The No. 7 Florida Gators, in a balanced offensive effort, mercy-ruled the Harvard Crimson, 12-0, on Friday night at Condron Family Ballpark.
While the Gators (13-2) did not have a home run in a game for the first time this season, eight of nine Florida starters contributed to a 12-hit night for the team. In addition, all Florida starters drove in runs for their team.
Of the starters, shortstop Colby Shelton brought in a season-high four RBIs and batted 2 for 4. Brody Donay and Luke Heyman also batted 2 for 4, and Blake Cyr had two hits.
While a Shelton single sent in a run in the first inning, he opened the offensive floodgates in the fourth. His double sent in three runs, increasing the Gator lead to 6-0.
Following his four RBI night, Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan discussed the improvement he is seeing in Shelton as the season progresses.
“When he hit the ball down the left-field line again today, I was like he’s seeing the ball really good,” he said. “I think that’s the biggest difference with his approach this year; he’s using the whole field. I still see teams shifting on him, and I know his spray chart does not look like that right now, so maybe they’ll stop shifting on him.”
The scoring once again picked up in the fifth inning, as all Gator starters got to the plate to add six more runs to the lead.
On the other side of the ball, Florida sophomore pitcher Liam Peterson had a solid game in his weekly Friday night start. He had 11 strikeouts and allowed only four hits on the night.
As Peterson continues to grow in his starting role since his freshman year, O’Sullivan gave his thoughts on his young pitcher.
“I think you see that with a lot of freshmen, regardless of how talented they are,” he said. “That maturation process is difficult at times but he certainly has made a huge jump in that part of his game…Liam certainly is on the right track.”
The Gators continue the series in doubleheader fashion at noon ET Saturday at Condron Family Ballpark. The second game will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1.
