College Roundup: Gators Extend Win Streak To 16

Top-ranked Florida scored two runs in the second inning Tuesday and its pitching staff made them stand up for a 2-1 victory against Florida Atlantic. With the victory, the Gators (22-1) extended their winning streak to 16 games and their home winning streak to 24 games, matching a program record.

HOW THE TOP 25 FARED

(1) Florida: won, 2-1, vs. Florida Atlantic

(2) Texas A&M: won, 13-3, vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in seven innings

(3) Oregon State: won, 13-6, at Portland

(4) Miami: off

(5) Texas Christian: won, 6-4, vs. Abilene Christian

(6) North Carolina: won, 10-2, vs. Western Carolina

(7) Mississippi: won, 8-2, vs. Tennessee-Martin

(8) Louisville: off

(9) Virginia: won, 15-6, vs. James Madison

(10) Mississippi State: won, 16-1, vs. Mississippi Valley State

(11) Vanderbilt: lost, 7-4, at Middle Tennessee State

(12) Florida State: won, 7-2, vs. Central Florida

(13) Louisiana State: won, 8-5, vs. Louisiana-Lafayette in Metairie, La.

(14) UCLA: off

(15) California: off

(16) Houston: lost, 7-4, vs. Rice

(17) Clemson: won, 8-4, vs. Presbyterian

(18) South Carolina: off

(19) Oklahoma State: won, 17-0, at Wichita State

(20) Long Beach State: off

(21) North Carolina State: lost, 6-4, at UNC-Wilmington

(22) Alabama: lost, 8-0, at Alabama-Birmingham

(23) Michigan: off

(24) UC Santa Barbara: won, 10-4, at Cal State Bakersfield

(25) Arkansas: off

Florida Atlantic (15-4) jumped out in front when Stephen Kerr led off the game with a home run off freshman righthander Jackson Kowar. But the Owls were unable to add any more runs, as Kowar and five relievers combined to hold them to five hits and strike out 11 batters.

Righthander Frank Rubio, who followed Kowar with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, said the Gators relievers talked before the game about picking each other up and not allowing inherited runners to score.

“It happens, but everybody takes pride in the bullpen for not cashing each other’s runs in,” he said. “Especially with the starters, being that they worked really hard.”

Florida pushed ahead in the second inning, when Nelson Maldonado tripled, driving in one run, and then came around to score himself on shortstop C.J. Chatham’s error.

Florida’s home winning streak dates back to May 14 last season, when it lost to Auburn, 4-1. The streak matches the 24 consecutive home games the Gators won from April 24, 2010 to March 8, 2011. Florida will next play at home April 1, when it begins a series against No. 2 Texas A&M.

The Aggies (19-2) extended their own home winning streak Tuesday, defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 13-3, in seven innings. It was their 18th straight win at Olsen Field in Blue Bell Park.

Freshman righthander Stephen Kolek, the younger brother of Marlins prospect Tyler Kolek, earned the first victory of his career. He struck out three batters and held the Islanders to three runs (two earned) in five innings.

No. 13 Louisiana State, which will visit Texas A&M this weekend, defeated Louisiana-Lafayette, 8-5, in the Wally Pontiff Jr. Baseball Classic. The game, held annually in Metairie, La., at the home of the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans, honors the former LSU captain who died in 2002 from cardiac arrest brought on by a heart abnormality.

Center fielder Jake Fraley, a Preseason All-American, went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs for the Tigers (15-5).

Tuesday marked the start of this year’s Silver Glove Series between Houston and Rice. The Owls upset the 16th-ranked Cougars, 7-4, at Houston. Outfielder Charlie Warren collected four hits and righthander Dane Myers closed out the game with three scoreless innings for the save.

Rice (11-9) now has a chance to clinch its first win in the series since 2013 when the two teams meet again May 10 at Reckling Park. The final game comes a week later at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.