After a long and frustrating three-hour weather delay, it appeared Florida was headed for a series-opening loss to Kentucky, trailing 6–1 entering the bottom of the eighth inning.
That was until Florida plated five runs in the eighth to tie the game before winning on a Kyle Jones walk-off single in the ninth.
Florida completed just its second come-from-behind win when trailing after seven innings, improving to 33–17 (14–11 SEC) on the season.
“To be able to come back on this one when we were kind of not very good offensively for the first seven innings, it should make that locker room feel pretty darn good about themselves,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said postgame. “It was a really good win for us.”
The Two-Out Rally
Florida managed just one run through seven innings, repeatedly coming up short of a big hit with runners on base. Still, the Gators’ approach at the plate wasn’t necessarily poor, as they hit several balls hard with runners in scoring position, only for them to find Kentucky defenders.
Nonetheless, Florida couldn’t break through.
In the eighth inning, Caden McDonald led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Karson Bowen groundout to cut Kentucky’s lead to 6–2.
With nobody on and two outs, it was a Cade Kurland strikeout that sparked four more runs and tied the game. Yes, a strikeout.
Kurland struck out swinging but reached first on a wild pitch, followed by a Hayden Yost single and a Kyle Jones walk to load the bases.
Sophomore infielder Brendan Lawson stepped into the box carrying an 0-for-19 stretch over his last four-plus games. It was safe to say Lawson was due for a big hit, and he delivered.
Lawson drilled a 1–2 fastball down the left-field line, clearing the bases and advancing to third on an E7. He then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at six.
“It felt great, especially in that spot. Just anything to help my team get going there. It felt absolutely amazing,” Lawson said postgame.
It was a huge moment for Lawson and the Gators, who found all the momentum they needed to complete the comeback win.
Kyle Jones’ walk-off
In the ninth inning, senior catcher Karson Bowen smoked a one-out double to right-center field, putting the winning run in scoring position. After a Landon Stripling strikeout, Cade Kurland—who had two hits, including a towering home run—was intentionally walked.
This is where the cat-and-mouse game began. Kentucky had a left-hander on the mound with left-handed hitter Hayden Yost due up. After checking splits in the dugout, Florida opted to pinch hit freshman Colton Schwarz. Kentucky immediately responded with a right-handed pitcher, and Florida countered with freshman left-hander Jacob Kendall.
Kendall drew a gutsy two-out walk on a full-count pitch to bring redshirt sophomore outfielder Kyle Jones to the plate with the bases loaded. Jones was 0-for-4 on the night.
Jones then singled through the left side, bringing home Bowen in walk-off fashion. The celebration followed.
The hit marked the first walk off in Jones’ playing career.
“All I remember was I hit first base and there was a huge cooler full of water just splash right in my face. It was awesome. I’ve never got to experience that,” Jones said postgame.
Aidan King’s outing
It was a unique outing for Aidan King, who looked untouchable through two innings before struggling in the third and fourth. He then settled down, retiring eight straight batters before a single in the seventh ended his outing.
“I think it was one of those outings where he just gutted it out,” O’Sullivan said postgame.”
King’s final line: 6.1 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 6 K.
King did not allow a hit and held Kentucky to just one baserunner in the first, second, fifth, and sixth innings.
Kentucky began finding barrels in the third, scoring three runs in the inning before adding another in the fourth. The final run charged to King came after right-hander Schuyler Sandford entered and allowed three singles in the seventh.
“From a pitching standpoint, I thought we were competitive,” O’Sullivan added. “Maybe didn’t locate his two strike pitches as well as he maybe would have wanted to.”
You have to tip your cap to Kentucky, too. They were aggressive at the plate and took advantage of a few two-strike misses up in the zone.
Still, King gave Florida 6.1 innings on a Friday night, and the Gators were able to steal a win despite their ace not having his best stuff.
UP NEXT
Florida looks for the series over Kentucky on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.