Florida Gators

The Forida Gators swept the SEC series over the South Carolina Gamecocks for the first time in twelve years on April 24th at McKethan stadium.

Alex Panteliodis recorded the win allowing four runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out two.
“I thought Alex (Panteliodis) did well by throwing strikes,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We had a 7-0 lead after two innings. Sometimes, especially with young pitchers, you tell them over and over and over what they need to do. I was awfully proud of the way he competed and threw the ball in there. With the exception of a couple of misjudged balls in the outfield, I thought we did a great job defensively.”
With two runners left on base in the top of the first innings, South Carolina was unable to get the leadoff score and in the bottom half, Florida drove in four runs to take an early lead.

Three consecutive singles by Avery Barnes, Daniel Pigott, and Preston Tucker loaded the bases before Josh Adams added a single to drive in Barnes and Pigott.

Brandon Mcarthur flied out to right field, scoring Tucker. Teddy Foster was hit by a pitch and Buddy Munroe reached on a throwing error by third baseman Andrew Crisp, sending Adams home. With two outs and two on base, Mike Mooney flied out to close the inning.

Blake Cooper faced two batters in the bottom of the second. Barnes smacked a double before Pigott walked. They both advanced on a balk before Cooper was pulled, relieved by Adam Westmoreland.

Tucker walked and Adams singled to bring Barnes and Pigott home. Tucker scored on a fly out by Matt Den Dekker. Adams stole second but was unable to complete the circuit before the third out.

Florida added two runs in the fourth when Adams singled then advanced to second on a den dekker walk. Mcarthur singled before Foster was hit by a pitch to score Adams. Mooney walked to score Den Dekker.

South Carolina scored a much needed run in the fifth inning when DeAngelo Mack blasted a triple to center field then crossed the plate on a fly out by Jackie Bradley Jr.

South Carolina showed Florida that they were still in the game in the sixth, scoring four runs to narrow the margin to 5-9.

Crisp hit a double to open the inning, Kyle Enders walked, and Bobby Haney singled through the right side to load the bases, prompting Florida’s first pitcher change as reliever Greg Larson took the mound.

Whit Merrifield reached on a fielder’s choice, but the threat was stopped when Crisp was put out at home. But when Mack reached on a fielding error, South Carolina claimed three unearned runs.

Nick Ebert singled up the middle to score Mack before Bradley Jr. lined out for the third out.

The next three and a half innings were held scoreless on both sides.

Blake Cooper pitched one inning, facing two batters in the second, and giving up six runs on five hits, with one walk and no strikeouts.

George Blankenship is a writer for LeatherBeltStore check out his Flrorida Gator Belts – Florida Gator Wallets and his Corporate Gifts