Florida Baseball Clinches First Road Series Win at Arkansas Since 2016
Florida baseball (22-6, 5-3 SEC) rounded up the Hogs on Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The Gators earned a 7-4 victory to secure its first road series win against the Razorbacks since 2016 and improve to 6-0 against top-25 teams this season 10 years after earning a sweep, with a 29-12 run advantage.
For the second straight game, Florida started the scoring in the second. Leadoff hitter Kyle Jones singled to center to drive in two runs with two outs in the inning. However, the Razorbacks struck back fast.
After scoring one in the second, the Razorbacks took advantage of a wild pitch thrown by Florida starting pitcher Aidan King to take a 3-2 lead – their first of the series.
In the fifth inning, Arkansas (19-9, 4-4 SEC) turned to right-handed pitcher Steele Eaves, who appeared in Friday’s opener, where he allowed two hits and one run on 26 pitches. On Eaves’ first pitch, he rushed his delivery and was called for a balk, moving catcher Karson Bowen to second base.
Bowen later scored in the inning, courtesy of second baseman Cade Kurland’s single. A few batters later, designated hitter Cole Stanford stepped in with a 2-1 count. The crack of the bat made it clear the ball was gone, as Stanford admired his home run before rounding the bases, capping a three-run inning and giving Florida a 5-3 lead.
After allowing five hits and three runs in 3 2/3 innings, King was relieved by, Jackson Barberi, who took control. Behind a fastball touching 99 mph, Barberi struck out seven batters over three innings.
Freshman Joshua Whritenour closed the game for Florida for the second straight game after striking out all four batters he faced in Friday’s opener. He threw 34 pitches and earned the save. Florida’s pitching staff has recorded 27 strikeouts through two games in the series.
Saturday’s third straight win came with battle wounds. In the second inning, staring down an 0-2 count, freshman Cash Strayer was drilled high on his hands, sending him to first base. After reaching, the adrenaline wore off, and trainers came out to examine his hand. After a brief conversation, Strayer stayed in the game.
In the bottom half of the inning, Strayer scooped up a ball in the outfield and tossed it back in. Despite having his right hand taped, the pain became too much, and Strayer exited the game. Senior Ashton Wilson replaced him.
Wilson took no time to make an impact defensively. In the third inning, Arkansas right fielder Zack Stewart sent a fly ball to right, where Wilson laid out for the catch to limit the damage of the Razorbacks’ two-run inning to take a 3-2 lead.
It remained a busy day for Florida’s athletic trainer in the eighth inning. Freshman Colton Schwarz stepped out of the batter’s box during a 1-1 count and headed to the dugout, due to injury. Freshman Jacob Kendall entered and inherited the count. On the first pitch he saw, Kendall hit a blooper up the middle for a single. With the bases filling up, Florida added two more runs in the inning to provide insurance.
During his time as a Gator, Kurland has battled injuries. Kurland suffered an oblique injury Feb. 25 against FIU but returned for Florida’s second SEC series against Alabama. Entering Saturday, Kurland was 1-for-15 in SEC play, including an 0-for-5 performance in Friday’s opener.
After moving throughout the batting order, Kurland found himself in the sixth spot and began to rediscover his form. Kurland went 1-3, but contributed an RBI, two walks and touched home plate twice.
The series finale begins Sunday at 1 p.m. Florida will start right-handed pitcher Russell Sandefer (1-1, 3.97 ERA) for his first weekend start of the season, while Arkansas will call upon left-hander Colin Fisher (2-2, 2.70 ERA).
Arkansas has lost just two home series since 2021 and has not been swept at home since May 2016 against Alabama. The game will air on SEC Network and can be heard locally on ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM WRUF.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Baseball
