After dropping the series to Ole Miss on Saturday in the ninth inning of the weekend closer, Florida once again sought redemption heading into the new week.
For the final time this season, the Gators had to face off against the red-hot Florida State Seminoles, this time in Tallahassee. Once again, UF threatened to surrender a lead in the ninth, as the ‘Noles looked to complete a three-run comeback.
But UF freshman pitcher Joshua Whritenour slammed the door, logging the final five outs of the ballgame to help the Gators secure their third victory this season over their in-state rivals.
Florida (25-9, 7-5 SEC) inched out No. 5 Florida State (24-8, 9-3 ACC) 4-3 Tuesday night as the Gators earned a season sweep over the Seminoles for the first time since 2023 and now sit at a perfect 8-0 against ranked foes this year.
Offense was hard to come by for both teams to start, as the teams traded zeroes in the first two innings of play, with FSU earning the only base hit during that span.
The Gators drew first blood in the top of the third. With two outs, junior outfielder Hayden Yost went yard over the right-field fence to give Florida a one-run lead. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Jones followed up with a double down the left field line, but was left stranded as sophomore infielder Ethan Surowiec flew out to right field.
But Florida saw trouble as sophomore pitcher Cooper Walls faced runners on the corners with one out. FSU junior outfielder Brayden Dowd hit an RBI single to right field to tie the game at one run apiece.
Walls surrendered a leadoff walk and fanned one ‘Nole in the fourth before being relieved for redshirt-sophomore righty Caden McDonald. Walls finished with five strikeouts and one walk while surrendering three hits. McDonald came in and battled on the mound to force a double play and end the fourth inning.
In the top of the fifth, Florida regained the lead as senior designated hitter Cole Stanford launched one deep to left field to give the Gators a 2-1 lead.
Yost reached first on a pitch clock violation and stole second and third off two wild pitches from FSU senior Gabe Nard. Jones then walked to give Florida runners on the corners with two outs.
Surowiec sent Yost home with an RBI base hit through the right side of the infield, and Jones then scored off a single straight down the right field line as the Gators reached the midpoint up 4-1.
Meanwhile, McDonald continued to deal, retiring the side of the ‘Noles order in the fifth and stranding one in the sixth with two strikeouts and a groundout.
The Gators earned runners on first and second in the seventh with two outs, as Yost was hit by a pitch and Jones walked on ball four shortly after. But Surowiec struck out to leave them stranded.
McDonald was relieved for senior Billy Barlow to start the seventh after finishing with two strikeouts and one hit with zero walks.
Florida saw trouble in the bottom of the seventh, hitting one batter and surrendering a hit to put runners on first and second. Barlow forced a flyout before being relieved for senior Ernesto Lugo-Canchola.
Lugo-Canchola came in and stranded two ‘Noles as UF freshman shortstop Kolt Myers caught a line-out to end the seventh.
Senior catcher Karson Bowen and Stanford both walked in the eighth, but Kendall popped out to second base as Florida left another two runners stranded.
Florida State pulled within one, as sophomore catcher Hunter Carns hit a two-run bomb to left field to make it a one-run ballgame. That ended Lugo-Canchola’s night, as he was relieved for junior righty Luke McNeillie.
McNeillie put runners on first and second with a walk and a single before being relieved for freshman Joshua Whritenour, who escaped the jam, fanning the next two Seminoles to leave two stranded to maintain a one-run lead for the Gators.
Myers and Jones reached first and second in the top of the ninth but were left stranded as Florida could not add insurance, still holding onto a one-run lead.
Whritenour slammed the door on the Seminoles, retiring five of the six batters he faced to secure the victory and his sixth save of his young career.
Florida is back in action this weekend against No. 4 Georgia. The series opener on Friday is set to begin at 6 p.m. 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.
