Baseball Takeaways: Gators Struggle in Unranked Play

The curse continues.

Florida baseball (24-9, 7-5 SEC) went 1-3 this week in four home games, including a series loss to Ole Miss (22-11, 5-7 SEC). As a result, the No. 21 Gators fell out of the D1 Baseball Top-25 poll 

Here’s the breakdown. 

Staying in the Game

A struggle for the Gators has been pulling through in the back end of the game. In a lone loss to Jacksonville on Tuesday, Florida scored two runs in the third inning and a run in the fourth, for a 3-0 lead. But the Gators gave up a run in the sixth inning and lost the lead when Jacksonville tacked on three more runs in the eighth inning. 

With two outs on the board in the top of the eighth, Florida pitcher Cooper Walls hit and then walked the next two batters. He was relieved by Billy Barlow, who hit his first opponent to load the bases. He then gave up a two-RBI single and an unearned run. 

Florida went 0-for-3 in the bottom of the inning and went 0-for-3 with a walk in the ninth inning. 

The Gators, once again, lost in a late-game rally to the Rebels on Sunday, 5-2. Up 2-0 going into the ninth inning, Florida gave up five runs in the final frame. The game started strong with Russell Sandefer pitching seven shutout innings and striking out 11 opponents. 

Gators pitcher Joshua Whiritenour opened the inning, walking his first opponent, then giving up a two-run homer to outfielder Tristan Bissetta. The Rebels notched one more single off of him before he was replaced by pitcher Ernesto Lugo-Canchola. Lugo-Canchola walked a batter and was taken off the mound. Next up, the Gators tried out pitcher Cooper Walls, who hit his first opponent and was quickly replaced. 

Luke McNeillie entered as the fourth pitcher of the inning, with still no outs. The first batter he faced flied out, and one scored. The Rebels gained another hit and a run off of him. 

“We just fell apart,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.

Florida couldn’t bounce back and went 0-for-3 with a walk in the ninth. This was the third series loss and second SEC series loss for Florida this season. Giving up runs late in the game has caused chaos. Florida’s weak bullpen has been a problem the entire season. 

Ranked vs. Unranked Opponent Play

The biggest mystery of the season remains unsolved.

After a 4-0 week against four ranked teams, Florida went 1-3 against four unranked teams. The Gators are now 7-0 against ranked teams and 17-9 against unranked teams this season. 

Florida will try to turn this around against No. 5 Florida State and No. 4 Georgia this week. The Gators take on FSU in Tallahassee on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

“It doesn’t get easier,” O’Sullivan said.

Category: Baseball, College Baseball, Gainesville, Gator Sports, Gators Baseball, SEC