Florida’s hitters looked lost against Kentucky’s Zack Brown.
Through seven innings, the right-hander struck out six Gator batters while holding Florida scoreless for the first time this season.
“He kind of took it to us tonight,” outfielder Ryan Larson said.
No. 6 Florida (32-11, 12-7 Southeastern Conference) fell 3-0 to Kentucky (24-16, 9-9 SEC) Friday night, tallying a .167 batting average — its second straight game hitting below .200.
“He made pitches when he needed to and he pitched really good,” Kevin O’Sullivan said of Brown. “We had very few opportunities, but when we did we just didn’t have great at bats.”
Kentucky scored the game’s first two runs after an RBI groundout in the second inning and a single to left field in the third. The Wildcats went up 3-0 in the eighth inning on a center-field single.
Florida recorded three hits in the first three innings, but managed only two more the rest of the way.
Although UF’s offense sputtered, its pitching was solid.
Logan Shore struck out seven batters in 7.1 innings, but the sophomore also gave up all of UK’s three runs.
“I didn’t make enough pitches when I needed to,” Shore said. “It cost us and it cost me.”
Florida will continue its three game series against Kentucky at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
“I think our approach hasn’t been good,” Larson said. “There’s definitely work to be done.”
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UF's Logan Shore pitches during Florida's 14-3 win against the South Carolina Gamecocks on April 11, 2015 at McKethan Stadium.
