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Florida Baseball: No. 1-ranked Gators begin SEC play, host Missouri in weekend series

By Andrew Schutte

Jun 19, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators pitcher Logan Shore (32) throws against Virginia Cavaliers in the first inning in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators pitcher Logan Shore (32) throws against Virginia Cavaliers in the first inning in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Gators kick off conference play against Missouri in a weekend series spanning from Friday night to Sunday afternoon at McKethan Stadium.

The No. 1-ranked Florida baseball squad (18-1) begins the 30-game grind of the SEC schedule as it hosts the Missouri Tigers (14-6) for a weekend series in Gainesville.

This is just the second time the two clubs have met in Gator Country since Mizzou joined the Southeastern Conference in 2012.

The Gators enter the contest riding a 12-game winning streak. UF improved its home record to a perfect 13-0 after notching a 6-0 shutout of in-state rival No. 11 Florida State on Tuesday night — the first of three Sunshine Showdowns this season.

Meanwhile, Missouri is coming off of a mid-week series split with Southeast Missouri, losing the opener on Tuesday, 7-2 and winning Wednesday, 13-6.

Florida Gators
Florida Gators /

Florida Gators

Taking the mound for the Gators in Friday’s opener at 7 PM is junior right-hander Logan Shore (4-0, 2.00). He’ll oppose Tiger senior right-hander Reggie McClain (3-0, 0.85). Junior lefty A.J. Puk (0-1, 2.65) of UF will face Mizzou sophomore right-hander Tanner Houck (2-1, 1.61) in Game 2 of the series on Saturday night at 7 PM. And in Sunday’s finale at 1 PM, Florida sophomore right-hander Alex Faedo (4-0, 1.42) will meet senior left-hander Austin Tribby (2-1, 3.33).

For Florida, the play from the mound continues to excel. The starters, led by Faedo and Shore, are 12-1 so far with a 2.21 earned run average and have 125 strikeouts in 102 innings. Collectively, the pitching staff has a 2.39 ERA, is holding foes to a .197 clip and has totaled 201 strikeouts in 173.0 innings.

The Gators’ bats have also been scorching as of late.

After starting the season 2-for-26 (.077), freshman outfielder Nelson Maldonado is 5-for-14 (.357) with six RBI, five runs and two home runs during his four-game hitting streak. Junior first baseman Peter Alonso (.419) has been hot over the last four games as well, going 9-for-13 (.692) with seven RBI six runs, four walks, two homers and two doubles. Alonso leads the Gators in RBI (25) and doubles (8).

Additionally, freshman second baseman Deacon Liput (.379, 18 R) continues his streak, having reached base in all 19 of UF’s contests. Thus far, Liput has eight multiple-hit games and five multiple-RBI games.

Florida has taken 11 of its previous 15 encounters with Missouri and head coach Kevin O’Sullivan boasts an overall record of 6-3 (.667) against the Tigers — 3-3 (.500) in Columbia and 3-0 (1.000) in Gainesville.

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It’ll take an inspired effort from Mizzou if its to notch its first victory over Sully’s Gators in McKethan Stadium.

All three games of the weekend series will air live on the SEC Network+ and livestreamed on the WatchESPN app. The entire set can heard through the Gator IMG Sports Network and live stats for each game will be available via FloridaGators.com.

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