After taking the series opener on Thursday, Florida (29-26, 14-15 Southeastern Conference) lost 3-1 to Georgia (20-32, 6-20 SEC) to even the series on Friday.
“You’re not going to win many games scoring one run,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.
The Gators got their one run early in the game.
Right fielder Justin Shafer walked to lead off the second inning and advanced to second on a groundout from first baseman Vickash Ramjit. Third baseman Josh Tobias drove a ground-rule double to center field to bring Shafer home.
Center fielder Harrison Bader drew a walk to put two runners on with two outs, but left fielder Christian Dicks, making his first start since March 26, grounded out to end the inning.
Florida had another chance for a rally in the fourth inning. Shafer singled to lead off the inning, and designated hitter Zack Powers dropped down a bunt. Shafer ran into Georgia second baseman Daniel Nichols and was called out for interference. Ramjit came up next and grounded into an inning-ending double play.
“Who knows what happens if he doesn’t collide with the second baseman?” O’Sullivan said. “Possibly have first and second, nobody out that inning. Instead, you got one out with a runner on first.”
Despite the Gators’ struggles on offense, sophomore starter Bobby Poyner kept them in the game.
The left-hander allowed only two hits in 5.1 innings of work, and all three runs credited to him were unearned. From the second to fifth inning, Poyner retired 10 straight Bulldogs.
“I thought Bobby pitched really well for the first five innings,” O’Sullivan said.
But in the sixth inning, Florida’s defense fell apart.
After Poyner walked leadoff hitter Heath Holder, Poyner misplayed a ball bunted to him by center fielder DJ Smith.
Poyner recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt but left the game after an error by shortstop Richie Martin.
Redshirt freshman Aaron Rhodes replaced Poyner and surrendered a run on a single from left fielder Hunter Cole. Rhodes got the second out of the inning, but O’Sullivan brought in southpaw Danny Young to face the left-handed Nichols. Nichols singled, bringing in the third run of the inning.
The Gators could not recover from the two-run deficit, stranding runners on base in the seventh and eighth innings before going down in order in the ninth.
Florida finishes the series with the rubber game Saturday at 2 p.m.
“We got to put this one behind us,” O’Sullivan said. “We need to make some adjustments swinging the bat.”
A radio broadcast contributed to this report.
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Josh Tobias throws the ball to first base during Florida’s 9-8 win against N.C. State in Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regional on June 10 at McKethan Stadium. Against Georgia on Friday, Tobias notched Florida's only RBI of the match on a ground-rule double.
