UF shortstop Brendan Lawson continues to add to his impressive sophomore campaign. The Toronto native logged a career-high 6 RBI’s while going 3-for-5 with a three-run homer.
Lawson’s big night propelled Florida (9-1) to an 11-4 victory over FIU (6-4) Wednesday night at Condron Family Ballpark.
“[Midweeks are] interesting because you’re trying to manage your pitching staff to prepare yourself for the weekend,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “I think every game is important. I don’t devalue any midweek game at all.”
For the second-straight night, it was the Panthers who hit home first. With bases loaded and one out, junior designated hitter Aidan Cohall singled and reached on a fielder’s choice to score junior first baseman Cooper Rasmussen to make it a 1-0 game.
The Gators took the lead right back in the bottom of the frame off a couple of miscues from FIU’s defense. After sophomore outfielder Kyle Jones hit a leadoff single to center field, Panthers senior pitcher Julian Mlodzinski tried to pick off Jones at first but misfired, allowing Jones to steal second and third base.
Then, Mlodzinski was called for a balk, allowing Jones to trot to home plate to even the ballgame at 1-1 after one inning.
After senior pitcher Billy Barlow forced a scoreless second frame, Florida took its first lead in the bottom. Jones hit a sacrifice groundout to score senior catcher Cole Stanford to make it a one-run Gator lead.
Sophomore infielder Brendan Lawson followed with a two-out RBI single to center field to score Stripling and extend Florida’s advantage to 3-1.
It took FIU just one pitch from UF sophomore righty Christian Rodriguez to get within one run in the third frame, as sophomore outfielder Andrew Idelfonso homered to the left field dugout.
Rodriguez, who subbed in for Barlow in the third, hit a batter and surrendered a single right after before being promptly relieved for freshman Schuyler Sandford.
Senior outfielder Hector Candelas then hit an RBI single to left field to score sophomore outfielder Luca Reyes and even the score.
Sandford did his best to stop the bleeding, with two strikeouts and a groundout to end the Panthers’ scoring run.
“Schuyler came in, really slowed things down,” O’Sullivan said. “I thought his stuff looked really good.”
Florida retook the lead in the fourth, as freshman infielder Kolt Myers doubled down the left field line to score Stripling for the second time and make it a 4-3 ballgame.
In came another statement from Lawson, as his three-run bomb to right-center field made it a four-run advantage. It was Florida’s first long ball since senior infielder Sam Miller’s against Kennesaw State on Friday, and Lawson skied the ball with his mother in attendance.
“It felt great,” Lawson said. “I don’t get to see her often. It was awesome.”
The Panthers inched closer in the fifth, as junior shortstop Mario Trivella hit a solo bomb down the left field line to cut the Gator lead to three runs.
Sandford was then pulled in favor of senior Ernesto Lugo-Canchola, finishing his night with two strikeouts and five forced outs while surrendering two walks and a home run.
Florida made it a four-run game again in the fifth, as a sacrifice fly from Stripling sent Strayer to home plate to make it an 8-4 ballgame.
Stripling had an impressive night in just his second start of the season, going 2-for-4 with one RBI. He also made significant plays defensively with two line-out catches, one of which led to a double play.
“I think we’re in a really good spot,” Stripling said. “We have a bunch of guys that can hit home runs and a lot of guys that can put the ball in play.”
Lugo-Canchola made a statement on the mound in the seventh. With bases loaded and just one out, he fanned two consecutive Panthers to strand three runners. He was relieved for freshman Joshua Whritenour in the eighth after recording three strikeouts and three fly outs with zero outs.
“We’re getting to a point during the season where we’re trying to figure out who we can trust and who we cannot trust,” O’Sullivan said.
Despite a three-run homer by Jones being overturned as a foul ball, the Gators still plated three in the seventh. With bases loaded, Lawson singled to right field to score Myers and Stanford. Then, a passed ball allowed Jones to touch home and extend Florida’s lead to 11-4.
Whritenour stood tall on the mound to close with two scoreless frames, as the Gators held on to secure their second-straight midweek sweep of 2026.
Florida will head down to Coral Gables for a weekend test against the No. 17-ranked Miami Hurricanes. Friday’s series opener will begin at 7 p.m.
“It’s a great rivalry,” O’Sullivan said. “They’re off to a really good start. It’ll be a great measuring stick of where we are right now.”
Contact Adrian Carmona at acarmona@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @abcarmona04.
Adrian is a senior journalism major and the baseball reporter for the Spring of 2026. He previously served as the soccer reporter in the fall of 2025. He enjoys playing Sporcle quizzes and ranting about South Florida sports.
