Robertson Becomes the Hero as Florida Baseball Walks-Off Georgia

The Florida Gators baseball team defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 2-1 in walk-off fashion Saturday night. This win evened the series between the two to set a rubber match for Sunday’s game.

It was a pitcher’s duel at Condron Ballpark as the first hit and run of the game didn’t come until the fifth inning.

Charlie Goldstein started on the mound for the Bulldogs as Huston Waldrep toed the rubber for the Gators.

Pitchers’ Duel Early On

Goldstein and Waldrep issued a few free passes through two innings but no one could capitalize with runners in scoring position.

Waldrep struck out two in the the first frame and Charlie Condon drew a walk. You could tell Waldrep was carefully pitching around Condon after he had a three home run day on Friday night against the Gators.

Florida had the bases loaded in the second from a hit-by-pitch of Cade Kurland and a pair of walks by Colby Halter and Ty Evans but nothing came to show from it. Florida got unlucky in the third inning as Jac Caglianone reached on an error but the shift robbed BT Riopelle of a base hit.

Waldrep struck out a pair in the fourth for his sixth strikeout of the game. Florida’s bats remained hitless as Georgia started to piece together at-bats.

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Bulldogs Take Advantage

It was only a matter of time before one side started to capitalize on its base runners, and Georgia answered first.

Parks Harber led off the fifth with a double for his eighth of the season. Florida right-fielder Ty Evans was having a tough night in right field as he dove into the wall for a foul ball in the third inning. He again dove to try and rob Harber of his double and ended up coming out of the game. Entering the game to replace him was Matt Prevesk.

Fernando Gonzalez walked and a sacrifice bunt by Sebastian Murillo sent in the first run of the ballgame for the Bulldogs.

Gators Even out the Ballgame

Waldrep gave up back-to-back singles to start the sixth inning but a double play and a ground out ended the frame.

It might have taken Florida six innings to knock its first hit, but it ended up being the tying run. Josh Rivera led off with a double and Riopelle followed with an RBI two-bagger of his own to tie the ballgame at one a piece. Entering the game on the mound to relive Goldstein was Kolten Smith.

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Starting Pitchers on Their A-Game

It felt like for the first six innings Waldrep and Goldstein were the whole game. Trading one-two-three innings and putting up zeros on the board was the emphasis of this match up. Until the bottom of the ninth.

Goldstein finished his outing after the fifth inning giving up two hits and one run while walking three and striking out seven.

Waldrep left after the seventh inning giving up three hits and one run while walking three and striking out eight.

Gator coach Kevin O’Sullivan said Waldrep wanted to go back out in the eighth but his pitch count was too high (in the 90’s). He is also on short rest as Florida plays South Carolina on Thursday.

Robertson Excels, Florida Walks it Off

Ryan Slater replaced Waldrep and was outstanding throwing two innings giving up one hit while striking out two.

The pitcher’s duel continued as the relieve pitchers took over. The game was inching more and more to someone becoming a hero in the ninth inning. But unlike the fifth inning, Florida answered this time.

Cade Kurland led off the ninth with a walk. Colby Halter laced a ball to right-center field for a double that sent Kurland to third. Richie Shiekofer pinch-hit for Prevesk but grounded out for the first out of the inning.

The hero of the night stepped up to the plate, Robertson. Chandler Marsh had the advantage on Robertson getting him in an 0-2 count but his two strike approach prevailed, sending a ball to right center field to bring in Kurland representing the winning run.

𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐍!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/HQuz5wBlae

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 16, 2023

The Gators evened the series and looks to take the series on Sunday with two-way player Jac Caglianone on the mound.