The Gators’ offense had not looked like it belonged to a top-10 team all weekend.
In fact, No. 8 Florida (23-8, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) had managed just eight runs in 23 innings against Tennessee. Then UF nearly matched that output in one frame, scoring seven runs on as many hits in the sixth inning Sunday.
The inning propelled the Gators to a 9-1 blowout win over the Volunteers (16-17, 3-9 SEC) to clinch the series in Knoxville, Tenn.
The team’s offense received a boost from unlikely sources Sunday. With two runners on base, junior Josh Adams gave the Gators a 3-0 lead with a home run to center field. Although Adams is a two-time All-SEC second baseman, he entered the contest hitting just .245.
“Everybody goes through a tough stretch, this just happened to be his time,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “It’s good to see him break out of it today, though.”
Eight of nine UF batters reached on a hit Sunday, with third baseman Jerico Weitzel and left fielder Jonathan Pigott leading the team with three each. Weitzel was hitting .200 and Pigott had only nine hits before the game.
“On certain days, certain guys come through at the plate,” Adams said. “It was good to see some other guys step up.”
Following Adams’ three-run blast, UF scored on three-straight RBI hits by Matt den Dekker, Austin Maddox and Preston Tucker, who proceeded to score the team’s last run of the frame on a wild pitch.
The hitters gave Florida starter Hudson Randall (3-3, 3.98 ERA) more run support than he needed. The freshman allowed one run on four hits in a career-high eight innings.
Randall relied heavily on his slider and struck out six Tennessee batters. He did not give up a hit until the sixth inning.
“Any time you can keep a team hitless for five innings, that’s pretty special,” O’Sullivan said. “He was on his game today.”
The downward spin on Randall’s pitches fooled the Vols as they would hit the top of the ball, and 18 of the 20 balls put in play by UT against the freshman pitcher were grounders.
In his last two games, Randall has allowed three earned runs in 13.2 innings, dropping his ERA by more than a point. He is also averaging almost two more strike outs per 9 innings during that stretch.
“I have to say, this was my best start of the year,” Randall said. “I’m getting more and more comfortable with every start.”
A radio broadcast contributed to this report.
