AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Coming off a loss in the latter half of a doubleheader against Bowdoin on Sunday afternoon, the Gators (6-2) returned to the diamond early Monday morning for a sizable test in the form of nationally-ranked no. 3 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The game was a back and forth affair with each team staking claim to a lead through the first three innings. Trailing 6-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Gators took command of the game scoring four runs in the frame to take a 9-6 lead. The Gators would add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to take a 10-6 lead, which would prove to be the final score of the game, giving the Gators their first win over a top-five ranked team since they beat no.2 Wooster 2-1 on April 10, 2010.
The Pointers (2-2) started the game's scoring in the top of the first with a one out single up the middle by Justin Jirschele that scored Cody Koback, who doubled to left field the at-bat before, off of Gators' starting pitcher Eric Hansen. The one run would be all that the Pointers could mount off Hansen in the first. In the bottom of the inning, the Gators would answer the run back as Mike Pereslucha reached first base on a RBI fielder's choice scoring Kyle Davis from third.
After a scoreless top of the second for Hansen, the Gators' sticks came out and tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to jump out to a 3-1 lead. Junior backstop Ben Lowmaster cashed in the two runs with a solid single to left-centerfield scoring Hansen and Aaron Lynch. The lead would not last long, however, as the Pointers came out in the top of the third and plated three runs to take a 4-3 advantage. Staying true to the back and forth nature of the game, the Gators wasted no time evening the score in the bottom of the third. The Gators' answer was a resounding solo jack by Pereslucha that sailed out of the park to right-centerfield.
A pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning for the Pointers pulled them back in front 6-5. After the Pointers took the lead in the top of the fifth, the score would stick over the next inning and a half as each team turned to the bullpen. For the Gators, rookie southpaw Garrett Morosky came on in the top of that top of the fifth inning with one out and surrendered the two RBI single up the middle that gave UW-Stevens Point the lead. Morosky remained composed and was able end the inning on a flyout to right field the very next batter.
The bottom of the seventh inning was the turning point of the game. Trailing by one, Pereslucha led off the inning with an infield single to third base that he was able to beat out. After Pereslucha's leadoff single, Jeff Dassner drew a walk to put runners on first and second with no one out. The next batter, rookie Jon Boyd, executed a perfect slash bunt for the game-tying RBI. Boyd showed bunt and appeared to be sacrificing himself to move both runners into scoring position, but as the pitch was being delivered by Casey Barnes, Boyd pulled the bat back and hit a chopper that went over the head of the Pointers' third baseman. With the same situation, senior Zach Nichols did sacrifice his at-bat, laying down a bunt to advance Dassner and Boyd. Now with runners on second and third, Lynch did his job and hit behind the runners to second base for a productive 4-3 putout and a RBI as Dassner scored from third. After he was done working four and a third innings on the mound, Hansen returned to his normal position out in centerfield and remained the leadoff hitter. In his at-bat in the bottom of the seventh, Hansen turned on a Pointer offering and hammered a ball out to left-centerfield. Off the bat, it appeared that Hansen had enough to get the ball out of the park, but the ball made its way all the way to the warning track before the Pointers' centerfielder made a diving attempt for the highlight reel catch, but was unable to make the grab allowing the speedster Hansen to truck around the bases for a two run inside-the-park homerun.
After taking a three run lead, the Gators turned to rookie right-hander Kyle Davis to close out the final two innings. Thanks in large part to two inning-ending double plays, Davis was able to shut the door, picking up his first collegiate save, and giving the Gators the 10-6 upset win over UW-Stevens Point.
For the game, the Gators pounded out 16 hits, and their 1-through-5 hitters in the lineup batted a combined 12-for-22. Morosky gets the win, the first of his career, after tossing two and two third innings of relief.
The Gators have an off day tomorrow, but are back in action on Wednesday, March 23rd with doubleheader action against St. Olaf College. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.