Florida baseball routs FAU 13-2 in Jupiter

No. 1 Florida Gators baseball (4-0) did not waste much time in piling it on the Florida Atlantic Owls (3-1), scoring three runs in the opening frame and going on to rout their opponent 13-2 on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL.

Junior right-handed pitcher Anthony DeSclafani (1-0), who is primarily a reliever but filled in as a starter at the last minute for junior left-handed pitcher Alex Panteliodis (illness), tossed four innings of shutout ball while striking out three. By the time he was replaced on the mound, Florida was already up 8-0 on FAU.

Sophomore shortstop Nolan Fontana (RBI, 2 R), junior right fielder Preston Tucker (4-5, 2 RBI, R) and sophomore designated hitter Brian Johnson (2-3, RBI, 2 R) all scored unearned runs in the first inning due to the Owls committing a pair of errors. After an inning off, the Gators powered up in the third with sophomore first baseman Austin Maddox (2-6, RBI, R) scoring on a sacrifice fly and both sophomore catcher Mike Zunino (1-3, RBI, R) and Johnson crossing the plate on a two-RBI double by junior left fielder Daniel Pigott (4-5, 2 RBI, 2 R).

Senior second baseman Josh Adams (2-4, RBI, R) scored on a single to right center by sophomore third baseman Cody Dent (1-2, RBI) in the top of the fifth, and Pigott would touch home plate on a sacrifice fly by Fontana one batter later.

Senior RHP Matt Campbell relieved DeSclafani in the fifth and threw a shutout inning but freshman RHP Jonathon Crawford and junior LHP Nick Maronde each gave up an earned run in their subsequent innings. Florida piled on further in the seventh after a rally that saw sophomore center fielder Kamm Washington (1-3, RBI, R), Tucker and Maddox drive home four runs on three singles (and a throwing error).

Junior RHP Tommy Toledo struck out two batters in a scoreless eighth, and the Gators added another run at the top of the ninth when redshirt junior RF Paul Wilson (2 R) scored on a wild pitch. Maddox, making his first appearance as a pitcher in the orange and blue, closed out the game with two strikeouts in the ninth.

Up next for Florida is a three-game series on Thursday (5 p.m.), Friday (5 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) against Boston College at home in Gainesville, FL.