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The Florida Gators won the first game of the 2023 college baseball season Friday night against the Charleston Southern Buccanneers, 13-3.
UF scored in every inning but the third and ended the game early thanks to the newly introduced mercy rules. Catcher BT Riopelle singled home shortstop Josh Rivera in the bottom of the seventh with no outs to walk it off.
Brandon Sproat got the opening-night start for Florida and had a decent night on paper, but he wasn’t exactly in midseason form. He came in hurling 100 mph but was effectively wild early after striking out the first batter of the game. He ended the night after 5 2/3 innings and seven strikeouts but walked three and hit another two batters. He’ll need to settle in over the next few weeks if he wants to be at peak form against the SEC.
BT rips one through the right side, and that's the ballgame!#Gators win 13-3 courtesy of the run rule. pic.twitter.com/bWYfPO1nEA
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) February 18, 2023
Sproat’s slider didn’t seem to be breaking the way he wanted it to and his changeup was misplaced a few times, but there’s no reason to be discouraged early by this performance.
Phillip Abner replaced Sproat in the sixth but couldn’t get the final out of the inning and gave up a pair of runs that were tacked onto the starter’s bill. Fisher Jameson replaced Abner after the runs scored and promptly got out of the inning. He also pitched the seventh for Florida, striking out a pair.
Coming into the season, Jameson seemed like he might be a forgotten option in the bullpen, but that is clearly not the case. A performance like this will only get him more time on the mound. The same can’t be said for Abner, though.
Offensively, Rivera, Riopelle, Ty Evans, Tyler Shelnut and Wyatt Langford had multi-hit nights. Riopelle led the team with three base knocks and five RBIs, Langford hit a double and triple and Rivera reached base in all five plate appearances. Michael Robertson and Deric Fabian each walked twice as well.
Season opener dub
#GatorsWin | #GoGatorsPresented by @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/IQYitoJj2P
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) February 18, 2023
Colby Halter was the only starter to go hitless, and freshman Luke Heyman also failed to reach base after striking out in a sixth-inning pinch-hit opportunity. Jac Caglianone, who started in the three-hole, was a bit too aggressive and struck out twice Friday night.
This is what most expected from Florida to start the season, but it’s always good to get a win via the mercy rule. Things could have gotten out of hand over a few more innings, so this keeps the game more compact and less of a slaughter.
The Gators and Bucs are back at it Saturday at 4 p.m. EST.
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By: David Rosenberg
Title: Florida baseball starts season off with a win over Charleston Southern
Sourced From: gatorswire.usatoday.com/2023/02/17/florida-baseball-starts-season-off-with-a-win-over-charleston-southern/
Published Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2023 03:33:58 +0000
