Florida splits doubleheader with Alabama, wins series
GAINESVILLE – The Florida Gators won their opening SEC series on Thursday and Friday, taking two games from the No. 24 Crimson Tide, moving the Gators to 18-4 on the season.
After an outstanding complete game shutout from Brandon Sproat on Thursday, the Gators took the first game of Friday’s doubleheader on a walk-off single from Josh Rivera.
Starting pitcher Jac Caglianone quickly found himself in trouble, giving up four runs in the first two innings of his start. Caglianone also struggled at the plate going 0/8 with an intentional walk between the two games on Friday.
Despite the early deficit, Florida clawed its way back into the game, with three runs of their own after a BT Riopelle bomb in the bottom of the first, scoring Rivera and freshman second baseman Cade Kurland.
After some back and forth in the middle and late innings, the Gators had their work cut out for them heading into the bottom of the ninth, down a run with three outs left.
The upper half of the lineup continued to carry the Gators through the game, as Michael Robertson, Kurland, Rivera and Riopelle were responsible for seven of eight of the runs batted in, the only outlier coming from Gators’ veteran Colby Halter on a solo shot in the ninth.
Josh Rivera emerges as SEC play kicks off
Rivera had an outstanding weekend at the plate as the Avon Park native went 7/12 over the first SEC series of the season, including a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. The veteran continues to be a leader for the Gators, as he’s retooled his mindset and approach to the team.
Things are working for Rivera eclipsed his single-season home-run record only 22 games into the season, hitting his 10th bomb in the second game of the day and also sealing the series for Florida.
“I just wanted to put the ball in play,” Rivera said of his game-winning single. “We had less than two outs and runners on first and third. I knew it was a big-time deal for me, to put the ball in play and make them make a play.”
“I did a little swinging bunt, and not everyone is prepared for that so once I got it down the third-base line, I knew the only play they had was at home because they weren’t getting me. So, it was mission accomplished.”
Florida falls in game two
On the back half of the doubleheader, Gators’ starter Hurston Waldrep was not his normal self, also giving up four runs within the first two innings.
Walks were a problem for the Gators on Friday, as Florida continued to give up baserunners which ended up crossing the plate.
“Our starting pitching obviously needs to be better than it was today,” O’Sullivan said. “The walks came back to hurt us a little bit.”
The Florida bats went cold as the night progressed and Alabama reliever Kade Woods mowed down the remaining Gators hitters, striking out seven on only 35 pitches, earning his first save of the season.
The Gators fell 6-3 in the third game of the series. While Florida won the series, the team wanted to take all three to send a statement to the conference and to help their case for the postseason.
“Any time you win a series, you got to feel good about it, but at the same time, when you have the opportunity to win three games on a weekend you just got to take advantage of it,” O’Sullivan said.
No. 5 Florida takes on Florida State on Tuesday in Tallahassee.
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