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Florida eliminated from NCAA Tournament with 11-4 loss to ECU

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi06/01/25ZachAbolverdi
Pierce-Coppola-Florida-Gators-baseball
Photo by @GatorsBB/UAA Communications

For the second time in three games at the Conway Regional, Florida’s starting pitcher failed to last three innings against East Carolina and UF gave up 11 runs in both games. The second one, an 11-4 loss to the Pirates on Sunday, eliminated the Gators from the NCAA Tournament and ended their 2025 season.

After Liam Peterson pitched just 1.1 innings in Friday’s 11-6 loss, Pierce Coppola went two frames vs. ECU and gave up three hits, three walks and two earned runs with five strikeouts before he was pulled. An RBI single by Justin Nadeau cut the deficit to 2-1, but the Pirates put up a five-spot in bottom of the third.

ECU’s Austin Irby hit a fourth-inning homer and then the Gators pulled within 8-4 with three runs scored in the sixth before East Carolina added a run in the bottom of the inning and two more in the eighth. Below are live updates from the Gators (39-22, 15-15 SEC) against the Pirates (35-26, 13-14 AAC).

Florida vs. East Carolina live blog

End of 9th: East Carolina 11, Florida 4

Down to their final three outs, Yost and Wilson both struck out swinging. Stripling hit a two-out single to right field but was left stranded after Nadeau grounded out to ECU’s pitcher.

End of 8th: East Carolina 11, Florida 4

The Gators missed out on a scoring opportunity and stranded two, including Lawson on third after his 14th double of the season. Alex Philpott replaced Rowland in the eighth and the Pirates scored a pair of runs on back-to-back two-out hits after a fielding error by LF Blake Cyr.

End of 7th: East Carolina 9, Florida 4

The Pirates made a double play after Ashton Wilson’s leadoff single and then Nadeau grounded out. Luke McNeillie replaced Clemente in the seventh and lasted four batters before he was pulled for Blaine Rowland, who loaded the bases with a walk but left all three stranded. Clemente struck out three with four hits and two earned runs in 4.0 innings.

End of 6th: East Carolina 9, Florida 4

The Gators found some success after ECU pulled starting pitcher Lance Williams, loading the bases and scoring three runs on one hit and an RBI for Ty Evans. Williams finished with five strikeouts, three hits, three earned runs and two walks in 5.0 innings. The Pirates added a run on an E3 after Brendan Lawson threw behind Clemente to miss the out at first.

End of 5th: East Carolina 8, Florida 1

It was three up, three down for both teams in the fifth. Clemente hurled the Gators’ first 1-2-3 frame of the game and struck out Braden Burress looking for his second K. Williams has retired eight Florida batters in a row.

End of 4th: East Carolina 8, Florida 1

Clemente gave up a solo home run to Austin Irby, who’s been a standout at the Conway Regional, and the Pirates grounded out three times. ECU pitcher Lance Williams had another 1-2-3 frame and he’s up to five strikeouts.

End of 3rd: East Carolina 7, Florida 1

The Gators got on the board with Justin Nadeau’s RBI single to score Landon Stripling after his one-out double, but then ECU extended its lead with a five-spot. Coppola was pulled after his third walk and finished with five Ks and three hits in 2.0 innings. Billy Barlow gave up three straight hits and two runs before Jake Clemente replaced him and allowed back-to-back RBI singles and three more runs.

End of 2nd: East Carolina 2, Florida 0

The Gators gave up two runs with bases loaded, including a passed ball by catcher Brody Donay, but Coppola responded with three straight strikeouts to end the inning. ECU pitcher Lance Williams tossed a 1-2-3 frame, striking out Donay and Hayden Yost.

End of 1st: Florida 0, East Carolina 0

UF pitcher Pierce Coppola hit a batter and walked another before striking out two Pirates, including Colby Wallace looking to end the inning and leave the bases loaded for ECU. After a leadoff single by Bobby Boser, he was caught stealing at second for Florida’s last out.

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: LHP Pierce Coppola

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