After scoring eight runs in the series opener, Florida’s bats could not follow up in game two, earning just two hits.
Despite a solid outing from UF junior pitcher Liam Peterson with four strikeouts while surrendering just one run in a career-high seven innings, the Gators’ offense fell flat with two total hits in the outing.
Florida (26-10, 8-6 SEC) came up short in game two to No. 4 Georgia (29-7, 11-3 SEC) Saturday afternoon in Athens, Georgia, as the Bulldogs evened the series.
This time, Georgia drew the opening run. Junior infielder Tre Phelps led off the first inning with a triple to left field, and junior catcher Daniel Jackson scored him with a sacrifice groundout to give the Bulldogs an early one-run lead.
But Florida responded to notch the game in the third. Freshman outfielder Jacob Kendall and sophomore infielder Brendan Lawson walked, and a two-out single to center field from sophomore infielder Ethan Surowiec scored Kendall to tie the ballgame at one run apiece.
Meanwhile, Peterson continued to deal with three straight scoreless frames after the one-run first inning.
Jones walked on four balls in the top of the fifth with two outs but was left stranded as Lawson went down swinging on strikes.
UF senior catcher Karson Bowen earned a base hit in the top of the sixth with a single to right-center and proceeded to steal second on a passed ball. However, he was left stranded as junior infielder Cade Kurland struck out looking.
Peterson saw trouble in the bottom of the sixth, surrendering two straight base hits to start off. Sophomore infielder Henry Allen grounded out into a double play, and senior catcher Brennan Hundson flew out as Peterson avoided the jam.
But the Gators went down in order right after as the score remained 1-1.
Bulldogs senior infielder Ryan Black led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to center field as Georgia threatened to take the lead.
Peterson once again stranded the lead-off batter with three forced outs.
Lawson walked in the eighth and stole second, but with two outs, Bowen flew out to center field to leave him helpless at second.
Sophomore Cooper Walls took the slab for Florida to begin the bottom of the eighth, replacing Peterson.
Jackson proceeded to lead off with a double to left center, and Walls followed up by hitting his second batter to put runners on first and second.
Senior infielder Jordy Oriach gave Georgia a one-run lead with an RBI single to right field.
That ended Walls’ night, as he was then relieved for sophomore Caden McDonald.
With runners on second and third, sophomore infielder Henry Allen barreled an RBI single to left field, followed by a sacrifice flyout from Hudson to plate another.
Then, Allen scored on a wild pitch as Georgia capped off a four-run inning to take the lead after eight.
The Bulldogs’ defense held the rest of the way to clinch the Game 2 win.
The series will be decided with a rubber match Sunday, with first pitch set for noon in Athens, Georgia.
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.
