JACKSONVILLE — Mike Rivera entered Tuesday night’s game hitting just .234. The junior catcher had struggled at the plate all season but stepped up to the plate in the first inning with an opportunity to break the game open.
Rivera worked the count to 2-2 and got a changeup from Florida State starter Andrew Karp. Rivera waited back and hit the ball high to left field, carrying over the wall and into the waiting arms of a young fan to give Florida a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, leading the Gators’ path to a 4-1 win.