GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 13 Florida plated three or more runs in each of the final four innings to run-rule Jacksonville, 16-4, in seven frames at Condron Family Ballpark on Tuesday night.
 
As one of three Gators to launch a three-run homer, freshman Brendan Lawson (3-for-4) powered the UF offense with the team’s first three-run blast as well as a two-run double to finish with a team-high five RBI. Rising to the occasion against his old squad, Justin Nadeau (2-for-5) also homered and doubled while tallying a season-high four RBI and three runs scored. Landon Stripling (2-for-4) uncorked Florida’s third and final home run to put the game out of reach in the sixth, while Colby Shelton (3-for-4) recorded a three-hit night backed by two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Florida starting pitcher Jackson Barberi allowed just one baserunner across the first two innings to hold the Dolphins (11-9) scoreless, allowing the Gators (17-5) to jump in front in the home half of the second. Cade Kurland kept the frame alive by working a two-out walk. He then advanced to second on a Stripling single while Ty Evans cashed in with an RBI single to center to open a 1-0 lead.
 
After surrendering a leadoff double to Cade Hentz in the third, Barberi sandwiched a flyout to center between a pair of swinging strikeouts to strand the tying run on third base. Florida again took advantage, striking for a three-run, opposite field homer to left field off the bat of Lawson. Both Shelton and Luke Heyman scored on the shot after reaching via one-out singles.
 
Barberi was lifted after plunking Blake Edmonds to lead off the fourth. Jacksonville broke through upon his removal, as Blake Delamielleure cracked a two-run homer to left field to cut the UF lead in half at 4-2.
 
The Gators answered right back in the home half with a three-spot to make it 7-2. Nadeau got it going with a one-out, automatic double to left and scored on a two-out single to right by Shelton. After Heyman was hit by a pitch, Lawson again delivered by roping a two-run double into the left-center field gap to increase his RBI total to five.
 
Right-hander Christian Rodriguez and southpaw Niko Janssens combined for a zero in the fifth, with the latter entering to induce a flyout to center for the frame’s final out. Florida proceeded to plate three runs for the third-consecutive inning, as Nadeau walloped a three-run homer to right against his former team to extend the lead to 10-2 through five.
 
Jacksonville got two runs back in the sixth, reducing the UF lead to 10-4. Aidan Masters doubled home Carson Stevens while Hentz drove in Masters with an RBI single to shortstop.
 
Florida produced its fourth-straight crooked number in the sixth, erupting for six more runs. Stripling turned on a 2-1 offering to mash a three-run no-doubter to right field. Evans then walked and advanced to third on a single by Hayden Yost, followed by an RBI fielder’s choice to second off the bat of Nadaeu. Shelton used his third hit to plate Nadeau on an RBI single to left while Boser raced home on a throwing error at second base to push the score to 16-4.
 

Janssens remained on the hill to secure the victory. The freshman navigated around a pair of seventh-inning baserunners by striking out pinch-hitter Trent Kelly for the final out, securing a run-rule victory for the Orange & Blue.
 
Rodriguez (1-0) picked up his first-career win, throwing 1 2/3 relief frames. The redshirt freshman allowed one run on two hits while striking out one batter.
 
JU starting pitcher Aaron Zenus (0-2) was saddled with the loss. He lasted two innings with one earned run allowed on two hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
 
Barberi did not factor into the decision, pitching three-plus innings of one-run ball. The rookie finished with two hits allowed, zero walks and three strikeouts in his second-career start.
 
NOTABLES

• Florida improved to 14-1 at home this season.
• The Gators won their sixth game via the run rule.
• Lawson swatted his fifth homer of the season and finished 3-for-4 with a team-high five RBI to tie his career high.

  • He also tied his career high in hits.

• Barberi tied his career high with three innings pitched, working into the fourth inning for the first time as a starter.
• Nadeau drilled a three-run shot for his first home run as a Gator, doing so against his former team in Jacksonville.

  • Nadeau finished 2-for-5 with one homer, one double, a season-high four RBI and three runs scored.
  • In two combined games vs. JU this season, Nadeau is 5-for-8 while reaching base in eight of 10 plate appearances.

• Stripling hit his second home run of the season.
• Shelton registered his second three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

  • Rodriguez earned his first-career victory on the mound.

• Shelton has reached base safely in all 22 games this season.
• Florida pitchers have recorded a 244-to-68 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 22 games.
• Florida improved to 69-36 all-time against JU including 45-17 at home.

  • Florida swept the season series (2-0) against Jacksonville.
  • The Gators have won 14 of the last 17 overall against the Dolphins
  • Florida is now 23-8 overall and 17-6 at home in the series under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan.

• Tuesday night’s official attendance was 5,280.

FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On Shelton’s quality of at bats…
“I think he’s hitting over .400 now. He’s using the whole field. He’s worked awfully hard to change his approach and not be so pull-happy. So, he’s been using the whole field and he’s certainly off to a very good start for us, that’s for sure.”
 
On Nadeau’s performance in the leadoff spot…
“He kind of solidified that leadoff spot for us. Quite honestly, there’s two things we needed tonight. We needed to have a really good night offensively after the weekend, and to play seven innings with five games this week. Normally, we don’t play five games in a week when we start conference play, but to close that thing out and to only use three pitchers was obviously helpful.”

On Lawson going the other way for all five RBI…

“He can hit. He doesn’t swing and miss very much. He had a great night at the plate. A bunch of guys did. One guy we’ve got to get going again is Bobby Boser. He’ll get going again, but other than that, everybody had a pretty good night at the plate.”

UP NEXT

The Gators remain home to host Florida A&M on Wednesday night, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.