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No. 1-ranked Florida baseball hosts Harvard in its final non-conference weekend series of 2016

By Andrew Schutte

Jun 19, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators infielder Dalton Guthrie (5) enters the dugout after scoring the first run of the game in the third inning in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators infielder Dalton Guthrie (5) enters the dugout after scoring the first run of the game in the third inning in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Gators and Harvard meet for the first time since the 2006 season in a three-game series spanning from Friday through Saturday night.

Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan‘s No. 1-ranked Florida baseball team is riding an eight-game winning streak after downing UCF twice on Mar. 1 and 2 (9-5, 4-0), sweeping Dartmouth in a three-game set last weekend (7-0, 4-3, 8-6) and notching two more wins over North Florida in a home-and-home series earlier this week (6-2, 5-4).

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Now, the Gators (14-1) welcome Harvard (2-2) to McKethan Stadium for their final non-conference weekend series.

In Friday’s opener at 7 PM, junior right-hander Logan Shore (3-0, 0.43) of Florida will oppose Crimson sophomore right-hander Ian Miller (0-1, 6.00). Due to weather concerns on Sunday, the Gators and Harvard will instead play a doubleheader on Saturday, with Game 1 scheduled to start at 4 PM and Game 2 starting at 7 PM, or 45 minutes following the conclusion of the first game. Gator junior lefty A.J. Puk (0-1, 3.09) will face Harvard senior right-hander Sean Poppen (1-0, 1.29) in Game 1 and UF sophomore righty Alex Faedo (3-0, 2.12) will conclude the series against HU junior right-hander Nick Gruener (1-0, 3.00) in the finale.

That trio of Florida pitchers is a combined 6-1 with a 1.63 ERA, 60 strikeouts, 11 walks and a .175 batting average against.

Collectively, the Gators’ pitching staff has compiled an earned run average of 2.56 and 156 strikeouts — a Southeastern Conference best — in just 137 innings of baseball. Additionally, Florida is holding opponents to a meager .196 average, while the squad hasn’t committed an error in its last three outings and boasts a fielding percentage of .983 — ranking third in the league behind Vanderbilt (.985) and Texas A&M (.984).

Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators infielder Dalton Guthrie (5) drives in a run in the fourth inning against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators infielder Dalton Guthrie (5) drives in a run in the fourth inning against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

The Gators have reciprocated that success when it comes to producing offense as well.

Junior outfielder Buddy Reed (.322, 16 runs) is having a spectacular season so far. Reed is currently on a 10-game hitting streak in which he is 14-for-40 (.350), with 11 runs, seven walks and six RBI.

But it’s his underclassmen teammates who are stealing the spotlight.

Freshmen second baseman Deacon Liput has reached base in all 15 of his collegiate games and is batting .388 with 12 RBI, 11 walks, six doubles and three triples. Meanwhile, sophomore shortstop Dalton Guthrie took over the team’s top spot with a .393 clip and has a UF-leading nine multiple hit games.

Overall, the Gators are 9-0 at home this season. If they continue to play like they have through the first three weeks of the season, that record will read 12-0 on Saturday night.

More gators: Analyzing the Gators' 2016 football schedule

All three games of the weekend series will be streamed live on SEC Network+ through the WatchESPN app. Stats will be available via FloridaGators.com and live audio can be heard on the Gator IMG Sports Network.

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