Rhode Island Lineup
Sherburne (RF), Caputo (SS), Taveras (DH), Corin (LF), Foreman (1B), O'Neil (3B), Hess (2B), Powell (CF), Livingston (C), Distasio (P)

Florida Lineup
Guthrie (2B), Reed (CF), Martin (SS), Bader (LF), Schwartz (C), Puk (1B), Rivera (DH), Sternagel (3B), Larson (RF), Dunning (P) 

How it Happened
Rhode Island (0-2) jumped out to a 1-0 in the top of the first when senior Mike Sherburne scored on an RBI groundout by sophomore Martin Taveras. The advantage was short-lived however, as No. 2 Florida (2-0) plated three in the bottom of the frame and added two more in the second.

Another RBI groundout by Taveras made it a 5-2 game in the third when Chase Livingston crossed the plate after drawing a lead-off walk. The Gators stormed back in the bottom of the inning though, using a pair of three-run homers and an RBI single to push across seven runs and go up 12-2.

Mike Corin's leadoff homer made it 12-3 in the top of the sixth, but UF responded once again, this time sending 13 guys to the plate and hanging a nine spot for the 21-3 lead. The Gators added one more in the bottom of the eighth to cap off the 22-3 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Redshirt sophomore Mike Corin recorded his first home run of the season in the sixth. Rhode Island now has two home runs in two games. Last year, the Rams did not record their second homer until April 20th, in the team's 34th game of the season.
• Senior Mike Sherburne went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. He is hitting .667 through Rhody's first two games.
• Sophomore Martin Taveras drove in a pair of runs, despite an 0-for-4 day at the plate.
• Sophomore Chris Hess used his speed to take first on a wild pitch third strike, and proceeded to steal both second and third. Rhody finished the game with three stolen bases while limiting Florida to just one.
• Freshman Jimmy Palmer made his first career appearance in the bottom of the sixth when he came on as a defensive replacement for Tim Caputo.
• The Gators got hits from 12 different players with four guys turning in multi-hit performances.
• UF's Harrison Bader went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, six RBI and four runs scored.
• Redshirt sophomore Matt O'Neil made his first career start for the Rams, going 1-for-4 as Rhody's third baseman.
• Junior Lou Distasio was charged with the loss, allowing 12 runs (all earned) on eight hits before being relieved in the bottom of the third. He struck out two, walked one and put five men on via hit by pitch.
• Sophomore Taso Stathopoulos retired the first eight batters he faced, before allowing four runs in the bottom of the sixth. He exited the game with four strikeouts and three hits allowed over 2.2 innings of work.
• Sophomore Evan Flanagan was responsible for UF's final five runs of the sixth, scattering four hits and issuing a pair of walks over two thirds of a frame.
• Freshman Dom Grillo made his first career appearance in the bottom of the seventh. He retired the Gators in order in his first inning on the hill and allowed one run on two hits in the eighth.
• Defending SEC Regular Season Champion Florida entered opening weekend ranked sixth or better in each of the six national polls (#2-D1Baseball.com, #4 Perfect Game, #5 USA Today, #5 NCBWA, #6 Collegiate Baseball, #6 Baseball America).

What's Next
The Rams and Gators return to McKethan Stadium to close out the series at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.