After slow offensive production in the first two games of its weekend series against South Carolina, No. 23 Florida made a statement with its bats in the series finale.
The Gators’ offensive prowess was capped off by a grand slam in the fourth inning by freshman outfielder Cash Strayer, leading the team to a series sweep of the Gamecocks to start conference action.
Florida (18-3, 3-0 SEC) secured a 13-3 run-rule victory over South Carolina (12-9, 0-3 SEC) in the series closer Sunday afternoon at Condron Ballpark.
This time, the Gators got the bats rolling early with three runs in the opening frame. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Jones led off with a single to left field on the first pitch and proceeded to steal second. Then, sophomore shortstop Brednan Lawson and senior outfielder Blake Cyr were walked, giving Florida loaded bases with one out.
Strayer made another selfless play with a sacrifice fly ball to score Jones to get on the board first. Freshman infielder Colton Schwarz proceeded to plate Lawson and Cyr with a double down the left field line as Florida ended the first inning up 3-0.
That forced an early pitching change for the Gamecocks, as starting redshirt freshman Riley Goodman was relieved for junior Alex Valentin, who had just pitched in Friday’s series opener.
But South Carolina responded quickly to score its first runs of the weekend. With two runners on base, senior outfielder Luke Yuhasz hammered a three-run bomb to center field to tie the game at three runs apiece.
The back and forth continued in the bottom of the second. Freshman outfielder Jacob Kendall and freshman infielder Kolt Myers hit back-to-back singles, and Jones hit a sacrifice fly to score Kendall.
Then, Lawson blasted his tenth home run of the season to right field to plate himself and Myers to make it a three-run ballgame again.
Florida had a chance to extend its lead in the third after UF sophomore Cooper Walls blanked the Gamecocks in order. But after a two-out double down left field from senior catcher Cole Stanford, Kendall grounded out to leave him stranded at second.
The Gators blew the door open in the bottom of the fourth. Jones doubled to right-center, and Lawson was intentionally walked. Sophomore infielder Ethan Surowiec then singled to give Florida loaded bases with one out.
Cyr was then walked, allowing Jones to trot home to make it a four-run game.
But Strayer came in right after with a statement. After having enough of the sacrifice fly outs, the freshman launched his first career grand slam into right field to make it an 11-3 advantage.
Walls surrendered three hits in the fifth to give South Carolina loaded bases with one out, as he was promptly relieved for junior Luke McNeillie. Walls was up-and-down in the afternoon, surrendering seven hits and three runs while logging five strikeouts and eight forced outs.
McNeillie answered the call, retiring the next two Gamecocks to leave the bags stranded.
The Gators rewarded McNeillie with a two-run fifth frame. Kendall was walked, and Lawson singled up the middle to send Kendall to third. Then, Surowiec hit a 2 RBI double down the right field line to make it a 13-3 ballgame after five.
McNeillie recorded the final six outs as Florida secured the run-rule victory to take home a series sweep to kick off SEC play.
The Gators are back in action Tuesday for a midweek matchup against the Stetson Hatters. First pitch is set for 6:30 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.
