No.12 Florida baseball cruised past Kennesaw State on Friday night, defeating the Owls 9-3 to take game one of a three-game series. The Gators improved to 5-1 on the season and ride a five-game winning streak into Saturday’s contest.
Florida continued its dominance on the mound, holding Kennesaw State to just five hits while walking two batters and striking out 14 over nine innings. The Gators haven’t allowed more than three runs since Opening Night vs. UAB.
The Gators’ offense recorded 10 hits and drew seven walks while striking out just three times. Florida’s at-bats were sound all game, showcasing timely hits, elite two-strike approaches, and strong situational hitting. Florida has now scored at least six runs in every game of the 2026 season, a testament to its depth, talent, and consistency.
Liam Peterson’s bounce back
One of the major storylines in college baseball this weekend was RHP Liam Peterson. After a rocky start on opening night, Peterson needed a bounce-back performance. While Florida boasts depth across the roster, they need their most talented pitcher to look like an ace on Friday nights.
Peterson delivered and then some against Kennesaw State.
The hard-throwing right-handed pitcher carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, finishing with 12 strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Peterson allowed just one hit, two walks, and no runs across 91 pitches. He was just one strikeout shy of tying his career high.
“Really encouraging. He threw great,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Only walked two and struck out 12. He really set the tone for us.”
Consistency will be key for Peterson in 2026, but tonight’s effort was encouraging. He overcame early command struggles to retire his first 10 batters. Peterson showed why so many see him as a top prospect in the MLB Draft.
Ethan Surowiec’s breakthrough
Entering the contest hitting just .235, sophomore infielder Ethan Surowiec hadn’t yet found his signature moment in Orange and Blue—until he blasted two home runs against Kennesaw State, marking the first of his Gators’ career.
In the bottom of the second inning, Surowiec lifted one high into the air that just barley reached the berm in right field for a two-run shot.
“The first one was an up and in heater, and I honestly kind of got beat a little bit, wind was blowing so it helped me out a little bit.”
Surowiec got all of the next one, blasting his second two run home run of the contest off the batter’s eye in center field. The ball traveled 433 feet with an exit velo of 107 MPH.
My favorite at-bat of the day wasn’t a home run or an RBI—it was Ethan Surowiec’s walk in the third inning. With runners on second and third and two outs, Surowiec quickly fell behind 0-2 before fouling off four pitches, including three consecutive full-count swings, to work a walk. Senior outfielder Blake Cyr followed with an RBI single in the next at-bat.
Those are the at-bats that can win you games, and Florida has had plenty of them early in the 2026 season.
Even before the contest, Surowiec wasn’t swinging poorly, despite what his batting average might suggest.
“He’s really had some bad luck. He’s stung some balls and hit them hard,” O’Sullivan said on Surowiec.
The 6’1, 235-pound slugger is Florida’s most dangerous power hitter, thanks to his sheer strength and consistent ability to find barrels.
Final thoughts
The only real question about Florida baseball through five games was RHP Liam Peterson, who answered the call in a big way on Friday night. The Gators are playing excellent baseball, outscoring opponents 47-9 during their five-game winning streak.
Florida is throwing strikes, putting together quality at bats, and hitting for power.
With only three pitchers used on Friday night, the Gators’ bullpen is well-rested and in excellent shape for the rest of the series.
Sophomore Aidan King is set to toe the rubber in game two at 5:30 p.m.