Sophomore right fielder Ty Evans came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Auburndale, Florida, product started the game on the bench but came in late with an opportunity to change the game with one swing.
Evans saw a pitch he liked and tattooed the ball into the left-field berm to give the Gators their first lead of the night. Florida retained the lead and secured a series victory against an in-state rival.
The No. 3 Florida Gators (28-6, 9-3 SEC) defeated the Florida State Seminoles (13-19, 4-11 ACC) 5-3 Tuesday night at Condron Ballpark. UF clinched a series victory with the win, and the Gators have now won 21 of their last 25 games against FSU.
“Not an easy night to hit because of the wind,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said, “but really happy for Ty to have that opportunity.”
Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Ryan Slater made his second start of the season. He made quick work of the Seminoles in the first inning. Slater retired the side in order on just six pitches.
Florida State righty Ben Barrett matched Slater with a 1-2-3 inning of his own to end the first inning.
The defensive showcase rolled into the second. Slater worked another quick 1-2-3 inning on 10 pitches. Barrett struck out a pair and retired the Gators 1-2-3 once again to keep the game scoreless after two.
UF sophomore first baseman Jac Caglianone dove to his right to snag a ground ball; he made the throw to Slater on first to start the third with another out. FSU shortstop and former Gator Jordan Carrion singled to center field to become the game’s first baserunner.
The Seminoles failed to capitalize on Carrion’s single, and Florida’s defense forced a pair of outs to post another zero. Barrett and Florida State posted a zero of their own despite giving up a walk and a single in the third.
Slater conceded a walk-off single, but the Gators turned a 4-6-3 double play to erase the hit. Junior third baseman Colby Halter shifted his feet and dove to his left to snag a ground ball. He ripped the ball across the diamond to an outstretched Caglianone, but the runner was ruled safe.
Florida challenged the play, and the umpires overturned the call to end the inning. The offense failed to capitalize, and Barrett worked another scoreless frame.
Slater returned to the mound and continued his hyper-efficient night. He finished his third 1-2-3 inning of the night to close the fifth after just 44 pitches thrown.
Barrett matched once again. He forced a pair of ground outs and a foul out to third base to retire the Gators in order and end the inning.
Carrion singled again, and he became the first player to reach second after a passed ball. Slater bounced back with a strikeout. Center fielder DeAmez Ross finally broke through for the Seminoles.
The freshman outfielder ripped a double into deep right field to score Carrion and put the visitors on the board first. Florida junior Josh Rivera committed an error to allow another baserunner, and Florida State first baseman James Tibbs III made the Gators pay.
He belted a double into left-center field to send two more runners home and give the Noles a 3-0 lead halfway through the sixth inning.
FSU replaced Barrett with lefty Andrew Armstrong in the sixth. The junior southpaw walked Florida redshirt freshman center fielder Michael Robertson to start the frame, and junior left fielder Wyatt Langford singled to shallow center.
Rivera atoned for his error with a single between third and short that allowed Robertson to score and finally get the Gators on the board. Florida stranded Langford and Rivera with a pair of fly outs to end the inning.
Freshman lefty Cade Fisher replaced Slater in the seventh inning. Slater tossed six innings in 62 pitches and allowed three runs on five hits.
“Florida State’s a really aggressive team that likes to swing on first and second bases,” Slater said. “They did that a lot and helped me out with ground balls.”
Fisher struck out Seminoles second baseman Titan Kamaka to start his day on the rubber. He forced a pair of quick ground outs to complete a quick 1-2-3 frame. UF freshman second baseman Cade Kurland walked, and Halter singled to put a pair of runners on for the Gators in the bottom of the seventh.
Junior infielder Dale Thomas pinch hit for redshirt sophomore Matt Prevesk, and he attempted to lay a sacrifice bunt and advance the runners into scoring position. Armstrong pounced on the bunt and threw out Kurland at third base.
Robertson nearly grounded into a double play, but the speedster beat the throw to first to put Langford at the plate with runners on the corners and two outs. The star outfielder walked to load the bases for Caglianone.
The lefty slugger grounded out to first base, and the Seminoles got out of the bases-loaded jam unscathed. Fisher worked another 1-2-3 inning for the Gators to give the offense another opportunity to cut into FSU’s 3-1 lead.
Rivera and freshman designated hitter Luke Heyman walked to put the tying runs on base for Kurland with one out in the eighth. The freshman infielder grounded out to third base but advanced the runners to scoring position for Halter.
Florida State right-hander Doug Kirkland — who came into the game after Heyman walked — attempted to catch Florida outfielder Richie Schiekofer — who pinch-ran for Heyman — at second base; the throw went wild, and Rivera scored from third.
Evans took his opportunity off the bench and belted a 3-run homer into left field to give the Gators their first lead of the night.
“Rivalry game, being able to hit a home run in that spot is obviously really cool,” Evan said.
Sophomore righty Brandon Neely came in to close the game with a two-run lead. Florida’s closer dropped the first two batters swinging and faced designated hitter McGwire Holbrook with a chance to end the game.
Neely dropped a pitch on the edge of the strike zone and struck out Holbrook looking to close out the series victory.
“His fastball command was as good as it’s been all year long,” O’Sullivan said. “He was outstanding tonight.”
The Gators resume conference play Friday with the start of a three-game series against the Georgia Bulldogs. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Contact Topher Adams at tadams@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @Topher_Adams.
Topher Adams is a fourth-year communications major and in his fourth semester with the Alligator. He previously covered football, baseball and women's basketball. He also enjoys professional lacrosse and Major League Soccer.
