Gator Baseball Came from Behind to Defeat Ole Miss and Win the Series

The Florida Gator baseball team wins its eighth game in a row in dramatic fashion, coming back from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Ole Miss Rebels 7-4 Saturday in Gainesville.

The Gators won in the first match up against the Rebels Friday night 11-2 so Saturday’s game gives the Gators the series win. Now, Florida moves its overall record to 34-13 and to 15-8 in conference. The loss for Ole Miss made their overall record 29-19 and in conference 11-12.  Florida is now tied with Kentucky for first place in the SEC East.

https://twitter.com/GatorsBB/status/861041533633646595

The Pitching Duel

Ole Miss started their offense a lot differently compared to Friday’s slow start. Gator starting pitcher Brady Singer gave up two runs in the first inning on a two run double by designated hitter Tim Rowe.  The Rebels plated a run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Grae Kessinger and then went up 4-0 in the fourth on an RBI double by Kessinger.  But Singer would maintain his composure and he kept his team in the game throwing seven innings and and giving up only three earned runs.

Meanwhile Ole Miss starter Ryan Rolison kept getting in and out of jams but finally in the fifth inning the Gators chased him out of the game, scoring three runs.  Florida loaded the bases with no one out and scored its first run on a fielder’s choice by Austin Langworthy.   Rolison was lifted for reliever Brady Feigl who was greeted by a two run double by JJ Schwarz to make it a 4-3 game.

Recap

In the sixth, Florida got runners on second and third with one out but could not score as Ryan Larson hit into a fielder’s choice that got Jonathan India thrown out at home and Dalton Guthrie then grounded out to end the threat.

In the Gator seventh, Ole Miss brought in its closer, Dallas Woolfolk, into the game.  He gave up a game tying single to India but escaped further damage when he got Deacon Liput to ground out. Nick Horvath relieved Singer in the eighth and he retired the Rebels without a cause.  It set the stage for a Gator rally in the bottom of the inning.

With two outs and no one on, Guthrie singled and Langworthy walked.  After fouling several pitches off, Schwarz came through with an RBI single that gave the Gators the lead.  Right after, Nelson Maldanado hit a two run single to give the Gators big insurance runs.

TWO MORE on a single from Nelson!

Byrne coming on to close it out.

E8 | #Gators 7, OM 4 pic.twitter.com/Pt1CzPIHQz

— Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 7, 2017

Michael Byrne took the mound in the ninth for Florida and retired the Rebels in order to get his 12th save of the year.

Up Next

Sunday at 2:00 p.m the Florida Gators will be going for the sweep of the Ole Miss Rebels. RHP Jackson Kowar for Florida will be starting pitcher against lefty David Parkinson for Ole Miss.