Skip to main content
Florida
Join Now

Florida Gators even series at Oklahoma behind Caden McDonald

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi05/03/26ZachAbolverdi

The No. 15 Florida Gators evened the series against 12th-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday with a 10-5 win, which will be known as the Caden McDonald Legacy Game. The redshirt sophomore DH/RHP dominated at the plate and on the mound with two home runs and three scoreless innings to lead UF to its first-ever victory in Norman.

McDonald hit a two-out, three-run homer in the third to give the Gators a 4-2 lead. After the teams traded a pair of runs in the fourth inning, he replaced Liam Peterson and got the last out of the fifth to leave the bases loaded. McDonald retired the first nine batters he faced, struck out four and pitched a three-frame shutout.

McDonald left the yard again in the eighth with a leadoff homer and Hayden Yost had his second RBI hit after a sac fly in the second. Following a leadoff knock in the ninth by Ethan Surowiec, who had a two RBI single in the fourth, McDonald drove in two more insurance runs with his second double of the game to extend the lead to 10-4.

McDonald finished 4-for-5 at the plate with six RBI, accounting for nearly half of Florida’s 10 hits, and earned the win on the mound (4-1). In addition to Surowiec, Landon Stripling had two hits with a double. Oklahoma catcher Deiten LaChance added a solo homer in the ninth against Ernesto Lugo-Canchola, who earned the save with one K.

The rubber match on Sunday will be at 3 p.m. on SEC Network+. Here are live updates from Florida (30-17, 12-11 SEC) vs. Oklahoma (30-15, 12-11 SEC):

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 8th: Florida 8, Oklahoma 4

05/02/2026 09:19:21 PM

The Gators added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth with Caden McDonald’s leadoff homer, his second of the game, and an RBI single by Hayden Yost to score Landon Stripling after his double. McDonald struck out four Sooners in 3.0 innings before he was pulled after allowing a walk and a hit, but Ernesto Lugo-Canchola got out of the jam and Oklahoma left the bases loaded for the second time.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 7th: Florida 6, Oklahoma 4

05/02/2026 08:46:35 PM

UF designated hitter Caden McDonald is dealing in relief. He tossed his second straight 1-2-3 frame and has retired seven straight batters. Wesloski, meanwhile, has retired 10 Gators in a row since taking over in the fourth.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 6th: Florida 6, Oklahoma 4

05/02/2026 08:34:25 PM

Both pitchers threw 1-2-3 frames and UF designated hitter Caden McDonald is delivering for the Gators on the mound. He ended the sixth with back-to-back strikeouts and has retired four straight batters since replacing Peterson. The Sooners have finally settled on a pitcher as Wesloski went three up and three down again, striking out Hayden Yost for his second K.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 5th: Florida 6, Oklahoma 4

05/02/2026 08:20:19 PM

Peterson was pulled in the fifth after allowing three walks in the inning, including two straight passes. He finished with as many strikeouts (five) as walks along with six hits and four runs in 4.2 innings. Peterson threw a season-high 112 pitches and half of them were strikes (66). Florida DH Caden McDonald replaced him and left the bases loaded. Freshman RHP Nick Wesloski tossed a 1-2-3 frame for OU and struck out Cade Kurland looking. He’s 0-for-3 so far with three strikeouts and came in with a five-game hitting streak.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 4th: Florida 6, Oklahoma 4

05/02/2026 07:58:19 PM

Both two score a pair of runs in the fourth with two-out, two RBI hits. Ethan Surowiec smacked a single to right center to plate Hayden Yost, who reached on an error, and Kyle Jones after he was walked. Peterson struck out the leadoff man in the fourth but then gave up a walk and two hits, including Camden Johnson’s single through the left side to drive in two runs. The Sooners have used four pitchers in as many innings.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 3rd: Florida 4, Oklahoma 2

05/02/2026 07:25:06 PM

The Gators took their first lead with a three-spot in the third. After back-to-back walks, Caden McDonald delivered with a two-out, three-run homer to put the Gators in front. The team has three hits so far and he’s 2-for-2 at the plate. Peterson hurled his first 1-2-3 frame and closed out his third straight inning with a K, while the Sooners turned to their third pitcher.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 2nd: Oklahoma 2, Florida 1

05/02/2026 06:57:30 PM

The Gators get on the board with a sac fly by Hayden Yost to plate Caden McDonald, who hit a leadoff double. Peterson ends another frame with a K, his second strikeout, and shrugged off a two-single and two stolen bases that put a runner on third.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 1st: Oklahoma 2, Florida 0

05/02/2026 06:32:24 PM

The Sooners scored first with a two RBI double to left center by Jaxon Willits. Liam Peterson threw his first K to get out of a tough opening frame. He gave up three hits, two runs and a walk. Peterson threw 33 pitches in the first. UF shortstop Brendan Lawson also had a throwing error to first base. After hitting Florida’s first two batters with pitches, LHP Cameron Johnson rebounded with back-to-back strikeouts.

Florida Gators Starting Lineup

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

SP: RHP Liam Peterson

Not a member of Gators Online?

CLICK HERE to join the Gators Online community for $1! It’s the top place for passionate Florida fans to find the best insight and news in the market. 

Boasting a talented collection of experienced journalists, we dig deep into recruiting and provide breaking news and analysis on UF sports.

SIGN UP for the Gators Online Newsletter — Receive Breaking News, In-Depth Analysis via Email!