Steven Rodriguez threw five pitches on Sunday.
The third pitch was an RBI single to center field, the fourth a three-run homer into the left-field bleachers, which was celebrated by Cal State Fullerton in near walk-off fashion.
On his fifth pitch, Rodriguez snapped.
He threw behind Titans left fielder Austin Kingsolver and was immediately ejected, walking toward Kingsolver with plenty to say before coach Kevin O’Sullivan pulled him away by his jersey.
“Nothing good comes out of a situation like that for either team,” O’Sullivan said. “Emotions were running high and we’ve got to show a little better poise in that situation.”
No. 1 Florida (2-1) was already in danger before the sixth-inning appearance by Rodriguez, but the four runs made an eventual 8-5 loss at the hands of No. 25 Cal State Fullerton (1-2) a reality.
After rallying from behind in the first two games of the weekend series, the Gators jumped on the Titans early on Sunday. Thanks to a wild college debut by Fullerton freshman starter Kenny Mathews, the Gators went up 3-0 in the second on three hit batters, a walk and a Daniel Pigott RBI single.
But in both the third and fifth innings, Florida had runners in scoring position with no outs but failed to extend its lead. At one point, the Gators got the leadoff man on four innings in a row but failed to capitalize.
“We did have some trouble with that early, not scoring runners,” senior right fielder Preston Tucker said. “We had a lot of lost opportunities and unfortunately that cost us the game.”
Florida went 2 for 12 on the day with runners in scoring position, including three strikeouts, a walk and a hit batter.
The troubles seeped over to defense when starter Brian Johnson departed the game after four innings.
The lefty threw 75 pitches, but was taken out for sophomore Jonathon Crawford (0-1) due to an early-season pitch-count limit. Relievers Crawford, Rodriguez and Greg Larson combined to give up eight runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings.
“[The Titans’] relief was better than our middle relief, and they took advantage of some pitching there in the middle of the game,” O’Sullivan said.
Fullerton reliever Koby Gauna (1-0) got the victory, going five innings and allowing just one run.
Sunday had two main bright spots for UF. Tucker, who went 6-for-11 on the weekend with four RBI and two homers, had three hits and is now two RBI away from tying the school record of 214 set by Brad Wilkerson.
Freshman Bobby Poyner made his collegiate debut after missing most of his senior season of high school. He pitched the final 1.2 innings of the game, giving up one hit and no runs.
Overall, O’Sullivan called the weekend a success. UF won Friday, 8-3, behind a four-run explosion in the seventh inning and rode the right arm of Austin Maddox through four innings of one-hit relief Saturday for a 5-2 decision.
But for a team billed as the nation’s best, everything will be dissected. Manufacturing runs and middle relief were questions coming into the season, and the Gators didn’t change that on Sunday.
“I know that we’re better than we played,” Pigott said. “It’s early, so we’ve got some time.”
Florida manager Kevin O’Sullivan (right) tugs the jersey of pitcher Steven Rodriguez after umpire Rob Healy ejected Rodriguez from the game for throwing behind Cal State Fullerton batter Austin Kingsolver. UF lost 8-5 on Sunday.
