Gators cruise 10-0, stay in SEC tourney

A. J. Puk threw a seven-inning complete game and had 11 strikeouts to lead Florida over Arkansas 10-0 on Friday night in the Southeastern Conference tournament at Hoover, Ala.

Florida (42-16) broke the game open with five runs in the third inning to take a 6-0 lead in improving to 2-1 in the double-elimination tournament. The Gators finished with 11 hits, including three by Buddy Reed.

Arkansas (35-22) managed just three hits and was eliminated. Dominic Taccolini (6-4) started for the Razorbacks, but lasted just t wo innings after giving up five runs, including four earned.

The SEC ends games in the tournament after seven innings if one team leads by 10 runs or more.

Puk (8-3) has struck out 85 this season in just 61 2/3 innings. Florida advances to face top-seeded LSU today.

Florida Atlantic 5, Southern Miss 4: The Owls rebounded from what could have been a mentally crushing afternoon loss against UAB to defeat Conference USA tournament host Southern Miss on Friday night. The victory gave FAU its 40th win of the season, but the Owls will have to defeat UAB twice today to reach Sunday’s championship game. The Owls scored first against the Golden Eagles but trailed 3-1 before erupting for four runs in the sixth. C. J. Chatham’s two-run single followed RBIs by Billy Endris and Rickey Santiago earlier in the inning.

Palm Beach Atlantic 14, Toccoa Falls College 3: In a rematch of the National Christian College Athletic Association South Regional championship, Palm Beach Atlantic broke out the bats and routed Toccoa Falls at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio, to advance to a national semifinal. PBA had five doubles, a triple and two home runs to go along with 13 singles for its 21 hits, with seven players turning in multi-hit efforts. The Sailfish played No. 2 seed Lee Universit y late Friday night.