After falling flat in the opening game of regional play on May 30, the Florida baseball team reminded its opponents just how dangerous it is with an explosive performance in an elimination game the following afternoon.
However, the Gators couldn’t overcome East Carolina in either of their two meetings. The Pirates ended the Gators’ season after just three games in the Conway Regional. Florida lost 11-6 May 30 and 11-4 June 1, ending its season.
“I didn't see this coming,” said Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. “We had been playing so well.”
Florida lost its opening game to East Carolina in a contest that highlighted its struggles both in the box and on the mound.
East Carolina sophomore left-handed pitcher Ethan Norby dominated over his 7.1 innings of work May 30, commanding the mound with rhythmic urgency. Norby relentlessly attacked the zone and stayed in a mechanical groove, finishing with 10 strikeouts, no walks and a 67% strike percentage.
The Gators failed to get their bats going enough to gain momentum, logging only four runs on nine hits. Five of Florida’s hits came at the courtesy of its first three batters in the lineup: senior Bobby Boser, freshman Brendan Lawson and senior Ty Evans.
As UF’s ace, sophomore right-hander Liam Peterson earned the nod against ECU. Despite leading the Gators in wins and strikeouts, the Florida native tossed only one strikeout before he was pulled with one out in the top of the second inning.
Peterson struggled with his command and only delivered a first pitch strike to two of the 11 batters he faced, forcing him to throw within the strike zone to catch up in counts. As a result, Peterson surrendered five hits in just 1.1 innings and left the contest after surrendering three straight singles to begin the second inning.
Florida’s bullpen failed to recoup after the sophomore’s rough start and surrendered seven runs across 7.2 innings. Sophomore right-hander Luke McNeillie recorded four outs and surrendered two runs, freshman right-hander Blaine Rowland allowed three runs in 1.1 innings, and freshmen Caden McDonald and Christian Rodriguez each gave up a run.
With the Gators’ first three pitchers struggling and the defense’s two errors, Florida trailed 9-0 after four innings and never recovered. Bobby Boser’s three-run home run in the ninth inning might have lessened the blow in the box score, but the Gators ultimately lost 11-6.
Heading into the loser’s bracket, Florida’s hitters appeared to play with a greater sense of urgency the following game. The Gators scored eight runs in the eighth inning alone, providing quality at-bats and hits with runners in scoring position for a majority of the game.
Florida’s lineup recorded 16 hits and blew through eight Fairfield pitchers in nine innings. Freshman first baseman Brendan Lawson led the charge, finishing 5-7 with three RBI and three runs. Junior left fielder Blake Cyr added four RBI and a solo home run.
“We were in a very similar situation last year,” O’Sullivan said. “The first thing that has to happen is you have to be able to score a bunch of runs, and Blake had a great game offensively.”
With multiple third-year star players injured for Florida, including catcher Luke Heyman, shortstop Colby Shelton and second baseman Cade Kurland, other players were forced to carry a heavier load in the lineup and move around the diamond.
Boser moved from third base to shortstop in the absence of Shelton and was red hot offensively, finishing 3-6 against Fairfield with three runs and three RBI.
Brody Donay also picked up some slack in the elimination game, starting at catcher in place of Heyman. The Virginia Tech transfer crushed a two-run home run, scored twice and drove in three runs.
The tale of the Conway Regional for the Gators could be summarized in two words: pitching struggles. For Florida, game one against ECU was almost as bad as things could go. The Gators used seven pitchers, who tossed 207 pitches across nine innings.
The lone bright spot over the weekend was UF freshman Aidan King’s performance against Fairfield. King was nearly flawless, tossing seven strikeouts and surrendering one run and four hits over eight innings in his first NCAA Tournament appearance.
King never appeared to fatigue. In fact, the right-hander progressively got better and punched out five batters in his final three innings of work.
However, the Gators’ postseason hopes crumbled in a deflating start from junior left-hander Pierce Coppola June 1. Of the 14 batters the 6-foot-8 lefty faced, only three saw a first pitch strike. Coppola threw fewer than 45% of his pitches for strikes and lasted only two innings, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks.
In similar fashion to its first game against the Pirates, Florida’s bullpen failed to recover and gave up eight runs in the final seven innings.
Junior right-hander Billy Barlow failed to record an out and surrendered two runs. Sophomore right-hander Jake Clemente followed, giving up four more runs on four hits.
Despite a late-inning spark from Florida’s offense, the deficit was too much to overcome, and the Gators lost 11-4.
“We’ll get back to Gainesville, have our exit meetings and prepare for next year,” O’Sullivan said.
In a season full of highs and lows and characterized by the volatility of Florida’s pitching staff, the Gators’ elimination marks the first time UF has failed to make it to Omaha since the 2022 season.
Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.com and follow him on X at @CuranAhern.
Curan is the men's tennis beat reporter and a second-year journalism sports & media major. He enjoys spending his free time with pets, at the beach and fishing.
