JACKSONVILLE - The tying run was on second with one out and Daniel Pigott at the plate with a chance to win the game.
When Pigott lined out in the fifth inning to FSU's second baseman - who turned an unassisted double play, beating Jerico Weitzel to second base - No. 20 UF did not expect that would be its last chance to hit against the Seminoles.
But during Pigott's at-bat, rain started to come down, and the umpires delayed the game due to lightning before the teams took the field in the sixth at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The rain would only get harder, and the game ended with the Seminoles (17-8) on top 3-2 after just five innings - the minimum amount of innings before a game is official.
"I didn't know how much it was going to start raining," freshman Preston Tucker said after Pigott's fifth-inning at-bat. "I knew the umpires were going to call it for a little bit, but I had no idea it was going to be this bad."
FSU's Jack Posey cranked a 3-2 pitch deep over the left-field fence to start the fifth inning against UF pitcher Alex Panteliodis (2-3, 4.31 ERA), giving the Seminoles their margin of victory.
The blast came one inning after Tucker shot a hard-hit ground ball that FSU's third baseman couldn't handle, bringing in Buddy Munroe and Avery Barnes to tie the game at 2.
UF (18-9, 6-3 Southeastern Conference) was forced to battle back after a rough first inning by starter Stephen Locke.
With runners on first and second in the first inning, FSU's Stuart Tapley flied out to Matt den Dekker, but den Dekker's throw to get the runner attempting to tag up at third got by Weitzel, allowing the first run to score for FSU. A sacrifice fly from Jason Stidham would give the Seminoles a 2-run advantage after one inning.
The weather-shortened game didn't give the Gators much time to stage a comeback, something they were able to do in two of their three games last weekend against Alabama, but they squandered their chances to score early in the game.
"We had our opportunities, and we didn't do it, simple as that," UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan said.
Locke wouldn't allow another run, but he got in trouble again in the third inning with one out and was bailed out by reliever Greg Larson, who made the inning's second out by nailing Stephen Cardullo at home on a squeeze attempt.
Some of the 6,251 fans stayed 30 minutes after the game was delayed until it was officially called, having to leave the Baseball Grounds disappointed with the early finish.
Even FSU coach Mike Martin was upset to see the rivalry game end before a full nine innings.
"It's disappointing we were not able to play nine innings of baseball," Martin said. "This was a great venue, a great night to play baseball."
The FSU win tied the season series at 1. The Gators took the first game in Gainesville on a walk-off single by Buddy Munroe. The series will be decided on April 14 in Tallahassee.
UF will get a chance to redeem the loss tonight in Gainesville against Stetson.
