Florida Baseball Splits Midweek Slate with Jacksonville

The Florida Gators Baseball team split its midweek slate with Jacksonville as it fell to the Dolphins 10-8 Wednesday night.

The Gators were able to piece together 10 hits and eight runs, but pitching struggled as they walked 11 batters.

Jac Caglianone Goes Yard

The new nation leader in home runs. Caglianone launched a long ball over the fence to put the Gators in the lead in the first. That’s his eighth home run of the season so far in only nine games.

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Florida tagged along two more runs in the bottom of the second. Tyler Shelnut singled to left field and freshman Luke Heyman doubled to score Shelnut. The Gators were up 2-0 going into the third before Jacksonville made them pay.

Jacksonville Responds

Tejeda Jr. came out in the second struggling to find his location with his pitch mix. He gave up a single to Chase Malloy who would then steal second. A wild pitch would advance him to third followed by three walks to bring in a run, making it 2-1 Florida. Blake Purnell came in to relief Tejeda Jr. and got out of the inning via strikeout.

The Dolphins would bring in another run in the fourth inning as Purnell started to struggle with his command as well. A walk and a hit by pitch would put runners on for Jacksonville. Cam Ridley belted a two-RBI single to put Jacksonville ahead 3-2.

Florida’s Bases Clearing E5

It was an unusual way to clear the bases, but the Gators would take any runs they could. After a ground out by BT Riopelle, Ty Evans followed with a one out single. Advancing on a wild pitch, Luke Heyman walked to put a runner in scoring position. Michael Roberston reached first on an E3 and loaded the bases. Cade Kurland stepped up to the plate and grounded the ball but an E5 would wave everyone around to score. Kurland landed at second and the Gators took the lead 5-3.

Three runs are home on a JU throwing error! ➕➕➕

Florida takes the lead.

5-3 #Gators pic.twitter.com/a92nqbanDM

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) March 2, 2023

Jacksonville’s Six Spot in the Sixth

Florida’s bullpen continued to struggle and gave up free bags to the Dolphins. Jacksonville put up a six spot in the sixth inning to break open the game.

Colin Wetterau singled off Fisher Jameson, followed by a walk. An RBI single by Elias Flowers started the rally and it was a nightmare for the Gators from here. With the runners advancing on an E5, a single by Malloy brought around the tying run. Philip Abner came in to relief Jameson and two back-to-back singles on two pitches made it 7-5 Jacksonville. Three more walks that were brought in made it 9-5 Dolphins and Anthony Urisitti took the mound in relief of Abner. 

Ursitti’s night was done after getting two outs.

More runs due to walks were handed to Jacksonville in the seventh. Chris Arroyo was handed the ball for the Orange and Blue and issued a walk to his second batter. Hogan McIntosh singled to score Cam Ridley and Jacksonville took the lead 10-5.

Rivera Home Run, Hartzog’s Debut

Josh Rivera gave the Gators another one back as he sent a moonshot over the fence for his fourth home run of the season.

Clete Hartzog came out in the eighth to make his Gators debut on the mound. Three up, three down, three straight strikeouts for the right handed Hartzong. Reliable relief pitching that the Gators have been looking for for five straight innings.

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Florida saw some hope in the bottom of the eighth inning as they inched closer to make it a two run ballgame. Three consecutive singles by Ty Evans, Shelnut and Matt Prevesk loaded the bases for the Gators. Kurland responded with a two-RBI single to make it a 10-8 ballgame.

That’s all the Gators could bring across and Brandon Neely came in to close the game.

Neely pitched one inning, walking one and striking one. The Gators had one runner in the bottom of the ninth from a single by Josh Rivera but they couldn’t put together a rally.

Florida dropped their second game of the season. Looking ahead, they have a huge top-25 series this weekend against Miami.