With the Southeastern Conference title already in hand, the Gators took it easy Saturday.
But the lineup full of reserves didn’t get the message. They used a six-run seventh inning to fight back from an eight-run deficit, but it wasn’t enough as No. 4 Florida (40-13, 22-8 SEC) fell to the Gamecocks 11-6 in the final game of the regular season.
“I think we had our backs against the wall and played in front of a hostile crowd, and I think we grew up a little this weekend,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We are going to have to do that down the stretch, if we are going to get to where we want to get to.”
Freshmen standouts Nolan Fontana and Austin Maddox did not play Saturday for the first time this season. Instead, reserves Hampton Tignor, Cody Dent and Jerico Weitzel received their second, third and seventh start respectively.
“This is a team effort. Everybody has to contribute down the stretch here, and it was great to see those guys get an opportunity to play today and do something with it,” O’Sullivan said.
The lack of experience showed as No. 6 South Carolina (43-13, 21-9 SEC) exploded for six runs in the sixth to gain an 8-0 advantage.
The highlight of that inning came from center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who drilled a grand slam to right field. The sophomore contributed to six of the Gamecocks’ runs on the day – scoring two of his own.
Florida didn’t pack it in after the big inning, however.
It scored six to close the gap to two runs. The Gators fought back with six hits as 11 hitters camp up to plate in the frame.
Second baseman Josh Adams, the hero from Friday’s SEC-clinching win, was the catalyst behind the big inning. He picked up two hits, scored and drove in a run in the sixth.
“Josh was really good again today,” O’Sullivan said.
In the last two games, he has tallied six hits in nine at-bats to go along with four RBIs.
But that was the closest the Gators would get. The bullpen struggled Saturday, giving up 10 runs in seven innings of work.
UF starting pitcher Brian Johnson only pitched one inning because the freshman is scheduled to the start in the first round of the conference tournament.
That contest will come Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. against LSU (36-20, 14-16 SEC) in Hoover, Ala.
