The Gators (19-6, 3-3 SEC) opened a three-run edge on the Crimson Tide (18-7, 3-3 SEC) in the primary body, remaining in entrance for almost all of the competition till Alabama struck for seven runs in the underside of the sixth inning. Florida beginning pitcher Cooper Walls did his half to maintain the Orange & Blue forward in the early going, tossing 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball previous to his exit.
The Florida offense compelled Alabama starter Myles Upchurch’s exit after recording only one out in the primary inning with the bases loaded and the Gators main, 2-0. Cade Kurland labored a one-out stroll, then teamed up with Karson Bowen on a perfectly-executed hit-and-run because the latter laced a single to proper discipline to place Gators at the corners. Kurland scampered residence to open the scoring on a failed pickoff try at first base whereas Ethan Surowiec, Blake Cyr and Cole Stanford walked consecutively to power in Bowen.
The second run prompted Upchurch’s elimination in favor of righty Sam Mitchell, however Florida tacked on a 3rd tally on a hit-by-pitch of Ashton Wilson with the baggage nonetheless juiced to identify Walls a 3-0 benefit. Walls surrendered a leadoff single and one-out stroll, however fanned Jason Torres and John Lemm to strand a pair of baserunners. The sophomore righty fired a one-two-three body in the second through the use of his third strikeout for out quantity three.
The Gators threatened once more in the third, however a one-out, based-loaded rally was erased on a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Kolt Myers. In the house half of the inning, Walls issued a leadoff stroll however rebounded to retire the following three batters in order whereas notching his fourth strikeout.
Leading off the fourth, Kyle Jones walked and promptly stole second base on the primary pitch to Kurland. A wild pitch on the fourth ball to Kurland put Gators on the corners, permitting Bowen to plate Jones on a sacrifice fly to left discipline to make it 4-0 in favor of Florida.
Alabama put the primary two runners on in bottom-four on a hit-by-pitch of Torres and single to heart by Lemm, however Walls compelled Will Plattner to hit right into a 6-4-3 double play whereas Justin Osterhouse grounded out to 3rd to quiet the rally.
The Crimson Tide broke into the scoring column in the house half of the fifth, as Walls was eliminated after issuing a one-out stroll to Brennan Holt. Left-hander Ernesto Lugo-Canchola fanned Justin Fowler trying, however Justin Lebron swatted a two-out, two-run homer to left discipline to chop the UF lead in half at 4-2.
In the underside of the sixth, Alabama plated seven runs together with six on two swings to grab the lead at 9-4. On a full rely, Plattner hit a one-out, two-run homer over the left-field wall, then a bases-loaded wild pitch to Lebron allowed Luke Vaughn to scamper residence safely. After Lebron was plunked to reload the baggage, Brady Neal linked for a grand slam to left discipline.
Cyr bought two runs proper again for the Gators in the highest of the seventh with a two-run shot to left discipline. Stanford then drew his second stroll and moved to second on a Colton Schwarz groundout whereas Cash Strayer singled him residence with two outs to chop the UF deficit to 9-7.
With the Gators closing the hole, Alabama created separation in the house half of the seventh by plating 5 extra runs. Extending the result in 14-7, Holt drew a bases-loaded stroll and Fowler singled residence Osterhouse earlier than Neal cleared the baggage with a three-run double to proper.
Freshman southpaw Jackson Hoyt pitched a clear eighth inning for Florida.
Crimson Tide reliever Ashton Crowther (2-1) earned the win behind 3 1/3 reduction frames. He completed with two earned runs allowed on one hit and one stroll whereas fanning 4.
Florida reduction pitcher Russell Sandefer (0-1) was saddled with the loss, permitting three earned runs on one hit and two walks in one-third of an inning.
Walls was lifted after 4 1/3 frames and didn’t qualify for the choice. The sophomore right-hander allowed one run on two hits and three walks whereas putting out 4 batters.
Alabama starter Myles Upchurch additionally didn’t issue in the choice. The freshman right-hander lasted one-third of an inning and was charged with three earned runs on one hit, 4 walks and one strikeout.
NOTABLES
- The Gators at the moment are 17-7 in their final 24 SEC video games courting again to final season.
- Florida had its league-best, seven-SEC-series win streak snapped this weekend.
- Florida’s final SEC sequence loss was a sweep in opposition to No. 23 Vanderbilt from April 4-6, 2025.
- Jones swiped his team-leading tenth and eleventh baggage of the season in the fourth and sixth innings.
- Cyr launched his fourth homer of the marketing campaign in the seventh inning.
- The Gators have received 36 of their final 47 regular-season video games courting again to 2025.
- Florida is now 72-63 all-time and 25-34 on the highway in opposition to Alabama.
- The Gators are 31-11 general and 11-7 in Tuscaloosa in the sequence underneath Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan.
- Florida has received 18 of the final 24 conferences with Alabama and 25 of the final 32.
- Sunday afternoon’s official attendance was 3,753.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On not with the ability to maintain the lead regardless of having the bullpen lined up…
“Everything was set up perfectly. Obviously, it was uncharacteristic of Ernie, the way he threw today. But he’s been great for us the entire year. It’s the guys that came in after him… it just was not good, not good at all.”
On the vitality in recreation three…
“The other thing is, Liam (Peterson) comes up to me before the game and wants to give the team a speech to talk about the energy in the dugout. And I thought our energy was pretty darn good until they tied the game. And then all of a sudden, it took all of the air out of the dugout…”
ON DECK
The Gators head to Jacksonville, Fla. on Tuesday for a neutral-site showdown in opposition to in-state foe Florida State at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.
