Two Pigotts were better than one for the Gators on Wednesday night.
Freshman Daniel Pigott (20 starts this season) has seen the bulk of the two brothers' playing time, but junior Jonathan Pigott (six starts) got in on the action as UF defeated Stetson 15-4 in McKethan Stadium.
"I like playing with my brother, and it was good for both of us to play well," Jonathan said.
Jonathan went 3 for 6 with two RBIs and a run, including a triple to center field in the sixth inning. He got the start in place of Avery Barnes, who was given the day off after colliding with FSU pitcher Tyler Everett in Tuesday's win. Jonathan took advantage of his opportunity in the field as well, making the play of the game defensively when he took a double away from Stetson left fielder Frank Florio.
The Hatters had just tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning and were in position to take the lead when Florio ripped a Justin Poovey offering down the left-field line. Jonathan tracked the ball down on a full sprint and laid out to make a full-extension diving catch, preventing the Gators from falling behind.
"It certainly puts us in a much more difficult situation (if Jonathan doesn't make the catch) because both runners score there and they take the lead and who knows?" UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "The momentum shifts now, and now we're playing from behind and who knows? It certainly kept the momentum on our end."
UF (25-12) parlayed that momentum into a combined 11 runs in the fifth and sixth innings, batting around both times, to break the game wide open.
Daniel, who was 4 for 6 with 3 runs and three RBIs, took a hanging curveball from Stetson's Nick Bohne over the left-field bleachers to cap the two-inning offensive explosion.
The Gators are now averaging over 12 runs per game in their last eight contests.
"As long as we get contributions from everybody from top to bottom, your offense never goes in the tank," O'Sullivan said.
For the second straight game, UF used a 3-run home run to jump on its opponent in the first inning. Preston Tucker took Stetson starter Jake Hitchcock deep to right for his fourth consecutive home run in McKethan Stadium - he hit three in a row in the late innings against Central Florida.
Senior Patrick Keating (2-3, 6.39 ERA) got the start for the Gators and struggled yet again on the mound. He gave up nine hits over his 3 1/3 innings of work and was pulled in favor of Poovey during the Hatters' rally in the fourth inning.
O'Sullivan said he plans to stick with Keating in the midweek games.
"He's going to keep going out there and keep starting games," O'Sullivan said. "I say it every week and I'll say it until the season's over, I think he's going to figure it out."
The teams recorded a combined 31 hits and used 12 pitchers over the 8 1/2 innings of play. Freshman Alex Panteliodis (3-4, 3.76 ERA) was especially effective for UF in his 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and picking up the win.
