Logan Shore tossed a complete-game shutout on Friday night.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Junior Logan Shore tossed his first career complete-game shutout to lead No. 1 Florida to a 5-0 victory over No. 5 Miami on Friday night at Alex Rodriguez Park. The right-hander matched his career-best total of eight strikeouts and yielded four hits as the Gators (6-0) claimed the opener of the weekend series and downed the Hurricanes (4-1) for the 22nd time in the last 27 meetings. The victory was also the 350th for ninth-year UF head coach Kevin O'Sullivan.
Shore (2-0) was masterful in going the distance for the third time in his career, facing only two batters above the minimum and he did not issue any walks. The Coon Rapids, Minnesota, native was supported by a two-run homer by junior Peter Alonso in the first inning, a two-run single by freshman Deacon Liput in the fourth inning and a solo homer by sophomore JJ Schwarz in the sixth inning
Alonso staked the Gators to a 2-0 lead in the opening stanza with a two-run homer to left field off of senior left-hander Thomas Woodrey (1-1). Junior Buddy Reed had singled with one down and Alonso (2-for-3, two runs) cranked a 2-2 pitch out of the yard for his first round-tripper of the campaign.
Florida increased its advantage to 4-0 in the fourth on a two-out, two-run single by Liput, who leads the squad with 12 RBI. Schwarz drew a leadoff walk and Alonso collected his second hit of the contest before sophomore Jeremy Vasquez laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance his teammates. With two down, Liput delivered a bloop single into right field to raise his hitting streak to six games.
#Gators take the opener in Coral Gables behind gem by Logan Shore, 2 RBI apiece by Peter Alonso & Deacon Liput pic.twitter.com/Y6O4QKZmdJ
— Gator Baseball (@GatorsBB) February 27, 2016
Miami threatened in the home part of the fourth, as sophomore Carl Chester (3-for-3) began the inning with a double into left field for UM's first hit and junior Christopher Barr followed with a single into right. Shore responded by jamming junior Zack Collins on an infield fly, picking Barr off first base and having junior Jacob Heyward fly out to Vasquez at the warning track in right field.
Schwarz belted his second homer of the year to left field to open the sixth for a 5-0 margin. Alonso then drew a walk and Vasquez singled into left field, ending the night for Woodrey (5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R). Although Liput earned a free pass from sophomore Jesse Lepore to load the bases, the righty had junior Ryan Larsonground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Shore retired the side in order five different times, highlights by three strikeouts in the fifth, and had Barr fly out to Reed to complete the contest.
