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Florida Gators take opener vs. Texas A&M behind Aidan King's gem

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi04/25/26ZachAbolverdi

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 12th-ranked Florida Gators took the series opener Friday against No. 8 Texas A&M, 9-2, behind career-best performances from starting pitcher Aidan King and Caden McDonald in the DH spot.

King (7-2) threw a season-high eight innings and a career-high 121 pitches with 83 strikes. He struck out six and retired his final 13 batters faced and 16 of the last 17, with the lone Aggie reaching on an error at shortstop.

“He just was throwing strike after strike after strike,” O’Sullivan said of King, who allowed just four hits and two runs with no walks. “For him to do what he did, I can’t say too many great things about him because it was just an awesome performance. … I thought he was great.”

The Gators finished with 13 hits compared to just five for Texas A&M, led by McDonald with a team-high three hits. He got the start in the DH spot for the second time this season, launched his first career home run and had his first multi-hit game in college.

“Caden McDonald, what a great story that is. He continues to work hard,” O’Sullivan said. “We tried to do some different things today and obviously it worked out. He’ll be in the lineup again tomorrow.”

Florida scored first with Karson Bowen’s RBI single. After King gave up a two-run homer in the third, the Gators regained the lead with RBI doubles by Blake Cyr and Cade Kurland. McDonald’s sixth-inning dinger put UF up 4-2, and then he connected on an RBI single in the seventh.

The Gators pulled away with a four-spot in the eighth, loading the bases against Texas A&M’s sixth and seventh pitchers and scoring on a hit batter, a ground out by Bowen and a throwing error by the shortstop that plated two more runs. Billy Barlow closed it out in the ninth.

“Scoring those four runs in the eighth was huge for us,” O’Sullivan said.

Here are live updates from Florida (29-14, 11-8 SEC) vs. Texas A&M (31-8, 12-6 SEC).

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 8th: Florida 9, Texas A&M 2

04/24/2026 08:33:51 PM

The Gators busted this game open with a four-spot in the eighth. They loaded the bases after a leadoff double by Kyle Jones, a hit batter and a walk. Blake Cyr was then hit by a pitch to plate Jones, Lawson scored on a ground out and Ethan Surowiec and Cyr made it home on an E6. King tossed his fourth straight 1-2-3 frame and ended the inning with his sixth K, talking trash to Texas A&M’s dugout as he left the mound. He threw a career-high 121 pitches and tied his career high with 8.0 innings, allowing four hits, two runs and no walks. King threw 83 strikes.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 7th: Florida 5, Texas A&M 2

04/24/2026 08:33:25 PM

Caden McDonald is having himself a night with a team-high three hit. His latest, an RBI single to center field, scored Blake Cyr after his leadoff single. King struck out his fifth A&M player and pitched his third straight 1-2-3 frame (and fourth overall). He has retired 13 of the last 14 Aggies.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 6th: Florida 4, Texas A&M 2

04/24/2026 07:35:58 PM

The Gators extended their lead with a leadoff dinger to center field by Caden McDonald. It marked his first career home run and his first multi-hit game. The sixth was the second straight 1-2-3 frame for King, who has retired 10 of the last 11 batters with the lone Aggie reaching on an error.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 5th: Florida 3, Texas A&M 2

04/24/2026 07:10:40 PM

King tossed his second 1-2-3 frame and his fourth scoreless inning. Cade Kurland becomes the first Gator with two hits on the night, but he’s stranded on first. UF has left seven on base so far vs. three for the Aggies.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 4th: Florida 3, Texas A&M 2

04/24/2026 06:56:12 PM

King blanked the Aggies with no hits allowed. Caden McDonald had a leadoff double and Kyle Jones singled, but both were stranded. Eight of the nine Gators in the lineup have a hit, save for Ashton Wilson in the 9-hole. Texas A&M starting pitcher Shane Sdao was pulled after four Ks, eight hits and three earned runs in 3.2 innings (74 pitches, 51 strikes).

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 3rd: Florida 3, Texas A&M 2

04/24/2026 06:56:01 PM

King struck out Kellner for his fourth K and gave up three hits in the third, including the two-run shot by Gavin Grahovac to put the Aggies in front. The Gators regain the lead with three doubles in the bottom of the inning, including RBI hits by Blake Cyr and Cade Kurland after Brendan Lawson’s leadoff double.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 2nd: Florida 1, Texas A&M 0

04/24/2026 06:09:53 PM

After giving up his first hit, Aidan King struck out his second batter to end the inning (and third K overall). Colton Schwarz hit a leadoff single, but he was stranded on first after Shane Sdao fanned Caden McDonald and Ashton Wilson at the bottom of the lineup and Kyles Jones lined out.

By:Zach Abolverdi

End of 1st: Florida 1, Texas A&M 0

04/24/2026 05:49:52 PM

After a two-out single by Ethan Surowiec, Karson Bowen brought him home with an RBI hit to right field. Aidan King pitched a 1-2-3 frame to open the game, striking out Chris Hacopian looking for the last out.

Florida Gators Starting Lineup

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

SP: RHP Aidan King

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