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Florida Gators suffer 11-6 loss to East Carolina in Conway Regional

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi05/30/25ZachAbolverdi
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Photo by @GatorsBB/UAA Communications

The No. 2 seed Florida Gators dropped their NCAA Tournament opener Friday with an 11-6 loss to East Carolina in the Conway Regional. Florida drops into the loser’s bracket and will face the loser of Coastal Carolina vs. Fairfield on Saturday.

UF struggled mightily on the mound, using seven pitchers in the first seven frames, while ECU’s Ethan Norby threw 10 strikeouts in 7.1 innings. The first six pitchers for the Gators didn’t last more than an inning and a third.

The Pirates built a 9-0 lead before Florida hit two solo homers in bottom of the fourth. ECU added runs in the sixth and seventh, while UF’s Ty Evans hit an RBI single after Norby was pulled and Bobby Boser blasted a three-run homer in the ninth.

Below are live updates from the Gators (38-21, 15-15 SEC) against the Pirates (34-25, 13-14 AAC) in the Conway Regional.

Florida vs. East Carolina live blog

End of 9th: East Carolina 11, Florida 6

Montsdeoca pitched another 1-2-3 frame and UF has finally found some success on the mound with him retiring eight in a row, but it’s too little too late. Facing two outs, Nadeadu doubled for his second hit and then Boser launched a three-run shot to cut the deficit to five, but that’s the closest Florida would come.

End of 8th: East Carolina 11, Florida 3

Montsdeoca tossed Florida’s first 1-2-3 frame and his second strikeout. Justin Nadeau had a leadoff single and then Lawson came up with his second hit, forcing ECU to pull starting pitcher Ethan Norby after 10 strikeouts, six hits, two runs and no walks in 7.1 innings (116 P, 78 S). Evans then hit an RBI single against RHP Jake Hunter to plate Nadeau.

End of 7th: East Carolina 11, Florida 2

The Pirates tacked on a run with an RBI single by Irby, who’s 4-for-5, that ended the day for Rodriguez. UF used its seventh pitcher in seven innings with Carson Montsdeoca taking the mound to close out the frame. ECU’s Norby has now retired seven batters in a row for the second time in this game.

End of 6th: East Carolina 10, Florida 2

McDonald gave up a leadoff homer to Irby and was pulled after 20 pitches for Alex Philpott. He only last 12 pitches before back-to-back walks got him yanked for Christian Rodriguez, who left the bases loaded for ECU with his first strikeout. Norby pitched his third 1-2-3 frame and now has eight strikeouts.

End of 5th: East Carolina 9, Florida 2

Caden McDonald took the mound in the fifth and tossed UF’s first scoreless frame. Blaine Rowland finished with three hits and two earned runs and one strikeout in 1.1 innings. The Gators had two hits for the second straight inning by Landon Stripling and Bobby Boser but both runners were left stranded.

End of 4th: East Carolina 9, Florida 2

ECU extended its lead to 9-0 lead in the fourth with three runs on three hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles by Austin Irby and Alex Peltier, who plated two runners. The Gators responded in the bottom of the inning with their first two hits of the game: solo shots to left field by Brendan Lawson and Blake Cyr.

End of 3rd: East Carolina 6, Florida 0

The Pirates scored two runs and left two on for the third straight inning. They have eight hits to UF’s zero. Luke McNeillie was pulled after giving up a two-out, 2 RBI single with the bases loaded. He finished with one strikeout, three hits allowed, two earned runs and two walks in 1.1 innings (39 P, 23 S). Norby threw another 1-2-3 frame and his third K. 

End of 2nd: East Carolina 4, Florida 0

The Pirates scored two more runs on four hits, including three straight singles allowed by Liam Peterson that got him pulled after just 1.1 innings. He gave up five hits total and two earned runs with one K, struggling to find the strike zone in his 48 pitches (26 S). ECU pitcher Ethan Norby tossed a 1-2-3 frame with his second strikeout.

End of 1st: East Carolina 2, Florida 0

The Pirates took the lead on an error by catcher Brody Donay, who dropped the ball trying to make the tag at home. ECU then loaded the bases and scored on a sac fly before Liam Peterson threw his first strikeout to end the frame after a wild pitch, two hits and a hit batter. The Gators reached twice on a wild pitch and fielder’s choice but couldn’t advance past first.

Florida Gators starting lineup

1. SS Bobby Boser
2. 1B Brendan Lawson
3. DH Ty Evans
4. C Brody Donay
5. LF Blake Cyr
6. CF Hayden Yost
7. RF Ashton Wilson
8. 3B Landon Stripling
9. 2B Justin Nadeau

SP: RHP Liam Peterson

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