Florida baseball prevailed in its fifth and final exhibition game of the fall season with a 15-1 victory over the Air Force Falcons in 12 innings on Sunday afternoon at Condron Family Ballpark.
The Gators trailed early by one run for one half-inning against the Falcons but took the lead in the third and never looked back to the tune of 15 unanswered runs. Florida effectively put the game away with a three-run fifth, which featured the first of two home runs from fall breakout slugger Nic Partridge (3-for-5), who led the Gators with five RBI and three hits while scoring twice.
"I've been pretty vocal about how good (Partridge has) been swinging the bat this fall," head coach Kevin O'Sullivan said after the game. "He could play middle infield, he could play third,
we played him at first, we played him in the outfield, he could play anywhere. I don't know if he hits in the middle of the lineup, I don't know if he leads off for us, but certainly we're going to find a place for him to play."
Partridge was one of four Gators to collect multiple hits along with Kyle McDaniel (2-for-4), Jon Embury (2-for-3) and Landon Stripling (2-for-3). McDaniel scored a team-high three runs on top of two RBI while Embury scored two runs and Stripling drove in a pair.
Florida's pitching staff received more than enough run support, as eight UF relievers teamed up for 10 shutout, three-hit innings while striking out 11 Falcons. Southpaw Trey Morris (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K) retired all nine batters he faced in order, while right-hander Jackson Barberi (2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K) was the only other Gator to provide multiple scoreless frames.
Collectively, Morris and Barberi have combined for 15 shutout, three-hit innings with 21 strikeouts across their last three appearances of fall ball.
O'Sullivan also had some positive takeaways from his team's defensive play.
"The play Lawson made up the middle was an outstanding play defensively; one he may not have made last year. He's improved so much defensively. The play in center field where (Drew) Dickerson relayed the ball in and we got the out at first base was a really neat play. One error in five fall games. That one error was a tough play too, but I'm really pleased with the defense."
Florida vs Air Force game notes
- The UF bullpen teamed up for 10.0 shutout, three-hit innings while striking out 11.
- All eight UF relievers (Sandford, Morris, Barberi, Edwards, Whritenour, Hanes, White, McDonald) logged scoreless outings.
- Florida hitters drew eight walks while striking out nine times on Sunday.
- The Gators went 5-0 in exhibition games this fall, winning by a combined margin of 56-19.
- Florida homered 14 times and scored 56 runs in five fall exhibition games.
- The Gators slashed .305/.385/.531 as a team while holding opponents to a .168/.276/.277 line.
- The Falcons committed nine defensive errors on Sunday.
- Florida played 52 1/3 defensive innings with just one error in five fall games.
- The Gators plated six two-out runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth inning.
- Embury went 2-for-3 with one double, two runs and one walk.
- Partridge launched his team-leading third and fourth home runs of the fall season in the fifth and 12th innings.
- Partridge batted .381/.409/.952 this fall, pacing Florida in homers (four), RBI (11) total bases (20) and hits (eight).
- Morris retired all nine batters he faced on 32 pitches while striking out five.
- Across his last three fall outings, Morris has pitched 8.0 shutout, one-hit innings with 11 strikeouts against Troy (3.0 IP), Mercer (2.0 IP) and Air Force (3.0 IP).
- Morris (8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 11 K) and Barberi (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 10 K) have combined for 15.0 shutout, three-hit innings with 21 strikeouts across their last three appearances apiece.
- Whritenour finished the fall with 4.0 shutout, no-hit innings with eight strikeouts.
- The Gators have won 13-straight fall ball exhibitions since 2022.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida baseball routs Air Force in final fall exhibition game
