A classic Friday night SEC pitching duel ended with the Florida Gators outlasting the South Carolina Gamecocks 1–0 in 10 innings to claim Game 1. With the bases loaded in a scoreless game, freshman outfielder Cash Strayer delivered a walk-off sac fly to shallow center field, scoring Kyle Jones from third.
Florida’s pitching staff held the Gamecocks to just one hit, marking the first one-hitter since Brandon Sproat’s complete game vs. Alabama in 2023, which was also an SEC opener.
The Gators were no-hit until two outs in the ninth inning and finished with just two hits, but still walked away with the win. Florida improved to 16–3 (1–0 SEC) on the 2026 season.
Peterson dominant again for Florida
Winning this game was important for the Gators, especially after a dominant outing from Liam Peterson. It was the kind of performance you just don’t want to waste: 6.0 innings, no runs, one hit, 2 walks, and ten strikeouts.
“That’s the sharpest he’s looked, for me, in his career here,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said postgame. “I know he only gave up one hit and his line looks great obviously, but his stuff was crisp from the first pitch till the end. His breaking ball seems to be getting sharper and sharper.”
While his electric fastball and slider are well known, Peterson also had his curveball and changeup working, taking the 6-foot-5 right-hander’s arsenal to another level.
Both of Peterson’s walks came in the sixth inning with two outs, but he earned the chance to finish the frame and did so by striking out Will Craddock, the three-hole hitter for South Carolina Gamecocks baseball. It proved to be a defining moment in the game.
“I didn’t think his stuff dropped off,” O’Sullivan said on leaving Peterson in. “He earned the opportunity to get out of that situation.”
After O’Sullivan challenged his starters to go six innings last week, Peterson responded with his first 6-plus inning outing of 2026. There aren’t many pitchers pitching as well as Peterson right now. Over his last four starts, he has allowed just four runs while striking out 41 batters in 22 innings.
Cash Strayer delivers
On a night when Florida’s bats were mostly silent, freshman outfielder Cash Strayer delivered in the biggest moment of the game. Down 0–2 in the count, he fouled off five consecutive pitches in a nine-pitch at-bat before sending a fly ball to center field that scored Kyle Jones for a walk-off sac fly.
“What an unbelievable at bat to hang in there,” O’Sullivan said postgame.
“He had a great AB. He was just missing everything. I don’t know what pitches he threw, but it seemed like he threw the whole kitchen sink at him, and he was just fouling it, fouling it, fouling it, and then to finally get that pitch. It was huge,” Liam Peterson said on Strayer’s at bat.
Colton Schwarz makes play of the game
Florida’s defense struggled again, committing three errors, but freshman second baseman Colton Schwarz made an incredible stop with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth.
South Carolina’s third baseman Dawson Harman hit a screamer up the middle, and Colton Schwarz fielded a tough hop and flipped to second for the third out. The ball was hit 108 MPH off the bat.
“The play Schwarz made up the middle was a game saver, honestly. That ball was firmed up, hit hard, and he stayed with it,” O’Sullivan said. “If he doesn’t make that play, I’m not quite sure I’m sitting here telling you guys we won the game.”
Schwarz entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 7th inning.
Someone has to step up at the plate behind Brendan Lawson
Sophomore infielder Brendan Lawson is off to a strong start in 2026, hitting .414 with a team-leading nine home runs—so good that opposing teams are already avoiding pitching to him.
Lawson has already walked 22 times and been hit by seven pitches through 19 games. Tonight, he went 0-for-1 with three walks and a hit by pitch. His lone out came on a rocket to left-center field that likely would have been a home run if not for the swirling wind.
The Gamecocks purposely avoided giving Brendan Lawson anything to hit in multiple at-bats tonight, including issuing an intentional walk in the ninth inning.
This trend will continue in SEC play unless someone steps up behind Brendan Lawson as a serious threat. Florida has the talent—they just need to show it.
Florida looks to secure the series win on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.