Gators run-rule Cincinnati Bearcats to take series

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It’s easy to pitch when your offense is averaging 10 runs scored a game. Hurston Waldrep wouldn’t need the 13 runs his bats gave him on Saturday afternoon. Waldrep was dominant through six innings as Florida improved to 6-1 with a 13-3, run-rule win over Cincinnati.

Florida’s +54 run differential to start the 2023 campaign is the program’s best since 1996.

Making his second start for the Gators, Waldrep wasted little time dispatching the Bearcats, striking out two of the first three batters he faced. Josh Rivera opened the game wide open with his first career grand slam, giving UF a 4-0 advantage.

Waldrep would strike out four batters in the second inning, thanks to a runner reaching base on a dropped third strike. The junior went on to throw six innings, striking out 13, which tied his career high.

“Kind of a bounce back from last week,” Waldrep said after the game. I feel like I didn’t have my best stuff,” Waldrep said. “I was a little more comfortable in the ballpark with the atmosphere and everything. Coming into today, and looking to land all four pitches. Being able to work the splitter off the fastball and just throw it whenever I wanted, any count.

Wyatt Langford extended the Florida lead with his second homer of the year.

Langford Laser 💥🌩️#GoGators pic.twitter.com/lKeeHHUEWq

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) February 25, 2023

The Gators have scored in 35-of-55 innings this year and 24-of-29 innings on Friday and Saturday.

Ty Evans closed the game out with a home run, which gave Florida a 10-run lead. As a team, the Gators are batting .366 through three games. They have 37 extra-base hits, including 12 home runs.

UF will look to sweep the second weekend series of the season at noon on Sunday.

Notes

• Saturday’s official attendance of 6,798 marked the third-highest in Condron Family Ballpark history.
• Florida’s run differential of plus-53 is the team’s best through seven games since the 1996 season (plus-54).
  • The Gators have scored in 35 of 55 batted innings this season (64.0%).
  • On Fridays and Saturdays, Florida has scored in 83.0% of batted innings (24 of 29).
• For the sixth time in seven games this year, the Gators recorded double-digit hits.
  • Florida has posted nine or more hits in every game this season.
• The Gators have 89 hits through six games (12.7 hits/game).
• Saturday’s victory represented the third time this season in which the Gators have won via the rune rule.
• Making his second start as a Gator, Waldrep tied his career high with 13 strikeouts while becoming the first UF pitcher to strike out 13 in a game since Jackson Kowar vs. Texas on June 19, 2018 in the College World Series.
• Waldrep is the first Gators pitcher to strike out double-digit batters this season and the first since Brandon Neely vs. South Carolina on May 20, 2022.
• Florida’s 15 strikeouts are the team’s most since striking out 18 vs. Georgia State on Feb. 24, 2022.
• Langford tied his career high with three hits and three runs.
• Riopelle tied his career high with two doubles.
• Rivera became the third Gator to eclipse double-digit RBI this season, joining Evans and Riopelle.
• Kurland continued his torrid start at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one double, one run and two RBI.
  • Kurland has registered at least two hits in all five of his starts to begin his career.
• Evans drove in two more runs to increase his team-leading total to 15 RBI.