Alabama Takes Baseball Series from No. 18 Florida
Florida baseball continued to struggle in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, losing 8-4 to drop the series against Alabama for the first time since 2008.
With No. 18 Florida (19-5, 3-2 SEC) leading 2-1 and runners on the corners in the third inning, the Gators’ three-hole hitter stepped into the right-handed batter’s box. Kolt Myers came in to pinch hit for Brendan Lawson — the team’s leading hitter. Myers popped up to end the inning and took over defensively for Lawson at shortstop.
“He just had stiffness in his lower back, we just wanted to be precautionary and take him out,” Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “It’s day-to-day, nothing really serious.”
Injury problems have not played a pivotal role in the Gators’ season to date. Junior Cade Kurland made his return to the lineup in Friday’s series-opening loss, but, like the rest of his teammates, failed to record a hit. Kurland was dropped to the eight spot in the batting ordeer and finished 1 for 4 with two runs scored.
Aidan King (3-2) stood on the mound in the third having given up just three walks on the season. He walked the first two batters he faced, throwing eight balls and one strike. Alabama 17-7, 2-3) capitalized with a double steal before both runners were driven in. King finished with four walks, four runs allowed on three hits.
Freshman Cash Strayer has been praised by O’Sullivan for his ability to hit in big moments. He is the only freshman batter to start for Florida this weekend. However, the five-hole hitter has struggled in the first two games of the series, going 0 for 5 with four strikeouts.
Alabama pitching continued to roll through the Florida lineup. Left-handed starter Zane Adams (4-1) threw six innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six. Florida started with only two left-handed batters in the lineup, a number that dropped to one after Myers replaced Lawson. Alabama stayed with the left-handed matchup in the seventh, turning to junior Matthew Heiberger — a strategy that proved effective against Florida’s right-handed heavy order.
Florida could not keep junior and projected top-five pick Justin Lebron quiet for long. Facing Jackson Barberi, Lebron lifted a pitch out of the park to extend Alabama’s lead to four. After trailing 2-1, Alabama scored seven consecutive runs, using its ability to get on base to fuel multiple stolen bases, including two double steals.
Florida battled into the eighth inning with runners on first and second after a walk and a hit by pitch. After two quick outs, Caden McDonald — who pitched in Game 1 of the series — entered as a pinch hitter and struck out to end the inning.
“The lack of sense of urgency is disappointing,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s not like we played a game yesterday and lost 3-2 and it was just a really good game. We got no-hit. I would think and hope our team would have a little more urgency today, and they didn’t.”
Florida has managed just eight runs across four SEC games against Friday and Saturday starting pitching.
Alabama looks for the series sweep at Sewell-Thomas Stadium starting at 1 p.m. ET Sunday on the SEC Network (12:55 p.m. on 98.1-FM/850-AM WRUF).
Cooper Walls (3-0, 4.91 ERA) is expected to start for Florida, while Myles Upchurch (3-2, 2.82) will take the mound for the Crimson Tide. Florida will try to avoid being swept since early April of last season against Vanderbilt after its league-best, seven-SEC-series win streak was snapped Saturday.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Baseball
