Gators strikeout 18 in series-opening victory over Georgia State
After giving a lead-off triple that led to a run, Florida baseball ace Hunter Barco dialed in and picked up from where he left off in his last start. He hurled six innings, collected a career-high 12 strikeouts while giving up only one run, a walk and three hits.
The strikeouts didn’t stop coming after Barco departed and the Gators bullpen took over. Reliever Nick Ficcarotta dished out six more where the ballpark couldn’t keep track because they ran out of strikeout signs at 15. Their stellar outing led to a 4-1 series-opening victory over Georgia State Friday at Florida Ballpark.
The Gators struck back in the bottom of the opening frame. Second baseman Colby Halter and center fielder Jud Fabian recorded back-to-back singles then right fielder Sterlin Thompson grounded out to first to put two runners in scoring position. Left fielder Wyatt Langford followed and scored Halter when he grounded out to short, then Fabian touched home plate on a wild pitch to reclaim the lead.
Langford added to Florida’s advantage in the bottom of the third when he sent a moonshot over the right-field wall. Shortstop Josh Rivera then crushed a ball to right-center field for more insurance to make it 4-1.
Offensively, Rivera, Langford and Fabian led the team with two hits apiece and the lineup as a whole only struck out seven times.
The Gators return to Florida Ballpark Saturday to play Georgia State and try to take the series at 4 p.m. EST.
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Series Preview: Florida baseball hosts Georgia State for second weekend series of 2022
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