The Florida Gators made history on Tuesday when they started their season 12-0 — a feat never accomplished before.
UF defeated the FAU Owls 7-3 in West Palm Beach, Florida, to keep their season unblemished.
Florida’s batters started the game off hot in route to their 12th win in a row, much to the dismay of FAU starter Marc DeGusipe.
In the top of the first, Florida scored three runs, and the FAU lefty struggled mightily.
Leadoff hitter Jud Fabian started things off with a single in his first at-bat and was followed by left fielder Austin Langworthy, who hit an RBI double to bring Fabian home.
Sophomore Kendrick Calilao then got a base hit that saw Langworthy score, and DeGuisipe proceeded to unravel early in the game and walked three straight batters.
Calilao scored after right fielder Jacob Young was hit with the bases loaded.
The top of the first ended with the Owls already facing a three-run deficit.
Despite the hot start from the top team in the country, FAU (7-4) would answer.
Third baseman B.J. Murray hit a two-run homer to left field in his first at-bat to put the Owls on the board 3-2 in the bottom of the first inning.
In the bottom of the second, shortstop Wilfredo Alvarez tied it up at three when he hit an RBI single to bring center fielder Jackson Wenstrom home.
UF took the lead back in the third inning when second baseman Cory Acton singled to left field and brought Calilao home. Shortly after, first baseman Kris Armstrong got a sacrifice hit to extend the lead to 5-3 after Young scored for UF.
In the top of the third, Luethje entered the game for Florida’s Jordan Butler, who allowed six hits and had three strikeouts in his two innings pitched.
DeGuisipe was relieved by junior Adrien Reese in top of the fourth inning, and he gave up six hits, walked three batters and had just two strikeouts in his three innings.
After eight runs in three innings and both starters heading to the dugout, the game began to slow down for both teams.
Luethje and Reese kept opposing batters scoreless in their two innings pitched and they were both relieved in the sixth.
Sophomore Christian Scott entered the game for UF and junior Mike Entenza took the mound for FAU. Luethje’s day ended with one walk and two hits allowed while Reese allowed just one hit and two walks in two innings.
FAU coach John McCormack surprisingly elected to replace Entenza with redshirt junior Dylan O’Connell in the top of the seventh after he retired three batters and threw 19 strikes in a little more than an inning.
UF took advantage of the new face on the mound right away.
Langworthy got the first RBI of the eighth when he hit a ground ball into a fielder’s choice where Rivera scored. Catcher Cal Greenfield then scored off a throwing error to make it a 7-3 ball game.
The score remained the same heading into the bottom of the ninth where closer Ben Specht just needed to give UF three outs to make history, and he did.
The sophomore struck out three batters to seal the game and keep the Gators’ record spotless through 12 games.
Florida will host FAMU (4-5) Wednesday at McKethan Stadium at 6 p.m. to go for their 13th win in a row.
Follow Joseph Salvador on Twitter @JosephSalvador_. Contact him at jsalvador@alligator.org
Austing Langworthy went 1 for 5 with two RBI in the win over FAU.
