In the top of the 10th inning, with the score tied 7-7, UAB junior centerfielder Kevin Hall Jr. reached on a wild pitch from UF sophomore righty Jackson Barberi, scoring junior right fielder Andrew Hunt.
Then, junior third baseman Alex Dupuy followed with a sacrifice groundout to score freshman catcher Austin Pierzynski to make it a 9-7 ballgame.
Florida (0-1) could not climb back as the UAB Blazers (1-0) defeated the Gators 9-7 at Condron Family Ballpark Friday. UF suffered just its second season-opening loss since 2014.
“We have some things to clean up,” said associate head coach Tom Slater, who filled in as manager in place of the suspended Kevin O’Sullivan. “I told them [the team] ‘It sucks to lose on opening night. It sucks to lose anytime.’”
Junior pitcher Liam Peterson started on the mound for the Gators but struggled, surrendering five runs in his three innings of play. He finished with five walks and three strikeouts before he was relieved for Notre Dame senior transfer Ricky Reeth in the fourth.
Reeth, a southpaw, recorded two strikeouts in 3.2 innings in his first appearance with Florida.
“It felt good,” Reeth said. “I was really happy the coaches trusted me to put me in first Friday.”
Meanwhile, UAB junior righty Mason Steele finished with five strikeouts and a walk while surrendering three runs. He was subbed for sophomore Brendan Conner in the sixth.
The Blazers started the scoring in the first frame. A sacrifice fly from sophomore outfielder Landon Beaver allowed Hall Jr. to score to make it a quick 1-0 advantage.
UAB extended its lead to two runs after Florida junior first baseman Landon Stripling dropped a fly ball, which allowed Dupuy to score.
But Florida promptly responded in the bottom with a two-run inning to even the score. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Jones led off with a double, sophomore shortstop Brendan Lawson singled, and an error from UAB second baseman Alex Cheeseman allowed Jones to score the Gators’ first run of 2026.
Senior catcher Karson Bowen followed up with a single to left field. Lawson advanced to third, and a fielding error from Blazer sophomore left fielder JP Head paved the way for Lawson to hit home plate to make it a 2-2 contest.
“It’s just one game,” Lawson said. “We’re gonna bounce back.”
The Blazers added three runs in the third. With bases loaded, Cheeseman singled to right-center field to score Head and Dupuy. Junior designated hitter Brady Waugh grounded out but drove in Beaver to make it a 5-2 advantage.
Florida added a run in the third to cut the deficit to 5-3. Junior second baseman Cade Kurland singled up the middle to send Lawson to third. Bowen hit a sacrifice fly-out to score Lawson for the second time. But Kurland was caught stealing at second base to end the third frame.
With runners on first and third, Reeth started his Gator career by stranding two Blazers in the fourth, providing a spark for the Gator defense.
With offenses stalling heading into the seventh frame, Florida needed a spark. The Gator defense started with a double-play and ground out to start the frame.
Sophomore third baseman Ethan Surowiec was hit by a pitch, sending him to first. Senior left fielder Blake Cyr followed up with a double down left field, and Stripling singled to send Surowiec home.
With bases loaded, Jones and Lawson each singled to send Cyr and Kendall home to give the Gators a 7-5 lead heading into the eighth.
But the Blazers responded. Hall Jr. singled to right field to score Waugh and senior first baseman Wesley Helms to tie the ballgame at seven apiece. UCF transfer Russel Sandefer, who replaced Reeth in the eighth, was relieved due to an apparent injury, as sophomore righty Jackson Barberi took his place.
Barberi performed valiantly in relief, recording four strikeouts. But it was not enough as UAB’s two-run tenth inning secured the victory.
“We’re a good baseball team,” Slater said. “I believe in them.”
The series will conclude on Saturday due to weather concerns on Sunday. The double-header will begin with game two starting at 2 p.m. Game three will be played approximately 50 minutes after the conclusion of game two.
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.
