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Florida sweeps Air Force with blowout wins in Saturday's doubleheader

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•02/15/25•

ZachAbolverdi

Florida-Gators-Jake-Clemente
Florida pitcher Jake Clemente. (UAA Photo/@GatorsBB)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators scored double-digit runs in both of their wins of Saturday’s doubleheader and struck out 31 total batters to sweep the series against Air Force. UF finished with 28 runs and allowed only five on opening weekend.

After falling behind 3-2 in Game 2, UF scored seven runs over the next two innings and the Falcons never threatened again. Florida won 10-4 behind 13 hits (four homers) and 14 strikeouts from Jake Clemente (8 K) and Luke McNeillie (6 K). Hayden Host led the Gators with four hits (4-5), including an RBI single, and Brody Donay homered for the second straight game and finished with three hits.

Donay hit his third homer in Game 3 to break a scoreless tie in the the fourth. The Gators scored 11 runs over the next three innings for an 11-1 run-rule win over Air Force, finishing with 13 hits and 37 total for the series. Pierce Coppola set the tone on the mound with a career-high 12 Ks, striking out every batter in the Falcons lineup. UF had 17 Ks for the game and 47 total on the weekend.

Here are live updates from Saturday’s doubleheader between Florida and Air Force.

RELATED: Florida blanks Air Force 7-0 for first season-opening shutout since 2014

Florida vs. Air Force Live Blog (Game 3)

END OF 6TH: FLORIDA 11, AIR FORCE 1

Brendan Lawson gave the Gators double-digit runs for the second straight game with his first career RBI to plate Donay after he was intentionally walked. Nadeau then hit another RBI to score Lawson. After the Falcons scored their first run with an RBI double, UF freshman pitcher Aidan King tossed back-to-back strikeouts in his first career frame (three total Ks).

END OF 5TH: FLORIDA 9, AIR FORCE 0

The bats came alive for the Gators in the fifth. They scored seven runs on seven hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles by Justin Nadeau and Hayden Yost, who’s 2-3 for the game and 6-8 on the weekend. After giving up a leadoff triple, Coppola struck out two more. He finished with 12 Ks, one hit and one walk in five innings (70 P, 51 S).

END OF 4TH: FLORIDA 2, AIR FORCE 0

Brody Doney hit his third home run in as many games — all have been 400-plus feet — and Brendan Lawson scored on a passed ball after his single and stealing second. Three more Ks in the fourth for Coppola, including the last one looking, and he’s up to a career-high 10 strikeouts. His previous high was nine 9ks against Kentucky last season.

END OF 3RD: FLORIDA 0, AIR FORCE 0

The Gators get two more runners on with a walk and hit by pitch, but both are stranded. Coppola struck out two more Falcons looking in the third inning.

END OF 2ND: FLORIDA 0, AIR FORCE 0

Two more strikeouts by Coppola and he has five Ks through two with no hits. Air Force pitcher John Mitchell walked a couple Gators, but they couldn’t capitalize.

END OF 1ST: FLORIDA 0, AIR FORCE 0

Coppola opened his 2025 season with three straight strikeouts, while Yost was moved up to Florida’s leadoff spot for Game 3 and had a single for his fifth hit of the day (5-6).

Gators starting lineup for Game 3

1. RF Hayden Yost
2. 3B Bobby Boser
3. SS Colby Shelton
4. C Luke Heyman
5. 2B Cade Kurland
6. DH Brody Donay
7. 1B Brendan Lawson
8. LF Blake Cyr
9. CF Justin Nadeau

SP: LHP Pierce Coppola

Florida vs. Air Force Live Blog (Game 2)

END OF 8TH: FLORIDA 10, AIR FORCE 3

Hayden Yost had another double for the Gators, who are up to 13 hits. Yost has a team-high four. McNeillie struck out two more Falcons in the eighth.

END OF 7TH: FLORIDA 10, AIR FORCE 3

Bobby Boser blasted one to right center for his first home run as a Gator and Florida’s fourth of the game, while Luke McNeillie closed out his first frame with back-to-back strikeouts.

END OF 6TH: FLORIDA 9, AIR FORCE 3

Clemente is done for the day, finishing with a career-high eight strikeouts, three hits, two earned runs and no walks in six innings (77 P, 53 S). Donay had a double for his third hit of the day, tied the Yost for the most on the team.

END OF 5TH: FLORIDA 9, AIR FORCE 3

The Gators had another three-run inning as Brody Donay homered for the second time in as many games with a two-run shot and Bobby Boser hit an RBI single. Clemente retired the side for the second straight frame.

END OF 4TH: FLORIDA 5, AIR FORCE 3

The Gators respond to Air Force’s three-run inning with one of their own, including a two-run homer by Colby Shelton and a double steal. UF has more stolen bases (9) than hits (6), while Clemente has now 6 Ks.

END OF 3RD: AIR FORCE 3, FLORIDA 2

The Falcons scored three runs on just one hit to take the lead, including a throwing error by catches Brody Donay. Donay almost hit another homer in the bottom of the third, but his deep shot was caught against the wall and the Gators left two on.

END OF 2ND: FLORIDA 2, AIR FORCE 0

Landon Stripling hit the first home run of his career and Hayden Yost had an RBI single, while Clemente struck out two more swinging.

END OF 1ST: FLORIDA 0, AIR FORCE 0

Clemente struck out two Falcons looking and the Gators got a one-out single from Blake Cyr for their first hit of the game.

Gators starting lineup for Game 2

1. RF Ashton Wilson
2. LF Blake Cyr
3. SS Colby Shelton
4. 3B Bobby Boser
5. 2B Cade Kurland
6. DH Landon Stripling
7. C Brody Donay
8. 1B Brendan Lawson
9. CF Hayden Yost

SP: RHP Jake Clemente

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