Florida baseball appeared to be in control, holding a 4-0 lead entering the eighth inning before the wheels fell off. Rider erupted for six runs in the top of the eighth to take a 6-4 lead.
The Gators responded in the bottom half with two home runs, including a go-ahead two-run blast from redshirt junior Cade Kurland that gave Florida a 7-6 advantage.
After Rider’s Matt Leahy hit his first home run of the season in the ninth inning to tie the game, sophomore shortstop Brendan Lawson ended it with a walk-off home run to right-center field.
“I just told Blake Cyr before that I was going to get on, and you’re going to end the game. But I was just looking for something center cut, 2-1 count, just trying to hit it up the middle and I got it,” Lawson said postgame.
Florida’s 8-7 victory sends the Gators into the winner’s bracket, where they will face the winner of Miami vs. Troy on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.
Pitching Russell Sandefer paid off
The Gators opted to start their usual Game 3/Sunday starter, Russell Sandefer, in the Regional opener—a decision that ultimately paid off, even if it didn’t unfold exactly as planned.
Sandefer turned in 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out five. The junior was in complete control through the first five innings before losing a step in the sixth.
“I thought he was really good,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said postgame. “Obviously, it was hot and it was probably as humid a day as we’ve had. So, I thought he was really good. I thought he ran out of gas.”
What could get lost amid the chaos of Florida’s dramatic win is that the Gators advanced without using SEC Pitcher of the Year Aidan King. Florida will hand the ball to King in Saturday’s winner’s bracket matchup regardless of the opponent, giving the Gators a prime opportunity to start the Regional 2-0—a significant advantage in the double-elimination format.
Eighth inning collapse
The eighth inning was a perfect storm of shaky command, untimely defensive lapses, and a Rider team playing with nothing to lose. The Broncs scored six runs on three hits, three walks, and two home runs to erase Florida’s four-run lead.
Left-hander Ernesto Lugo-Canchola entered after Caden McDonald’s departure but struggled to find the strike zone, walking two of the three batters he faced.
With two runners on and Florida clinging to a 4-0 lead, the Gators turned to their top bullpen arm, Jackson Barberi. The right-hander walked the first batter he faced before surrendering a grand slam to Rider center fielder Anthony Paskell.
Florida then went to Joshua Whritenour, who allowed a double and a go-ahead home run before finally ending the nightmare inning with a strikeout.
“I just got done talking to Ernie and Jackson and Josh, just for a brief five minutes. I told them they have to put it behind them,” O’Sullivan said. “I know they’re all disappointed in their performance today, but they’re all available tomorrow and they’ve all had success. I certainly did not want to bring that up in front of the group because I didn’t want to take away from the good things that happened throughout the game.”
Within all the chaos, Florida third baseman Ethan Surowiec had a tailor-made double-play ball hit right to him, but his throw to second base pulled Cade Kurland off the bag and prevented the Gators from turning two. Florida still recorded one out on the play, but it was a missed opportunity that could have helped keep Rider off the scoreboard in the eighth inning. Instead, the Broncs plated six.
Florida didn’t hang its head, however, responding almost immediately to retake the lead before ultimately winning it in the ninth inning.
“I’m just proud of the way we hung in there,” O’Sullivan added. “Like I said, Ernie’s been so good for us this year, Jackson’s been really good. His delivery looked a little slower. He’s pitching uphill, he didn’t quite look himself today. And then Josh, has just got to bounce back from his outing from Saturday against Georgia. It’s over with, and that’s part of pitching. If you want to pitch at the end of the game, that’s part of it. He’s got to put it
behind him.”
Power surge continues
Florida’s recent power surge continued against Rider as the Gators launched five home runs, including three in the eighth and ninth innings while either trailing or tied.
Kyle Jones got the scoring started with a leadoff home run on the first pitch he saw, while Landon Stripling added a solo shot in the sixth inning.
Trailing 6-4 in the eighth, Caden McDonald led off the bottom half with a home run before Cade Kurland delivered a go-ahead two-run blast later in the inning.
Brendan Lawson provided the biggest swing of the night, crushing a walk-off home run in the ninth inning for his team-leading 17th homer of the season.
It wasn’t Florida’s sharpest offensive performance, but the Gators delivered enough game-changing swings to overcome their late-inning collapse and secure the victory.
Final thoughts
It certainly wasn’t the way Florida envisioned opening the Gainesville Regional. The Gators were forced to use four of their top bullpen arms, turning to Caden McDonald, Ernesto Lugo-Canchola, Jackson Barberi, and Josh Whritenour.
The good news for Florida is that none of the four threw more than 27 pitches, which means all could be available as soon as Saturday. Barberi used just 11 pitches.
Despite the chaotic path to get there, Florida secured the win and will have SEC Pitcher of the Year Aidan King on the mound in Saturday’s winner’s bracket matchup.