The Gators ran out of time on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn.
No. 2 Vanderbilt (21-4, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) defeated Florida (11-14, 2-4 SEC) 5-4 in a bizarre series finale. Per SEC rules, no inning of a Sunday game can start after 4:15 p.m. EST, which cost the Gators an opportunity for their second comeback of the game.
Florida shook off its shortest outing from a starting pitcher this year with four straight runs after falling behind 2-0. UF appeared to be headed toward a series-clinching win until the wind picked up and the skies turned a shade darker. A 49-minute weather delay ensued with Florida leading 4-2 and one out in the top of the fifth. Play resumed at 3:10 p.m.
Right-hander Ryan Harris entered the game in the bottom of the fifth with runners on first and third. Mike Yastrzemski scored from third after Harris balked when his cleat got stuck on the mound mid-delivery.
Florida mustered just two singles following the rain delay. The Commodores, meanwhile, took advantage of miscues by the Gators. Harris stayed on the mound in the sixth as the rain picked up.
A wild pitch with two outs to pinch hitter Xavier Turner on a 0-2 count advanced Spencer Navin to third. Navin scored on Turner’s ground ball to Florida shortstop Casey Turgeon.
The sophomore couldn’t make the throw in time. Florida experienced trouble all weekend adjusting to the AstroTurf at Charles Hawkins Field.
Pinch hitter John Norwood plated Yastrzemski on an infield single to Turgeon for the winning run in the seventh off left-hander Daniel Gibson.
“There were a lot of things that happened in the last three innings that were uncharacteristic,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We had been playing good defense as of late. We kicked some balls, (and) that led to a couple of runs.”
The Gators staged their ill-fated comeback attempt starting in the second with a solo home run by Taylor Gushue. They added three more runs two innings later on a Justin Shafer solo home run, a Zack Powers single and a bases-loaded walk by Brady Roberson.
Freshman right-hander Eric Hanhold started for the Gators, lasting only 25 pitches. Hanhold faced six batters and walked two of them.
Throw in a hit by pitch and seven straight balls in just two-thirds of an inning and O’Sullivan had enough from Harris. Right-hander Johnny Magliozzi followed and didn’t allow an earned run in 3.2 innings.
Sunday was another missed opportunity for Florida. The Gators scored three runs in the fourth after having four at-bats with the bases loaded.
When Gibson struck out Navin to end the seventh, Florida didn’t have any more chances. Time had run out.
“It was an important game. We talked about it yesterday and this morning,” O’Sullivan said. “I thought we came out of the gates good. Obviously (we) didn’t finish it.”
A radio broadcast contributed to this report.
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
Sophomore infielder Josh Tobias attempts to get back on first base on a pickoff attempt during Florida’s 8-3 loss to FGCU on Feb. 23 at McKethan Stadium.
