Florida Gators collapse in eighth, fall 4-3 to Jacksonville in stunner

Story by Rafael Casero

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 21 Florida Gators baseball team suffered a 4-3 upset loss at home against the Jacksonville Dolphins on Tuesday night. It marked UF’s first time dropping a midweek game this season (9-0 record previously).

A two-run lead for the Gators quickly vanished at the top of the eighth inning with a huge single to left field by Roger Vergara, driving in two runs to tie the ball game 3-3. Jacksonville pulled ahead with the next at bat on a passed ball, allowing the runner on third base to score and take the 4-3 lead.

The nationally ranked Gators entered this matchup as heavy favorites after beating No. 10 Florida State and following that with a sweep at No. 4 Arkansas. Florida was riding the momentum from those four wins into Tuesday, but this result was a reminder that no game is guaranteed, even against inferior opponents.

At the start of the game, Florida pitcher Schuyler Sandford found himself in a tough spot after walking the first two batters but pitched his way through it by retiring three straight. Sandford got subbed out in the second inning for Eli Blair, who struck out a batter but was able to get out unscathed of a tough situation.

The Gators found their groove in the third inning with a triple by Kolt Myers. Kyle Jones followed up with a walk and swiftly stole second base to put two Gators into scoring position. Brendan Lawson drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly, and it didn’t take long before Ethan Surowiec’s RBI ground out to third drove in another run to make it 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, catcher Cole Stanford blasted a home run to left field to give the Gators a three-run lead. This marked Stanford’s second homer in three games, the last one coming against No. 4 Arkansas.

“The biggest thing is being able to get consistent AB’s,” said Stanford, who’s had hits in five straight games. “I know it’s tough coming to a school like this and earning a spot in the lineup consistently every day.”

Florida cruised with a 3-0 lead up until the top of the sixth when Jacksonville’s Abdriel Delgado scored from second after a single down the left field line by Sammy Mummau. UF maintained a two-run lead until the collapse in the eighth.

Florida pitcher Billy Barlow was pulled after recording two outs and then allowed a hit and a walk. Cooper Walls took over but gave up a two-run RBI single that tied the game, which was followed by a passed ball that gave the lead to Jacksonville 4-3.

The Gators were unable to rally the last two innings and fell to 23-7, while the Dolphins improved to 13-16. Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan did not hold back when asked about the team’s pitching after the loss.

“We caused our own problems. We were one out away from getting out of the eighth with a two-run lead. Then they got a big 3-2 count base hit to drive in a couple on a 3-2 breaking ball, so tip your cap to them,” O’Sullivan said.

Despite the blunder at the end of the game, O’Sullivan made no excuses for the Gators as they ultimately hurt themselves with a poor eighth inning and missed opportunities. He did compliment the effort at the plate by Stanford.

“He’s earned the right to be in the lineup and he extends our lineup,” O’Sullivan said.

Florida looks to bounce back when it hosts Ole Miss this weekend at home. First pitch for the series opener is on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.