Senior Matt LaPorta bashed a pair of three-run homers and registered a career-high six RBI to power number #22 Florida (19-13) to its eighth-straight victory, 16-7 over #1 Florida State (29-3) in front of 12,280 fans at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Tuesday night.
LaPorta went deep in both the first and second innings and has clouted 10 home runs in his past seven outings, a stretch in which he is hitting .517 (15-for-29) with 19 RBI and 14 runs. On the season, the slugger has a .433 batting average with 15 homers and has driven in 35 runs. Senior Austin Pride also belted a grand slam as part of a
seven-run second inning as the Gators evened the season series with the Seminoles at a win apiece. The squads will meet in the rubber match in Tallahassee on April 18.

Each club totaled 13 hits, with former Santa Fe high school star Avery Barnes a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs to lead the Gators. UF returns to Southeastern Conference action this weekend at McKethan Stadium when it hosts #4 South Carolina (23-6/5-4 SEC).