It didn't take center fielder Matt den Dekker long to get back into the swing of things.
In his first start of the season after sitting for the opening series, den Dekker smashed a grand slam off the right-field scoreboard in the second inning of UF's first game against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday night.
The sophomore finished the game with two hits, six RBIs and two runs. He also made two great diving catches in center field.
"I wanted to make an impact," den Dekker said. "I wanted to get back there and get my spot back in center field. … To help the team out is a great feeling."
The Gators (5-0) dismantled Eastern Michigan (0-6) in the first game of a doubleheader 15-2, a contest that ended in the seventh inning due to a special doubleheader mercy rule. The second game saw a similar result, a 16-8 UF victory.
UF began the second game the same way it had the previous three - by scoring.
The Gators loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch and two walks, and freshman Josh Adams emptied them with a three-RBI double. It was 5-0 before Eastern Michigan could blink.
After UF scored four more runs in the second inning - two off a Bryson Barber triple - the game was essentially over. Barber also added a solo homer in the fourth inning.
Freshman right-hander Travis Lawler (1-0, 13.50 ERA) was erratic in his first career start, hitting three batters and walking another in the first two innings. He loaded the bases in each of the first three innings and gave up a three-run homer in the third before being pulled in favor of junior J.K. LaCoste, who earned the win.
"Freshman stuff," UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan said of Lawler's mistakes. "They kind of overthrow, and they drop their arm angle, and the ball takes off on them. If he stays back a little bit more, raises his elbow and gets the ball more downhill, he'll be fine. You know, freshman jitters."
Wednesday's first game was even more lopsided, with the Gators getting better pitching performances.
Junior pitcher Stephen Locke got what was probably the easiest win of his career. He threw five innings and gave up two earned runs, striking out four batters. The last time Locke (1-0, 3.60 ERA) had more than four was May 25, 2005 when he had seven against Arkansas.
"Any time a team puts up a 10-run lead after the third inning…it's going to be a lot easier with guys playing so well behind you," Locke said.
Cody Barnes pitched two shutout innings to close out the game.
The offense certainly didn't slouch, either.
Three Gators had three hits, and O'Sullivan was using pinch hitters liberally by the sixth inning.
Sophomore shortstop Cole Figueroa had five hits in the two games, and the Gators will need that offense when they play Miami this weekend.
"I'm just hitting the ball real well right now, and hopefully it keeps on going," Figueroa said. "It's a good thing to take into Miami."
Teddy Foster, replacing Buddy Monroe at catcher, had his first career home run in his fourth career at-bat.
UF stole 10 bases on 10 attempts Wednesday, bringing its total to 22 of 23 for the year.
