Caden McDonald blasts 2 home runs to help Florida even series with Oklahoma
By David Wasson
Published:
If chicks love the long ball, then they must have really loved Caden McDonald after Saturday night.
The Florida designated hitter blasted two home runs to help lift the 25th-ranked Gators past 15th-ranked Oklahoma 10-5 on Saturday at Kimrey Family Stadium in Norman – evening the pivotal SEC series at one game each.
Florida (30-17 overall, 12-11 SEC) can win the series by taking Sunday’s finale (4 pm ET, SEC Network+). Oklahoma (30-15, 12-11) is trying to avoid its second straight SEC series loss.
McDonald erased an early Oklahoma lead with one swing in the third – cranking a three-run homer to center field to give the Gators a 4-2 lead. He also extended Florida’s lead to 7-4 in the eighth with a solo shot to right-center.
While Oklahoma managed to keep McDonald in the ballpark in the ninth, the Florida DH added a two-run double to left center to make it 10-4. He finished 4-for-5 with six RBIs and three runs scored. McDonald (4-1) also earned the pitching victory, delivering three innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts, and Ethan Surowiec and Landon Stripling each added two hits for the Gators.
Camden Johnson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Oklahoma. Michael Catalano (3-4) took the loss. Ernesto Lugo Canchola earned his first save.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
