Florida junior right-hander Hurston Waldrep left the mound in the fourth inning after loading the bases with no out. The Gators’ starter’s woes were just the beginning in a disastrous inning that secured a blowout loss.
Florida allowed nine runs in a difficult fourth inning en route to a run-rule defeat.
The No. 4 Florida Gators (37-11, 15-8 SEC) fell 15-2 to the Texas A&M Aggies (27-20, 9-14 SEC) Saturday night. It was Florida’s third run-rule loss of the season, and the most runs allowed by the Gators this season.
Texas A&M left-hander Troy Wansing worked into trouble in the top of the second. He walked three-straight Florida batters to load the bases for freshman second baseman Cade Kurland. The young infielder failed to capitalize, however, and struck out to end the inning.
Waldrep nearly worked a 1-2-3 second inning, but the Southern Mississippi transfer walked consecutive batters with two outs away in the frame. Waldrep recovered to induce a weak pop up and post another zero.
The Aggies finally broke through the Gators defense in the bottom of the third. Shortstop Hunter Haas smoked a ball over the fence for a leadoff home run to open the scoring. Waldrep walked two batters in the frame, but he also struck out three to limit the damage.
Waldrep wouldn’t be able to stop the danger in the fourth. Florida’s starter hit a batter, walked another and allowed a single to load the bases with no outs. Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan turned to the bullpen and brought in redshirt sophomore Blake Purnell to get out of the jam.
Purnell failed to stop the bleeding. Hass doubled to drive in a pair, third baseman Trevor Werner brought home another with a groundout and outfielder Jordan Thompson singled to score two more.
O’Sullivan had seen enough and replaced Purnell with redshirt sophomore Nick Ficarrotta to get out of the inning. The right-hander forced a weak ground ball, but an error from Florida’s defense allowed another runner to score.
Texas A&M added another run on a sac fly, and outfielder Kasen Wells drove in another with a single. By the time Ficarrotta finally ended the inning with a groundout, the Aggies had ballooned to a 9-0 lead.
Sophomore two-way slugger Jac Caglianone got one back for the Gators and made history in the process. The Tampa native cranked his 27th homer of the season — the most in a single season in program history.
Ficarrotta settled down the game in the fifth. He walked the leadoff man but retired the next three batters in order. Sophomore Anthony Ursitti toed the rubber for Florida in the bottom of the sixth.
The right-hander couldn’t slow down Texas A&M’s torrid offense. Ursitti allowed a single and walked another batter. Second baseman Austin Bost took a pitch yard for a three-run homer. The home run gave the Aggies a 12-1 lead without an out in the sixth.
Freshman righty Yoel Tejeda Jr. — who usually starts midweek games for the Gators — relieved Ursitti after the long ball. Tejeda struggled as well, and Texas A&M added three more runs to take a 15-1 lead into the seventh.
Florida added a late consolation run in the top of the seventh, but it did little tok distract from the worst loss of the season.
UF will look to take the series in a Sunday rubber match. First pitch is scheduled for 2 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.
