Gators Drop Regular-Season Finale to South Carolina, Draw Gamecocks in SEC Tournament

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida got here up quick in the ultimate sport of the 2022 common season, falling to South Carolina by a ultimate rating of 4-1 at Condron Family Ballpark. Despite the loss, the Gators (35-20, 15-15 SEC) end tied for second in the SEC East and can play No. 10 seed South Carolina on Tuesday because the No. 7 seed in the SEC Baseball Tournament.
 
The Gamecocks (27-27, 13-17 SEC) scored first in the finale, with Josiah Sightler connecting on a solo dwelling run with two outs in the opening body. South Carolina prolonged its lead to 2-0 in the second inning when Colin Burgess drove in Braylen Wimmer with an RBI single to middle.
 
The Gators acquired one run again in the underside of the second. Ty Evans reached on an infield single and superior to second on a throwing error by Wimmer. With two outs, Colby Halter got here by way of with an RBI single to proper subject to reduce the deficit to one.
 
In the highest of the third, South Carolina pushed forward, 3-1. After the primary two batters of the inning grounded out to shortstop Josh Rivera, Sightler hit his second dwelling run of the sport with a line-drive shot into the precise subject bullpen.
 
Following Sightler’s second lengthy ball, Florida starter Nick Pogue settled in and retired the following 12 batters in order. As a outcome, the right-hander churned out scoreless frames in the fourth by way of the sixth, elevating his strikeout complete to six.
 
Pogue recorded the primary out of the seventh on a lineout to left subject, however was then lifted after plunking Matt Hogan. As reliever Tyler Nesbitt started his warm-up tosses, play was halted due to lightning and the following delay lasted a complete of two hours and 25 minutes earlier than the sport resumed at 6:30 p.m.
 
Right-handed reliever Blake Purnell took over following the climate stoppage. South Carolina added to its lead in the highest of the seventh, as Evan Stone drove in Hogan on a bunt single to first base to make it a 4-1 ballgame – which in the end marked the extent of the scoring.
 
Pogue (3-3) acquired the loss, permitting 4 earned runs throughout 6 1/3 innings with 5 hits allowed and 6 strikeouts.
 
Gamecocks reliever Cade Austin earned the win, pitching three innings with one unearned run allowed on two hits and two walks. He struck out one.
 
South Carolina beginning pitcher Will Sanders pitched only one inning, permitting zero runs on two walks whereas putting out three.

NOTABLES

• Seven Gators have been acknowledged on Saturday as a part of the pregame Senior Day festivities: first baseman/designated hitter Kris Armstrong, first baseman Kendrick Calilao, outfielder Jud Fabian, right-handed pitcher Hunter McMullen, right-handed pitcher Garrett Milchin, right-handed pitcher Nick Pogue and catcher BT Riopelle.
• The Gators completed with a 35-20 common season report and a 15-15 mark in SEC play, tying for second in the SEC East with Georgia.

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  • As the No. 7 seed in the SEC Tournament, Florida will play No. 10 seed South Carolina on Tuesday following the conclusion of the ten:30 a.m. ET sport.

• Florida is now 50-51 all-time vs. South Carolina together with a 29-16 mark at dwelling.

  • The Gators are 28-19 vs. the Gamecocks beneath head coach Kevin O’Sullivan together with 16-5 at dwelling.
  • Florida has received 15 of the final 23 conferences.

• Florida has received 10 of its final 12 video games and 12 of its final 15.
• Thompson prolonged his on-base streak to 25 video games.
• Langford prolonged his on-base streak to 17 video games, though his 11-game hitting streak got here to an finish.
• Florida issued zero walks on Saturday whereas South Carolina walked 9 batters.

FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On the texture of the sport …
“I thought we hit the balls hard, we just didn’t come up with a timely hit. Really weird box score that I’m looking at… We got walked nine times. We didn’t walk anybody. Baseball is a weird game sometimes. Today had that weird feel. I think we were just one hit away from maybe trying to open it up. Credit to South Carolina’s pitchers. They did a nice job and kept us off balance. We lost our legs quite a bit of times today at crucial spots.”
 
On the upcoming sport vs. South Carolina…
“That’s just the way it worked out. That’s happened before. We’ll be ready to play Tuesday against South Carolina. I’m sure we’ll see Sanders again. Let’s move on from there.”

On ending the season sturdy…

“I’m proud of them. It could have went the other way, too. I don’t know in my 15 years that we’ve been six games under at any point in SEC play. That was with only 12 to go. The way they rallied, the way they played, the way they were able to pick each other up and stay the course… I’m really thrilled with where they’re at. Obviously, today is disappointing but at the same time, in the big picture they put us in position to make the postseason now. I like the way we’re playing.” 

UP NEXT

No. 7 seed Florida travels to Hoover, Ala. for a Tuesday matchup towards No. 10 seed South Carolina on the SEC Tournament. The sport will start following the conclusion of the 9:30 a.m. ET matchup between Georgia and Alabama.