The Tennessee Volunteers were looking to claim the series against the Florida Gators in one day. Unfortunately, they couldn’t pull it off on Friday night in Gainesville, falling 4-3 in the second game of the doubleheader. The Vols claimed game one 6-2.
It was a day of swings and misses for Tennessee hitters. They struck out 16 times for the game, with starter Liam Peterson recording 7 of them over the first 4 innings. Between Peterson and Florida reliever Fisher Jameson, who struck out 8 Vols over 4 innings, Tennessee simply wasted too many plate appearances and were stymed by Florida’s duo.
Florida struck first in the third when catcher Brady Donay hit a no doubter over the left field wall off of starter Drew Beam. Colby Shelton followed in the same inning with a 2-run shot for a 3-0 lead.
But that was all that Beam would allow for the day. He finished with 3 runs on 6 hits with a walk and four strikeouts over 6 innings.
Tennessee got on the board in the fifth inning when Blake Burke slugged a double to the wall in right center field to plate Christian Moore. Billy Amick would send one out to left field in the eighth inning to draw within 3-2.
The Vols had a chance to tie the game or take the lead in the top of the ninth after a Christian Moore ground out plated a run and Blake Burke drew a walk with two outs. However, Billy Amick fouled out to first base to end the game.
The Vols will look to claim the series on Saturday evening at 6:30 pm.