Florida sophomore right-handed pitcher Aidan King set the tone for the Gator defense in his first start of the 2026 season.
The sophomore earned the win with six scoreless innings while adding four strikeouts. He surrendered zero walks as well and forced seven groundouts and flyouts before being relieved in the seventh frame.
But it was the offensive output that propelled No. 13 Florida (1-1) to an 11-1 run-rule victory over UAB (1-1) in game two of the weekend series Saturday at Condron Family Ballpark.
After another leadoff double from sophomore center fielder Kyle Jones in the bottom of the first frame, junior second baseman Cade Kurland followed up with a two-run bomb to make it a 2-0 ballgame.
Junior catcher Karson Bowen then doubled to right-center field. Sophomore Ole Miss transfer Ethan Surowiec then hit a ground-rule double to score Bowen.
Another two-run bomb followed, this time from senior infielder Blake Cyr. A pair of Florida freshmen, right fielder Cash Strayer and third baseman Kolt Myers, earned their first career hits in their first career at-bats soon after.
Jones’ second hit scored Strayer, and Kurland singled to score Jones and Myers. Bowen ended Florida’s scoring run with a single to right field to send Lawson home, and the Gators ended the first inning with nine runs after scoring seven total Friday night.
In the bottom of the second, Cyr went yard for the second time over the left field beam to make it a 10-0 contest.
UAB starting pitcher Braxton Shelton was pulled in the third after surrendering another Jones leadoff double and a walk for Lawson. He finished with one strikeout, a walk and 10 runs allowed before freshman Christian Helmers took his spot.
Helmers put up a valiant effort in his collegiate debut, striking out five Gators in four innings of play.
Another pitcher debut showed in the seventh with UF freshman Schuyler Sandford. After replacing King in the final inning, he struck out two Blazers and forced a flyout to secure the victory.
The Gators tacked on another run in the fifth. Kurland singled and reached second on a throwing error from junior third baseman Alex Dupuy. Bowen rewarded him with an RBI double right after to make it an 11-0 advantage.
The series will conclude with the second outing of the doubleheader at approximately 4:35 p.m.
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.
