Florida baseball routs FAU 13-2 in Jupiter

By Adam Silverstein
February 23, 2011

No. 1 Florida Gators baseball (4-0) did not waste much time in piling it on the Florida Atlantic Owls (3-1), scoring three runs in the opening frame and going on to rout their opponent 13-2 on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL.

Junior right-handed pitcher Anthony DeSclafani (1-0), who is primarily a reliever but filled in as a starter at the last minute for junior left-handed pitcher Alex Panteliodis (illness), tossed four innings of shutout ball while striking out three. By the time he was replaced on the mound, Florida was already up 8-0 on FAU.

Sophomore shortstop Nolan Fontana (RBI, 2 R), junior right fielder Preston Tucker (4-5, 2 RBI, R) and sophomore designated hitter Brian Johnson (2-3, RBI, 2 R) all scored unearned runs in the first inning due to the Owls committing a pair of errors. After an inning off, the Gators powered up in the third with sophomore first baseman Austin Maddox (2-6, RBI, R) scoring on a sacrifice fly and both sophomore catcher Mike Zunino (1-3, RBI, R) and Johnson crossing the plate on a two-RBI double by junior left fielder Daniel Pigott (4-5, 2 RBI, 2 R).

Senior second baseman Josh Adams (2-4, RBI, R) scored on a single to right center by sophomore third baseman Cody Dent (1-2, RBI) in the top of the fifth, and Pigott would touch home plate on a sacrifice fly by Fontana one batter later.

Senior RHP Matt Campbell relieved DeSclafani in the fifth and threw a shutout inning but freshman RHP Jonathon Crawford and junior LHP Nick Maronde each gave up an earned run in their subsequent innings. Florida piled on further in the seventh after a rally that saw sophomore center fielder Kamm Washington (1-3, RBI, R), Tucker and Maddox drive home four runs on three singles (and a throwing error).

Junior RHP Tommy Toledo struck out two batters in a scoreless eighth, and the Gators added another run at the top of the ninth when redshirt junior RF Paul Wilson (2 R) scored on a wild pitch. Maddox, making his first appearance as a pitcher in the orange and blue, closed out the game with two strikeouts in the ninth.

Up next for Florida is a three-game series on Thursday (5 p.m.), Friday (5 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) against Boston College at home in Gainesville, FL.

9 Comments

  1. Ken says:

    another great win, these guys are gonna be awesome this year, hope they don’t fall short like so many of our sports did last year that had the national championship in sight! Granted only 4 games into the season, but giving up less than 1 run/game is a great start. Especially in colege, if our pitching lives up to it’s billing this should be our first Baseball NC!

  2. Ken says:

    Junior right-handed pitcher Anthony DeSclafani (1-0), who is primarily a reliever but filled in as a starter at the last minute for junior left-handed pitcher Alex Panteliodis (illness), tossed four innings of shutout ball while striking out three
    ===
    do you only have to pitch 4 innings in college to get the win?

  3. Daniel M. says:

    Sat behind Gator dugout last night. Talk about a display of power. This team has horses. Huge guys everywhere, they look like a MLB roster coming on and off the field. Production aside last night, These guys are just physically imposing.

    Let’s stay healthy, peak at the right time, and have “University of Florida” be the first thing to be engraved at the new stadium in Omaha.

    Gator Nation, there has never been a better time to watch Florida baseball. O’Sullivan has really assembled something special.

    Also, the new bats are so much better. That “TINK” sound is almost gone.

  4. jay d says:

    I think its funny how very few people went to home games & actually followed our team since our runner up showing at omaha…we get a pre-season #1 ranking and all of a sudden people jump on the band wagon….I actually had to sit in the bleachers on opening weekend for once…I do not like the pre-season #1 ranking because hhow many pre-season #1’s actually finish #1…as long as we show improvement from ourr omaha showing last year I will be happy!!…its a long season boys…easy to get complacent! Stay fired up!

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