GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For the second straight week, the Wildcats play a ranked opponent in the SEC as they travel to take on No. 20 Florida at Condron Family Ballpark. The midweek matchup begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on SECN+.



Tuesday, April 14
Opponent: No. 20 Florida (27-10, 9-6)
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Gainesville, Fla. | Condron Family Ballpark
Watch: https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/c99cd34b-5021-4949-b803-91b705dec935
Listen: https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5893&type=Live
Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=631757
Tickets: https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/buy/ism/QlMyNjI0?utm_source=WEB&utm_medium=SCHED&utm_campaign=BASE-SINGLE&camefrom=CFC_GATORS_WEB_SCHED_BASE-SINGLE

The Wildcats dominated from start to finish in game two of the double header against MVSU, scoring six runs in the first to get it started. B-CU generated three walks, a double, and single before the Delta Devils recorded an out. Maikol Lucena, Jeter Polledo, Erick Almonte, and Sergio Rivera each recorded RBI in the inning.

B-CU extended the lead to 10-0 in the second. Jeter Polledo hit his third home run of the series and Erick Almonte hit his second. Jorge Rodriguez also managed an RBI single.

Jose Fernandez would join the home run derby in the fifth, hitting a three-run bomb to make it 13-0.

Ruben Zuany came on as a pinch hitter in the seventh and hit his third home run of the season to extend the lead to 15-0.

Overall, the Wildcats finished with seven extra base hits, including four home runs, and worked 12 walks.

Tanner Boccabello picked up the win for B-CU, working five scoreless innings and recording 10 strikeouts.

The Florida Gators returned to the top 25 this week after a 3-1 stretch against No. 5 Florida State and No. 4 Georgia. The Gators are 17-6 at home this season and are 10-1 in midweek contests. The only loss was against Jacksonville on March 31st.

UF does is not an elite offensive team, ranking just 84th nationally in runs scored and 159th in batting average. Brendan Lawson and Ethan Surowiec are key hitters at the top of the Gator order. Lawson is batting .340 with a team-high 11 home runs while Surowiec is slashing .319 while leading the club with 38 RBi.

The pitching staff has been the team's calling card this season. The team ranks 15th in the country in ERA, eighth in strikeouts-per-nine, and 13th in hits allowed-per-nine. They have seven pitchers who have made at least one start and nine who have pitched at least 20 innings. The Gators are allowing a .227 batting average to opposing hitters. The Wildcats are likely to see several different pitchers out of the Florida bullpen.

Florida is a middle-of-the-road defensive team, sitting at 153rd in fielding percentage. They also don't steal a ton, currently ranking 166th in stolen bases.

• B-CU is undefeated against ranked opponents and SEC opponents this season (1-0).
• The Wildcats have won eight of their last 10 games.
• Dawson Turner will make his second start of the season. He is 0-0 with a 12.27 ERA in 7.1 innings of work.
• Michael Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to eight games over the weekend. He finished 6-for-8 with a double, a home run, and two RBI against the Delta Devils.
• Erick Almonte is on a six-game hitting streak and had a dominant series in Itta Bena. He hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and went 6-for-11 overall.
• B-CU did not record an error in the series against Mississippi Valley State.
• The Wildcats rank in the top 60 in runs scored and earned run average.

Bethune-Cookman is 12-35-1 against the Gators all-time. The team's last victory over Florida came in 2017 at the Gainesville Regional. The Gators would go on to win the National Championship that season.

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