-0, 4.70 ERA) will start for VU, while Florida will counter with freshman right-hander Hudson Randall (2-2, 5.00 ERA). The game will be televised on SUN Sports.
