Florida out-hit Mississippi State 17-11 and took control of the game with a four-run, five-hit fifth-inning spree off MSU starter Justin Pigott (2-2). Jon Townsend’s two-run, two-out double gave the Gators a 7-4 lead and Florida did not trail the remainder of the game.
Easley went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs with a third-inning home run that gave the Bulldogs a 4-3 advantage. Connor Powers belted two-run home runs in the sixth and the ninth innings. But the afternoon belonged to the Gators. All nine starters in the Gator batting order had hits, led by three-hit plate performances by Cole Figueroa and Brian Leclerc.
Pigott worked seven innings, allowing eight runs on 15 hits. The MSU junior walked two and struck out five. Freshman Ricky Bowen was touched for two runs on two hits during his inning of relief.
Florida starter Stephen Locke (3-2) earned the win, giving up six runs on nine hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Steve Porter, the losing pitcher in Friday’s series opener, allowed two runs in three innings of relief to earn his first save.
MSU and Florida close out their three-game series with a 12 p.m. (CT) game in Gainesville. State senior Josh Johnson (2-0) squares off against UF freshman righty Billy Bullock (2-3) in the series finale.