Florida pulls reverse UNO card on Oklahoma to steal the series

Coming out of Friday’s loss against Oklahoma, it felt like Florida’s weekend in Norman was just going to be a rerun of the last two weeks for the Gators. Aidan King had a shut-down performance in game one, but no one else opted to provide support, and the Gators dropped game one. Then, in game two, Caden McDonald busted out with a memorable two-way performance to seemingly power Florida to a win by himself.

But it was Sunday’s game three performance that reminded everyone why Florida is one of the hardest teams in America to figure out, as the Gators pounded the Sooners into oblivion and looked like the version of the team that could make it to Omaha if everything goes right in a month.

Florida run rules Oklahoma

For four innings, it looked like the rubber match would be a tightly fought affair as both teams were locked up at 2-2. Karson Bowen and Kyle Jones both hit solo shots in the 2nd and 3rd innings, respectively. 

But in the 5th inning, Oklahoma apparently ran out of pitching as Florida put up eight runs to take a 10-2 lead. Hayden Yost, Landon Stripling, and Bowen all hit homers in the inning as the Sooners went through five pitchers in the inning.

Yost would hit a two-run homer in the 8th inning to make it 13-2, and Florida closed it out to win in run-rule fashion. Russell Sandefer went 7.0 innings on the mound and gave up just one earned run on six hits and one walk.

And so Florida now sits at 31-17 on the season and 13-11 in SEC play. More importantly, they are 12th in RPI, 2nd in strength of schedule, and 1st in the country in quad one wins with 14.

Barring a meltdown in the final two weeks of the season, which is well within the realm of possibility for this squad, the Gators should be in a position to host Regionals and could even sneak into a top-eight seed for Super Regionals if they can sweep their way to the finish line.

Florida’s next game will be Tuesday against UNF.

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