The Florida Gators are starting the season 3-0 after sweeping the Air Force Falcons at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Fla.
A win on Friday night and two wins in a doubleheader on Saturday have head coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s squad in a good spot heading into their next game against Jacksonville.
The Gators’ pitching was outstanding throughout the weekend. Starting pitchers Liam Peterson and Pierce Coppola stood out as the catalysts that set this good pitching in motion.
On Friday night, Peterson got the go-ahead to be the Gators’ opening-day starter. In six innings of work, he struck out 11 batters and gave up no runs. He also allowed just two hits and one walk in his start. He earned the win during Florida’s 7-0 shutout victory.
The right-hander from Palm Harbor, Fla., tied the school record for strikeouts on opening day.
Relievers Caden McDonald and Jackson Barberi combined for five strikeouts, and both allowed just one hit in the final three innings.
Coppola was equally impressive as Peterson in his start during the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Falcons. In five innings of work, the southpaw threw 12 strikeouts, allowing just one hit and one walk. Coppola gave up no runs during his start.
Aidan King and Matthew Jenkins came in relief for the Gators and struck out five Air Force hitters in a two-inning stretch.
The game ended in seven innings, resulting in an 11-1 Florida win.
O’Sullivan raved about Coppola after Florida’s weekend series against Air Force and credited his resilience to the brutal injuries he had endured.
“He’s worked so hard to get back to this point,” he said. “No one’s a bigger fan of him than I am. I’ve known exactly what he has had to go through, two major surgeries.”
The Gators’ next game against the Jacksonville Dolphins is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18. It will be the team’s first road game of the year, taking place at John Sessions Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. E.T.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
Liam Peterson (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
