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

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•about 18 hours•

ZachAbolverdi

Liam-Peterson-Florida-Gators
Florida starting pitcher Liam Peterson. (Maddie Washburn/UAA Photo)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators won their 2025 opener 7-0 against Air Force on Friday behind a career-high 11 strikeouts by Liam Peterson and 11 hits on offense, including the first home run of the season by Brody Donay.

It marked Florida’s first season-opening shutout since 2014 (Maryland, 4-0). Peterson also tied Hunter Barco for the most strikeouts in a Gators opener since 2022 (Liberty).

“Hopefully, starts like this continue for him. Hopefully shows the maturation and the hard work he’s put in,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said of Peterson. “Liam certainly set the tone.”

Donay’s homer opened the scoring for Florida in the bottom of the third and traveled 406 feet with a 105.9 MPH exit velocity.

“I didn’t think anybody was going to get the ball out of there tonight,” O’Sullivan said due to the wind. “That ball was crushed.”

Caden McDonald (3 Ks) and Jackson Barberi (2 Ks) combined for five strikeouts in relief as UF finished with 16 total, the team’s most in an opener since at least 2000.

“I felt pretty good. I just wanted to pound the zone,” Peterson said of his first opening-day start. “Usually when you do that, good stuff happens.”

Donay was one of five players with two hits, including 2 RBI by Cade Kurland in Florida’s four-run third inning and another RBI single in the fifth, when the Gators added three runs.

Due to severe weather on Sunday, the Gators and Falcons will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Game 3 will begin roughly one hour following the conclusion of Game 2.

Here are live updates from series opener Friday between Florida and Air Force.

Florida vs. Air Force Live Blog

END OF 8TH: FLORIDA 7, AIR FORCE 0

After giving up a hit by pitch, a single and a walk, McDonald got out of the jam with two runners on. The Falcons retired the side for the second straight inning but have yet to score with just three hits.

END OF 7TH: FLORIDA 7, AIR FORCE 0

Caden McDonald replaced Peterson on the mound, threw his first career strikeout and finished the inning with two Ks. The Gators had three up and three down for just the second time in the game.

END OF 6TH: FLORIDA 7, AIR FORCE 0

Peterson is done for the night. He finishes with 11 Ks, two hits, one walk in six innings pitched (74 P, 53 S). Stetson transfer Kyle Jones almost had a triple with his hit to right center, but he got thrown out at third.

END OF 5TH: FLORIDA 7, AIR FORCE 0

The Gators had their second four-hit inning with three runs scored, including another RBI by Kurland, while Peterson set a new career-high with 10 strikeouts — two more in the fifth.

END OF 4TH: FLORIDA 4, AIR FORCE 0

After his first walk of the season, Peterson bounced back with his eighth strikeout. Donay doubled down the leftfield line for his second hit, but Air Force ended the inning with a double play.

END OF 3RD: FLORIDA 4, AIR FORCE 0

After three straight strikeouts by Peterson to mark five in a row and seven for the game, the bats came alive for the Gators in the bottom of the third. They had four hits and four runs scored in the inning, including their first homer of the season by Brody Donay and Cade Kurland’s 2 RBI single.

END OF 2ND: FLORIDA 0, AIR FORCE 0

Peterson once again finishes the frame with two straight strikeouts after giving up his first hit, but the Gators also struck out twice.

END OF 1ST: FLORIDA 0, AIR FORCE 0

Peterson retired the side with back-to-back strikeouts, while Colby Shelton had Florida’s first hit of the season but was left on.

Florida Gators starting lineup

1. CF Kyle Jones
2. SS Colby Shelton
3. 3B Bobby Boser
4. RF Ty Evans
5. 2B Cade Kurland
6. C Luke Heyman
7. 1B Brendan Lawson
8. DH Brody Donay
9. LF Blake Cyr

SP: RHP Liam Peterson

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