The Florida Gators took two-of-three from Alabama this weekend to win their sixth straight series and improve to 37-19 (15-15 in conference play).
Saturday was Senior Day at the Swamp, and they sent their seniors off with a win. Senior position players Bobby Boser (2-for-4) and Ty Evans (2-for-5) both knocked home runs and had multiple-hit days in their final regular-season game at the University of Florida to contribute to their 9-3 win over the Crimson Tide to clinch the series win.
Brody Donay was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Brendan Lawson was 1-for-5.
Freshman Aidan King was on the mound for the Gators, and once again, he was untouchable. He gave up just one earned run, walked two, and struck out eight over the course of 6 1/3 innings. With that, he has now given up just two earned runs in 20 2/3 innings in his last four starts.
After upsetting Alabama to take the series win, Florida finishes the season at .500 in SEC play (15-15) after a 1-11 start. They are now the first SEC team to reach the NCAA tournament after starting conference play 2-10 or worse since 1993.
Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan told his team to enjoy ending the season the way they did, reflect on their resiliency, but to realize their jobs are not done yet. “Just to be 1-11 and end up at 15 wins in the league, no one’s ever done that since the league expanded, since ’92,” said Sullivan. “But obviously our job is not finished…”
Florida Baseball gets ready for SEC Tournament
For the No. 10 Florida Gators, it’s now on to the SEC Tournament. The Gators will face No. 15 South Carolina in the first round on Tuesday in Hoover, Alabama. The Gators swept South Carolina earlier in May (9-5 game 1, 22-3 game 2, 8-0 game 3) in a conference series on the road.
Liam Peterson got the start for Florida in Game one. But that game lasted just nine minutes before being suspended due to rain. Caden McDonald was the pitcher who came away with that game one victory.
Luke Heyman and Ty Evans were the big producers for the Gators that night, both hitting home runs and going 2-for-4 on the night. Heyman had two RBIs and a run scored, Evans had four RBIs and a run scored.
In their game two 22-3 win, it was Aidan King who got the start. He gave up just three hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out two. His day was cut short due to weather, and when the game resumed, it was Peterson who trotted back out. He was credited with the win after 3 1/3 innings. He gave up three runs on three hits, walked four, and struck out two.
Jake Clemente was strong in his game two outing, striking out four over two innings.
Brendan Lawson and Heyman both hit home runs in game two; Bobby Boser, Blake Cyr, and Ty Evans had doubles.
In game three the Gators blanked the Gamecocks 8-0 in their final regular season meet-up. Pierce Coppola, Jackson Barberi (win), and Christian Rodriguez combined to throw that shutout.
Offensively, Evans, Donay, and Hayden Yost homered and Ashton Wilson doubled.
The Gators will look to take their current momentum against South Carolina and implement it on Tuesday in the first round of the SEC Championship tournament.
The SEC tournament is single-elimination format, so the Gators will need to beat the Gamecocks for the fourth time this month to advance and live to see another game.
First pitch for game one on Tuesday is set for 5:30PM ET. It will be broadcast live on the SEC Network.