A month ago, Florida Baseball looked lost and looked like they were destined to miss the NCAA Tournament. As we have noted multiple times here at Hail Florida Hail, it wasn't just that the Gators were losing it was that they looked outmatched against better competition and were making mistakes that would get you beat against Gardner Webb.
But after getting some momentum against two of the weaker SEC foes, Florida needed to prove this weekend their winning streak wasn't just smoke and mirrors against inferior competition.
After taking two out of three from No. 5 Arkansas, it is safe to say that the 2025 season is back on track for the Gators.
Florida Gators up to 19th in RPI
Sunday started out as the potential to just be another one of "those" games for the Gators. Billy Barlow hit and/or walked (4) as many Arkansas batters as he got out before he gave way in the second inning with the bases loaded.
Alex Philpott came in to try and clean up the mess, but he threw a wild pitch, gave up an RBI ground out, and then gave up a double and by the time the top of the 2nd was over it was 5-1 Arkansas.
But from the 3rd inning on, the bullpen for Florida settled down and didn't allow another run for the rest of the game.
This allowed Florida's hitters to start chipping away. They tied it in the 5th inning off a Brody Donay double and took the lead for good in the 6th off back-to-back doubles from Bobby Boser and Brendan Lawson.
Ty Evans homered in the 7th and Blake Cyr beat out a double play to let a run score to make it 9-5, which wound up being the final score.
We've commented during this win streak about things Florida is doing now that they weren't doing when they were 1-11 in SEC play and two key things stood out from this game:
- Hayden Yost robbed a home run that would have made it 8-6 in the 8th inning
- Jake Clemente stabilized the bullpen with three shutout innings
HAY YO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 💎@SportsCenter | #SCTop10#GoGators // SEC Network+ pic.twitter.com/BA1eELUUHz
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 27, 2025
Clemente, in particular, might be the guy we look back on as the unsung hero of this squad if Florida continues to make a run. After being a starter to begin the year, he has been moved to the bullpen, and rather than pout, he has been a workhorse.
In eight appearances out of the bullpen in April, Clemente has given up just two runs over 16 innings of work.
Florida is now 8-13 in SEC play, 30-16 overall, and 19th in RPI.