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Aidan King gem goes to waste as Florida blows lead late in 4-3 loss

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi05/02/26ZachAbolverdi

The 15th-ranked Florida Gators dropped the series opener on Friday night at No. 12 Oklahoma, which rallied late for a 4-3 win. The Gators blew a great game from starting pitcher Aidan King, who threw a career-high 10 Ks in 7.0 innings, and gave up a three-spot after he left the mound.

Blake Cyr hit his seventh home run in eight games to put Florida in front 3-1, but UF’s bullpen dropped the ball in the bottom of the eighth as Ernesto Lugo-Canchola and Joshua Whritenour allowed a walk, a hit batter, two hits and three runs with a throwing error by catcher Karson Bowen.

After Cyr’s homer, Oklahoma pitcher Jason Bodin took over and retired three Gators in a row. Jackson Cleveland replaced Bodin in the ninth and after a two-out single by Jacob Kendall, Cleveland struck out UF’s leadoff man Kyle Jones to earn the save. Bodin (4-1) picked up his fourth win.

Here are live updates from Florida (29-17, 11-11 SEC) vs. Oklahoma (30-14, 12-10 SEC):

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 8th: Oklahoma 4, Florida 3

05/01/2026 09:21:51 PM

The Gators pushed their lead to 3-1 with a leadoff homer by Blake Cyr before Oklahoma pulled ahead in the bottom of the inning with a three-spot. Ernesto Lugo-Canchola replaced King and lasted just two batters before he was replaced by Joshua Whritenour, who gave up a two RBI triple and an RBI single with a strikeout to end the frame.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 7th: Florida 2, Oklahoma 1

05/01/2026 08:57:45 PM

Florida regained the lead with its first hit since the third, two walks and an error. After the Mercurius brothers retired 14 Gators in a row, UF reached on three straight at-bats and then Caden McDonald scored the go-ahead run on a based loaded walk. It’s been another fantastic outing from Aidan King, who struck out three straight Sooners in the seventh for his fourth 1-2-3 frame. King has a career-high 10 Ks against four hits, two walks and one run with 114 pitches and 79 strikes on the night.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 6th: Florida 1, Oklahoma 1

05/01/2026 08:38:39 PM

King fanned Dasan Harris swinging for the last out, his second K of the inning and seventh strikeout overall. The Sooners stranded two after reaching with a single and King’s second walk. Mercurius tossed his third consecutive 1-2-3 frame and has retired 12 UF batters in a row.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 5th: Florida 1, Oklahoma 1

05/01/2026 08:07:27 PM

The Sooners tied the game with a ground out RBI by Jason Walk to score Connor Larkin after his leadoff double. Larkin is 2-for-2 at the plate, and the fifth was King’s first inning without a strikeout. Mercurius had his second straight 1-2-3 frame against the bottom and top of UF’s order as Colton Schwarz struck out, Yost flied out and Jones popped up.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 4th: Florida 1, Oklahoma 0

05/01/2026 07:57:36 PM

King is cooking in Norman. He tossed his third 1-2-3 frame in the fourth and struck out two Sooners looking to reach six Ks. Oklahoma pitcher LJ Mercurius retired three straight Gators as Bowen, Kurland and Caden McDonald grounded out.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 3rd: Florida 1, Oklahoma 0

05/01/2026 07:43:09 PM

After Hayden Yost reached on a muffed throw by the first baseman, he scored on a sac fly by Blake Cyr to give the Gators the lead. The Sooners loaded the bases against King after two hits and a walk, but he got out of the jam with a ground out.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 2nd: Florida 0, Oklahoma 0

05/01/2026 07:08:25 PM

Second straight 1-2-3 frame from King, who struck out another batter with two outs in left field from Blake Cyr. The Gators opened the second with three straight singles, but a run was taken off the board after Cade Kurland was called for an illegal slide. UF left the bases loaded after a double play by OU and a ground out.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 1st: Florida 0, Oklahoma 0

05/01/2026 06:57:51 PM

Aidan King pitched a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom of the first and struck out the Sooners’ leadoff man. The Gators also went three up and three down as Kyle Jones struck out swinging, Brendan Lawson grounded out and Blake Cyr popped up.

Florida Gators Starting Lineup

1. CF Kyle Jones
2. SS Brendan Lawson
3. LF Blake Cyr
4. 1B Ethan Surowiec
5. C Karson Bowen
6. 2B Cade Kurland
7. DH Caden McDonald
8. 3B Colton Schwarz
9. RF Hayden Yost

SP: RHP Aidan King

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