Caden McDonald delivered one of the best individual performances in Florida baseball history Saturday night in Norman, Oklahoma, as the Gators defeated the Sooners 10–5 in Game 2 to even the series.
The two-way player went 4-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, two doubles, and six RBI, while tossing three innings of scoreless relief in the victory. The last Florida player to homer twice in a game and throw three scoreless innings? None other than Jac Caglianone against Siena in 2023.
McDonald set single-game career highs in nearly every offensive statistic to give the Gators (30-17, 12-11 SEC) their 30th win of the season including their 13th over a ranked opponent.
“This is one to remember for sure,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said postgame. “He was four for five, six RBIs, pitched three scoreless and only gave up one infield hit, four strikeouts. I mean, you just do not see that very often. Of course you go back and see an offensive performance, like Preston Tucker type stuff from way back in the day. Wyatt Langford, Jac Caglianone type of stuff. Just an unbelievable offensive performance.”
McDonald recorded exit velocities of 112 mph, 112 mph, and 115 mph during the game, while both of his home runs traveled at least 410 feet. The only time he was retired? A long flyout to center field that scared the fence.
It was a remarkable performance at the plate, but McDonald also earned the win on the mound after three scoreless innings of relief. Florida’s Saturday starter, Liam Peterson, didn’t have his best stuff, allowing four runs over 4.2 innings.
Leading 6–4 in the fifth inning, McDonald entered with two outs and the bases loaded before getting Kyle Branch to ground out to end the threat. He went on to retire his first nine batters faced, striking out four. A walk and an infield single eventually ended his outing, but not before he threw a season-high 52 pitches.
“For him to go out there in a tough situation, bases loaded, two outs, and then get a ground ball. And then another three scoreless. I can’t say enough about him,” O’Sullivan said postgame.
McDonald didn’t play his freshman year due to injury and was primarily used as a pitcher in 2025, receiving only one at-bat all season when Florida’s roster was decimated by injuries.
Through 42 games of the 2026 season, the redshirt sophomore was once again a nonfactor at the plate with just seven at-bats. In search of a much-needed spark offensively, McDonald got his chance against Texas A&M last weekend and never looked back.
The Tampa, Florida, native has homered four times in the last five games and is now hitting .393 on the season across 28 at-bats. McDonald also owns a 3.24 ERA over 33 1/3 innings pitched.
While McDonald stole the show, sophomore infielder Ethan Surowiec recorded a two-hit, two-RBI night while playing stellar defense at third base.
Florida and Oklahoma will play for the series on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.