Kentucky pitcher Zack Thompson came into the game on Saturday night with a 3-1 record and and an impressive 2.15 ERA.
The southpaw showcased why he's his team's best starter, going eight innings and giving up just one run on three hits on Saturday night in Gainesville. He struck out nine on his way to his fourth victory of the season.
His dynamic performance allowed the Wildcats to defeat the Gators 5-1, evening the series at one a piece at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium
After scoring 10 runs on 13 hits in Game 1, Florida’s (27-18, 8-12 SEC) offense sputtered in Game 2.
"He's probably a first-rounder," coach Kevin O'Sullivan said of Kentucky's starter after the game. "You don't see many guys like that with a legitimate four-pitch mix from the left side in our league."
The Wildcats (22-21, 5-15 SEC) took advantage of UF starter Jack Leftwich's mistakes in the top of the second, scoring three runs to lead 3-0 after an inning and a half.
Leftwich gave up three runs on two hits in the inning. A wild pitch and a hit-by-pitch helped contribute to the offensive production for Kentucky.
"I haven't thrown much at all in the past month and a half," Leftwich said of his outing. "I'm really just working on getting some consistency back again."
The right-hander is now 4-4 after starting the season undefeated at 4-0.
The Gators managed their only run of the contest in the bottom of the third when left fielder Austin Langworthy torched a ball past UK shortstop Austin Schultz, scoring second baseman Jacob Young from third base and cutting the lead to 3-1.
"He was really moving pitches in and out of the strike zone," Young said about Thompson. "He was really attacking us. We actually hit a few balls hard right at people that could've got some things started, but yeah, he threw well."
The score was still 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth when a throw back to first by Thompson got past first base, allowing UF shortstop Brady McConnell to advance all the way to third with nobody out.
Florida had the two through four hitters step to the plate, but all three failed to get McConnell home.
Langworthy struck out, Maldonado popped out, and Calilao struck out swinging to end the threat.
Instead of a potential series sweep, Florida now will hope to win Sunday's rubber match against the Wildcats as the regular season continues to wind down.
"They're all important at this point," O'Sullivan said. "I don't want to put any more pressure on the guys than they already feel. We got 10 league games left, and they're all important."
Follow Evan Lepak on Twitter @evanmplepak. You can contact him at elepak@alligator.org.
UF starter Jack Leftwich struggled in Saturday's loss to Kentucky.
