How it Happened: Florida Gators take series over Vanderbilt, 6-2

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 7 Florida Gators took the series and a share of the SEC East lead with a 6-2 win over No. 5 Vanderbilt.

Join the conversation on the Gators Online message board

FINAL: Florida 6 Vanderbilt 2

9th inning

Austin popped up to 2b (0-0).

Vastine struck out swinging (1-2).

LaNeve pinch hit for Hewett.

LaNeve popped up to ss (3-2).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

8th inning

Bradfield flied out to cf (0-1).

Diaz walked (3-0).

Schreck singled to left field (1-1); Diaz advanced to second.

Neely to p for Abner.

Maldonado reached on a fielder’s choice (0-1); Schreck out at second ss unassisted; Diaz advanced to third, scored on a throwing error by ss, unearned.

Noland flied out to lf (2-1).

VU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB

Shelnut doubled to left field (0-0).

Heyman grounded out to ss (2-2); Shelnut advanced to third.

Fabian walked (3-2).

Fabian stole second.

Robertson reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second (0-1); D. Fabian advanced to third; Shelnut out at third 1b to c to 3b.

Kurland walked (3-2).

Langford flied out to rf (2-2).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB

7th inning

Vastine flied out to lf (0-2).

Hewett grounded out to ss (0-0).

Espinal struck out looking (1-2).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Langford popped up to 3b (0-1).

Caglianone struck out swinging (0-2).

Rivera stole second.

Riopelle struck out swinging (2-2).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

6th inning

Abner to p for Slater.

Diaz flied out to rf to right center (2-1).

Schreck struck out swinging (2-2).

Maldonado singled to right field (1-1).

Noland singled to center field (2-2); C. Maldonado advanced to third.

Austin struck out swinging (2-2).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

Schultz to p for Ginther.

Heyman struck out swinging (2-2).

Fabian singled to center field (1-0).

Fabian stole second.

Robertson grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-0); D. Fabian advanced to third.

Kurland singled to center field, RBI (1-2); D. Fabian scored.

Kurland out at second c to 2b, caught stealing.

UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

5th inning

Austin homered to left field, RBI (1-0).

Vastine doubled to right field (1-2).

Hewett grounded out to p, SAC, bunt (0-0); Vastine advanced to third.

Espinal struck out swinging (1-2).

Bradfield lined out to lf (2-2).

VU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

Heyman singled to left field (3-2).

Fabian singled down the 3b line, bunt (1-1); Heyman advanced to second.

Robertson grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt (2-1); D. Fabian advanced to second; Heyman advanced to third.

Kurland hit by pitch (2-2).

Langford doubled to left center, 2 RBI (0-1); Kurland advanced to third; D. Fabian scored; Heyman scored.

Caglianone flied out to lf, SF, RBI (0-2); Langford advanced to third; Kurland scored.

Rivera singled to left field, RBI (1-0); Langford scored.

Riopelle walked (3-1); J. Rivera advanced to second.

Shelnut grounded out to 3b (0-1).

UF Inning Summary: 4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

4th inning

Bradfield struck out looking (2-2).

Diaz walked (3-1).

Schreck walked (3-1); Diaz advanced to second.

Maldonado popped up to 2b (1-1).

Noland struck out swinging (1-2).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

Caglianone grounded out to ss (0-0).

 Rivera struck out swinging (2-2).

Riopelle walked (3-1).

Shelnut struck out swinging (2-2).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

3rd inning

Vastine struck out swinging (0-2).

Hewett fouled out to 3b (2-2).

Espinal grounded out to 3b (1-1).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Fabian struck out looking (0-2).

Kurland homered to left field, RBI (1-1).

UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

2nd inning

Slater to p for Waldrep.

Maldonado struck out swinging (0-2).

Noland grounded out to 2b (0-0).

Austin grounded out to 3b (2-1).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Rivera singled to right field (3-2).

Riopelle fouled out to ss (2-2).

Shelnut struck out looking (1-2).

Heyman struck out swinging (1-2).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

1st inning

Bradfield out at first 1b to p (1-1).

Diaz struck out swinging (0-2).

Schreck struck out swinging (1-2).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

*The game was delayed by rain for an hour and sixteen minutes*

Kurland flied out to cf (3-2).

Langford struck out swinging (1-2).

Caglianone flied out to rf (0-2).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Lineups

Florida

2B Cade Kurland

LF Wyatt Langford

1B Jac Caglianone

SS Josh Rivera

C BT Riopelle

RF Tyler Shelnut

DH Luke Heyman

3B Deric Fabian

CF Michael Robertson

SP: Hurston Waldrep

Vanderbilt

CF Enrique Bradfield

3B Davis Diaz

RF RJ Schreck

DH Chris Maldonado

1B Parker Noland

2B RJ Austin

SS Jonathan Vastine

LF Calvin Hewett

C Alan Espinal

SP: LHP Devin Futrell

Gators Notes from Friday

• The Gators posted their largest victory over Vanderbilt since April 15, 2017 (20-8).
  • The win marked the largest margin of victory in the series by either team since Vanderbilt’s 15-2 win on March 22, 2019.
• Florida won its 10th game via the run rule this season.
• The Gators surpassed their SEC win total from last season (15), improving to 16-9 in conference play.
• Making his first SEC start of the season, Fabian homered to left-center in his first at bat.
  • Fabian finished with a career-high four RBI en route to a 2-for-3 night.
• Caglianone drove in his 70th run of the season with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, becoming the first Gator to drive in 70 runs in a season since JJ Schwarz in 2015.
• Sproat improved to 12-2 across his last 19 starts dating back to last season.
  • Florida is 16-3 in those 19 starts.
• Florida has struck out 514 batters in 424 innings – translating to 10.9 per nine innings.
• The Gators have 508 hits through 50 games (10.2 hits/game).
• The Gators have scored in 47.0% of batted innings (188 of 400).
• Florida is now 144-78-1 all-time vs. Vanderbilt including 82-24 at home.
  • The Gators are 31-20 in the series under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan featuring a 17-5 mark in Gainesville.

Quotes

FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On the pitching in game one…
“I think Brandon kept his emotions in check. Obviously, it was a big strikeout there to end the first. But he’s been really good. He’s been really good the second half of the year. I know there’s been a few starts where he probably wishes he could do over, but all in all, he’s set the tone for us for the most part of the season, and had a really good night tonight. And Cade (Fisher) coming in, did a nice job there in the seventh. It was important to hopefully score those two runs in the seventh, because now he only threw 19 pitches. We want to be careful so we use our bullpen in a way so that there isn’t anyone unavailable tomorrow.”

On Fabian’s performance…
“I’m not going to say I called it, but I did. I talked to Chuck (Jeroloman) last night and the thing about Deric is, obviously he’s been disappointed he probably hadn’t played as much as he’d like to, and he played a lot more last year. But the one thing he has not done, he has not put his head down. He’s always been a good teammate. And I can’t tell you how many extra reps he’s done before and after practice to put himself in that position to have a game like this. And I just felt like, there was a feeling that something good was going to happen for him tonight. Luckily for us, it did.”