UF first baseman Jordan Butler dug into the batter's box with two on and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning.
On a 2-0 pitch from South Carolina pitcher Wesley Sweatt, Butler connected.
The ball sailed high over the right-field wall, scoring three and giving the Gators a 6-4 victory in walk-off fashion. The win clinched the series over South Carolina at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.
Butler went 4 for 5 on the day, hitting two home runs and collecting four RBIs.
"He went 2-0 on me, and I was sitting on one pitch," Butler said after the game. "He threw it right where I needed it…I knew it was gone, I destroyed it."
The sophomore only had 23 plate appearances coming into Saturday's game, but coach Kevin O'Sullivan switched things up with Nelson Maldonado's sore shoulder keeping him sidelined and Wil Dalton having problems at the plate.
"I've struggled quite a bit when it comes to (Butler)," O'Sullivan said. "We just haven't had a place to find him in the lineup, especially with the lack of left handers in the bullpen."
South Carolina (21-15, 4-11 SEC) landed on the board first in the top of the second when left fielder Brady Allen blasted an offering from UF starter Tyler Dyson into the left-field bleachers to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
Dyson pitched 4.2 innings, giving up four earned runs off five hits. His command was better on Saturday as he only allowed one walk.
Florida (24-14, 6-9 SEC) answered in the bottom half of the second. Butler tied the game with his first career home run almost to the same spot Allen did.
The game was tied at two until the Gamecocks scored a couple in the top of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.
South Carolina second baseman Noah Campbell scored from third on a fielder's choice. Then right fielder Jacob Olson singled through the left side, allowing center fielder TJ Hopkins to come around and score.
Dyson’s day concluded in favor of freshman reliever David Luethje after the junior allowed the two-run inning.
Luethje kept UF close throughout the second half of the game. He pitched 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three.
"Obviously I didn't have my best stuff, but David Luethje really picked me up," Dyson said. "That's a hell of a job by that kid…I'm so happy for him."
The Gators cut the lead to one in the bottom of the seventh when shortstop Brady McConnell singled to left field, scoring second baseman Jacob Young.
UF had another opportunity later in the inning when right fielder Kendrick Calilao stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs.
The freshman couldn't deliver, lining out to shortstop to end the seventh.
The Gators left two more runners stranded in the eighth and chances of victory looked bleak until they drew two-straight two-out walks in the ninth to setup Butler's walk-off homer.
"There was a sense of urgency in our dugout tonight," O'Sullivan said. "I thought guys were into it, and I thought the energy level was really good…Hopefully this is something we can build upon."
Follow Evan Lepak on Twitter @evanmplepak and contact him at elepak@alligator.org.
Jordan Butler hit a three-run walk-off home run to give the Gators a 6-4 victory over South Carolina Saturday at McKethan Stadium .
