It was all East Carolina from the first pitch in the opening game of the Conway Regional as the Pirates defeated Florida 11-6 on Friday afternoon. The Gators fall into the losers bracket and will take on the loser of Coastal Carolina vs Fairfield on Saturday at noon eastern in an elimination game.
Florida pitching only allowed two runs in the final five frames, but the damage was done far before that as East Carolina scored at least two runs in the first four innings, jumping out to a quick 9-0 lead. The Gators pitching staff allowed a double digit run total for the first time since April 20th and allowed 15 hits, the third most on the 2025 season.
“I didn’t see this coming today,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said postgame. “We’ve been playing so well. We’ve won six series in a row in league, we played a really clean game against Ole Miss. This was kind of surprising to be quite honest with you. But you got to tip your cap to ECU. They played great.”
Sophomore RHP Liam Peterson struggled in his 1.1 innings pitched, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and one hit by pitch. While Peterson didn’t walk anybody, he was falling behind in the count to just about every batter, which was playing right into ECU’s small ball playing style. After an early exit from Peterson, Florida turned to Luke McNeillie, a sophomore that’s pitched really well as of late. He didn’t have his best stuff either, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks in 1.1 innings pitched. Before the third inning was over, Florida was already on their third pitcher and down 6-0.
“We didn’t get off to a good start on the mound. Simple as that,” O’Sullivan said postgame.
Despite using seven pitchers vs ECU, Florida didn’t throw anyone more than 50 pitches with four of the relievers throwing less than 30. O’Sullivan stated postgame that every pitcher who took the mound today is available for the rest of the weekend, including starting pitcher Liam Peterson who threw 48 pitches. That is perhaps the only positive takeaway from today’s game.
The real difference maker in the contest was East Carolina’s starting pitcher Ethan Norby, who fired 7.1 innings to open the regional, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out 10 Florida batters. From the first pitch of the game you could tell the Gators’ bats were uncomfortable with Norby’s extremely fast pace. It only took two pitches for O’Sullivan to jump out of the dugout to chat with home plate umpire Jeff Head about Norby’s quick pitch style. The Gators tried slowing him down by avoiding eye contact, which keeps Norby from beginning his delivery based on the new NCAA rule, but it didn’t work. Norby remained poised and in control for his entire outing.
One way to slow down a fast paced pitcher like Norby down is to get on base, which Florida did just once until the 5th inning. Norby had a no-hitter until Brendan Lawson’s solo home run in the 4th inning. The 5’9, 200 pound left hander isn’t going to overpower you, but he can locate his fastball to both sides of the plate and put you away with his wipeout slider. East Carolina also played excellent defense behind him, something Florida’s staff did not get the luxury of having with two errors on the day resulting in three unearned runs. Norby didn’t walk a single batter in his 116 pitches.
“Norby was outstanding. His pace, he controlled the game,” O’Sullivan said postgame.
Florida’s offense found more success against East Carolina’s bullpen as Bobby Boser found a barrel for a three run home run in the 9th inning, but much like the pitching staff, it was too little too late.
The Gators were outplayed in every phase of the game on Friday afternoon and now have to win four straight games to advance to the Super Regionals. This isn’t new territory for Florida baseball, however. The Gators won the Stillwater Regional last year after falling into the losers bracket, winning three straight to advance.
O’Sullivan announced postgame that freshman RHP Aidan King will start tomorrow.