The Florida Gators were back in the win column Tuesday night as they knocked off the FAU Owls. The Gators topped the Owls in an 18-11 slugfest in which both pitching staffs had a rough night.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Yoel Tejeda Jr. made his third start of his collegiate career. The 6’8” right-hander out of Broward County started off throwing well but got roughed up toward the end of his outing. Tejeda threw three innings allowing six hits, six runs, one walk, and no strikeouts.
Redshirt sophomore right-hander Ryan Slater came in relief for Tejeda and picked up the win. Slater threw three innings and allowed five hits, four runs, two walks, and one strikeout. Slater is now 3-0 on the season.
After Slater’s outing, side-arm righty Nick Ficarrotta came in relief and had one of his best outings this season. Ficarrotta pitched 1.2 innings allowing one hit, no runs, no walks, and two strikeouts. Left-hander Philip Abner also pitched in the eighth and struck out FAU’s Nolan Schanuel on three pitches.
Florida’s closer, Brandon Neely, recorded the final three outs but struggled for the second straight outing. Neely threw one inning and allowed two hits, one run, one walk, two strikeouts, and one home run.
At the plate, the Florida Gators’ offense continues to mash. The Gators continue to look like one of the top hitting programs in the nation. Florida scored eighteen runs on eleven hits on the Owls’ pitching staff.
Veteran shortstop Josh Rivera had a career game at the dish as he went 3-4 with two home runs and a career-high nine RBIs. Rivera is crushing the ball to begin the season as he’s batting .412 with seven home runs.
Star left fielder Wyatt Langford was recently named SEC Co-Player of the Week and had another excellent performance. Langford went 3-4 with a double, two walks, and four runs scored.
Third baseman Tyler Shelnut had a great game against the Owls’ pitching staff. The former JUCO transfer went 2-3 with a three-run home run and two walks. Catcher BT Riopelle went 1-2 with two walks and Ty Evans went 1-5 with a solo home run to center field.
What’s next?
The Florida Gators will look to complete the midweek series win against the FAU Owls on Wednesday night. Florida has not announced who will be on the mound for the midweek series finale.
The FAU Owls will hand the ball to freshman right-handed pitcher Tyler Murphy. The Sunshine State native had already made three appearances with a 0-0 record with a 0.00 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, a .191 opponent batting average, and nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched. The first pitch is at 6 pm EST on the SEC Network+.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Yoel Tejeda Jr. made his third start of his collegiate career. The 6’8” right-hander out of Broward County started off throwing well but got roughed up toward the end of his outing. Tejeda threw three innings allowing six hits, six runs, one walk, and no strikeouts.
Redshirt sophomore right-hander Ryan Slater came in relief for Tejeda and picked up the win. Slater threw three innings and allowed five hits, four runs, two walks, and one strikeout. Slater is now 3-0 on the season.
After Slater’s outing, side-arm righty Nick Ficarrotta came in relief and had one of his best outings this season. Ficarrotta pitched 1.2 innings allowing one hit, no runs, no walks, and two strikeouts. Left-hander Philip Abner also pitched in the eighth and struck out FAU’s Nolan Schanuel on three pitches.
Florida’s closer, Brandon Neely, recorded the final three outs but struggled for the second straight outing. Neely threw one inning and allowed two hits, one run, one walk, two strikeouts, and one home run.
At the plate, the Florida Gators’ offense continues to mash. The Gators continue to look like one of the top hitting programs in the nation. Florida scored eighteen runs on eleven hits on the Owls’ pitching staff.
Veteran shortstop Josh Rivera had a career game at the dish as he went 3-4 with two home runs and a career-high nine RBIs. Rivera is crushing the ball to begin the season as he’s batting .412 with seven home runs.
Star left fielder Wyatt Langford was recently named SEC Co-Player of the Week and had another excellent performance. Langford went 3-4 with a double, two walks, and four runs scored.
Third baseman Tyler Shelnut had a great game against the Owls’ pitching staff. The former JUCO transfer went 2-3 with a three-run home run and two walks. Catcher BT Riopelle went 1-2 with two walks and Ty Evans went 1-5 with a solo home run to center field.
What’s next?
The Florida Gators will look to complete the midweek series win against the FAU Owls on Wednesday night. Florida has not announced who will be on the mound for the midweek series finale.
The FAU Owls will hand the ball to freshman right-handed pitcher Tyler Murphy. The Sunshine State native had already made three appearances with a 0-0 record with a 0.00 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, a .191 opponent batting average, and nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched. The first pitch is at 6 pm EST on the SEC Network+.
