No.3 Florida (30-7, 11-4 SEC) continued their weekend success by defeating the Bulldogs in two of three games, improving to 9-0 in weekend series this season including 13-0 dating back to 2022.
Gator Country provides three takeaways from the Gators’ series win over Georgia.
FLORIDA’S RESILENCY
On Friday night, the Gators blew a six-run lead with two innings to play. Georgia scored seven runs in the ninth inning, leading the Bulldogs to a 13-11 victory in the series opener.
“The bottom line is, it’s disappointing, but we cannot let this leak into them all. Simple as that,” Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan said after Friday night’s loss. “We got beat pretty good against Auburn on opening night and we came back and won the series. It’s just that simple.”
It has been just that simple for the Florida Gators baseball team in 2023. The Gators would come back to win the next two games to take the series over Georgia, improving to 2-0 in series where they lose the opener and 3-0 in rubber matches.
After 24 combined runs on Friday night, Florida edged out a 2-1 victory on Saturday night.
“Pleased with how we responded because this is not exactly how you drew it up,” O’Sullivan said after Saturday’s win. “Obviously, after last night it was just so difficult, but they hung in there. We played really good defense as well.”
Florida took game three 11-6.
“I thought we responded really well,” O’Sullivan said after Sunday’s win series clinching win. “Different type of ballgame yesterday obviously, and a different one today. We lost a tough one on Friday. You kind of hang your head and let it leak into Saturday, that type of thing.”
GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD?
Jac Caglianone hit his 20th and 21st home runs of the season on Sunday afternoon, extending his lead atop the nation’s home run leader board. Caglianone became the 20th Gator to hit 20 home runs in a single season and the fastest-ever Florida player to do so. Caglianone accomplished the feat in 37 games, breaking Jud Fabian’s record of 49 games. He is the only Gator to ever reach 20 homers in the month of April.
Caglianone totaled four hits, five runs, seven RBIs, and long balls this weekend.
Not only did the Gators’ two-way player excel at the plate, but he tossed five solid innings during his Sunday start, earning the victory in the process. Caglianone (4-1, 4.74 ERA) finished with five innings pitched, allowing two runs, four hits, and two walks while striking out four. This outing was much needed for Caglianone’s confidence, as he has struggled mightily on the mound over the last month.
If Caglianone can continue to make progress on the mound, he’s going to give himself a great shot at taking home the Golden Spikes Award.
FIRST BASEMAN LUKE HEYMAN
Freshman Luke Heyman started all three games this weekend, with Saturday and Sunday’s start coming at first base.
The plan was to find a way for Jac Caglianone to get off his feet before his Sunday start, so Kevin O’Sullivan needed to find someone to play first base while Caglianone DHs. The staff decided on Heyman, who impressed defensively in his short time at first base.
“We spoke about that last night,” O’Sullivan said after Saturday’s game. “I didn’t really make a decision on it, honestly, until I got to the ballpark and talked to the staff. We felt like he would be able to handle it. He had more chances tonight than I thought he would because they only have three left-handed hitters in the lineup, but there were a couple of balls of right-handed bats that kind of had a weird, odd spin. He played good tonight. He played good at first.”
With Caglianone’s success on the mound and at the dish today, Heyman’s experiment at first base may become more of a permanent situation. Afterall, if you are hitting the baseball, Florida’s staff is going to find a spot for you in the field.