Despite getting just 2 1/3 innings from preseason ace Patrick Keating, UF (14-7, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) was able to come from behind and record a 7-5 victory on Sunday in McKethan Stadium, completing the series sweep of Tennessee (9-12, 1-5 SEC).
Freshman Alex Panteliodis (2-2, 4.44 ERA), who has been used primarily as a starter this season, replaced Keating in the third and pitched four scoreless innings, giving the Gators' offense a chance to climb back in the game after being down 4-2 after three innings.
"(I was) very surprised it was that early," Panteliodis said. "I expected Pat to go a little bit longer, but it happens. It's happened to me."
In Panteliodis' second relief appearance of the season, he allowed two hits and walked one batter while keeping an inherited runner at third base after coming in with one out in the inning.
"I thought he did an outstanding job and changed the momentum for us," UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan said.
Keating struggled early, and the Volunteers were able to capitalize on his ineffectiveness. Tennessee scored 3 runs in the first two innings behind a pair of doubles from Cody Hawn and Zach Osborne.
UF third baseman Clayton Pisani made a throwing error on the first play of the game, putting Josh Liles, who would score the first run, on first base. Keating gave up back-to-back singles in the second before Osborne dropped one just inside the right-field line, scoring 2 more runs for Tennessee.
Though Keating's last two outings have been a poor start and a blown save, O'Sullivan said he isn't nervous about his leader in the rotation.
"He's too good of a pitcher," he said. "He's had too much success for him not to turn his performance around."
While the Volunteers got on the scoreboard early, the Gators hit into two double plays with the bases loaded in the first three innings and took a little longer to get to Volunteers starter Bryan Morgado.
Down 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth, UF got a spark from the top of the order, which set the tone for the team all weekend long.
Junior Matt den Dekker and sophomore Josh Adams recorded back-to-back singles before senior Avery Barnes drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Tennessee brought in Aaron Tullo to try to stop the bleeding, but the game was tied at 4 after a hit-by-pitch and wild pitch.
Two innings later, Barnes tripled home Adams and scored on a pinch-hit single from freshman Preston Tucker, giving the Gators a 6-4 lead.
The Gators needed help from the top of the lineup in Friday night's opener as well, and den Dekker more than answered the call. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs and a runner on third, the newly anointed leadoff man blasted a home run over the right-field wall, giving UF a 3-2 win.
"A play like that can certainly ignite a team," O'Sullivan said.
The Gators came out swinging in Game 2 on Saturday and ran away with a 10-2 victory behind first-inning home runs from Barnes and Buddy Munroe.
