Florida baseball couldn’t get out of its own way.
Four errors by the infield proved to the difference in not only the Gators’ 8-5 loss to Auburn in Sunday’s series finale but also the series loss to the Tigers.
The game was broken open in the ninth inning as all of Auburn’s runs were generated from UF errors.
Just after an error put two runners on base, Florida closer Joshua Whritenour misfired to first base on a bunt, which led to the Tigers scoring the go-ahead run. On the next at-bat, Whritenour surrendered a 2-run double. The Tigers then capped off the inning with a 2-run homer.
Prior to the collapse in the ninth, the Gators held the lead for seven innings after Blake Cyr hit a 3-run homer in the bottom of the first. From there, No. 18 Florida (28-13, 10-8 SEC) only mustered five hits with two of those coming later in the ninth inning.
No. 11 Auburn (27-12, 10-8 SEC) got on the board by taking advantage of an infielder error in the fifth inning. Ethan Surowiec, who was charged with three errors, failed to come up with a ground ball on the leadoff at-bat. This set up an RBI sac fly for the Tigers and later a 2-out RBI single as both runs were unearned and the score narrowed to 3-2.
Auburn then tied the game in the eighth after Whritenour surrendered a solo home run on the first pitch of the inning, which was one of the two earned runs UF’s staff had given up.
After giving up the 5-run rally in the ninth, Florida plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame from a 2-run homer by Cyr. It was, notably, the UF lineup’s first hit since the fourth inning.
Here’s what happened in Florida’s series loss to Auburn.
Florida baseball vs Auburn Game 3 live updates
Auburn rallies in ninth
A pair of errors give the Tigers three runs as Ethan Surowiec is charged his third of the game. Auburn capped off the inning with a 2-run home run to build an 8-3 lead. Florida needed three different pitchers to get out of the inning.
Auburn ties the game late
On the first pitch of the inning, Joshua Whritenour gives up a home run in the eighth inning. Coming into the weekend, UF has been outscored 39-15 in the eighth and ninth innings.
Costly error by Florida
Ethan Surowiec gets charged with an error to lead off the fifth inning, and it proves to be costly. Later the Gators also failed to come up with a double play after a poor throw to first by the shortstop to put runners at the corners. Hayden Yost made a diving catch in right field to allow only an RBI sac fly for Auburn. However, Russell Sandefer gives up a 2-out RBI single leading to him being pulled.
Florida dugout receives warning
Kyle Jones gets caught stealing after he falls over and gets tagged. Kevin O’Sullivan thought he was pushed and went to argue it. At the same time, the first base umpire issued a warning to Florida’s dugout in the fourth inning.
Blake Cyr homers
Blake Cyr smashes a 3-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the first. Cyr has homered in every game this series.
Florida baseball vs Auburn lineup Game 2
On the mound is Russell Sandefer.
Florida baseball vs Auburn Game 2 live updates
Game 2 final: Auburn 5, Florida 3
Florida baseball fell short in a back-and-forth matchup.
The Gators lost to No. 11 Auburn 5-3 to even the series and force a rubber match on Saturday, April 18.
UF starting pitcher Liam Peterson was the victim of bad luck as he covered five innings but surrendered four runs, with only one being earned.
In the second inning, Peterson gave up a solo home run to give Auburn a 1-0 lead. It was notably the first long ball that UF’s starter had given up this season.
The No. 18 Gators (28-12, 10-7 SEC) benefitted early from Auburn’s bad luck after the Tigers made a change at starting catcher. The backup catcher missed a third strike and allowed a passed ball, which set up the run scoring on a throwing error. Ethan Surowiec then came up with a two-out RBI single to make it a 2-1 game in the third inning.
However, stroke of luck shifted quickly as third baseman Kolt Myers missed an infield fly ball due to the sun, which allowed a run to score. On the next pitch, Peterson gave up a two-run homer to put Auburn back on top at 4-2. In Peterson’s outing, he gave up seven hits, two walks, a hit batter and recorded seven strikeouts.
Blake Cyr then hit a solo homer in the bottom of the frame, but the Gators failed to find any other offensive momentum, while Auburn (26-12, 9-8) added an insurance run in the sixth from the Tigers’ third homer of the game.
Florida nearly rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Gators had bases loaded with one out, but Karson Bowen hit into a double play to end the game.
Auburn homers again
Luke McNeillie takes over on the mound and gives up a 1-out homer to extend Auburn’s lead to 5-3 in the sixth inning.
Cyr homers
Blake Cyr led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a home run to narrow the score to 4-3. That is Cyr’s second homer of the series and sixth of the season.
Costly error
With two outs, Kolt Myers loses an infield fly ball in the sun which lets a run score. On the next at-bat, Liam Peterson gives up a 2-run homer as Auburn takes a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning.
Auburn swapping catchers benefits Florida
Auburn’s catcher Chase Fralick has to exit the game due to an injury. Backup catcher Taylor Belza has a third strike get passed him, which lets Hayden Yost reach first. Another passed ball then lets Yost reach second. On the next at-bat, Auburn pitcher Jake Marciano misfired to first base on a sac bunt. Yost scores easily to tie the game, Kolt Myers reaches second. Ethan Surowiec later delivers a 2-out RBI to give Florida 2-1 lead in the third inning.
Liam Peterson gives up first homer
Auburn led off the second inning with a solo homer. That’s the first time this season that Liam Peterson had given up a homer, which occurred after 46 innings.
Florida baseball vs Auburn Game 2 lineup
On the mound is Liam Peterson.
Florida baseball vs. Auburn Game 1 live updates
Game 1 final: Florida 6, Auburn 3
Florida baseball outpitched one of the top staffs in the country to open the weekend series.
The Gators took full advantage of a strong start by Aidan King as they pulled out a 6-3 win over No. 11 Auburn on Thursday, April 16.
The two teams traded runs in the first inning as Auburn benefitted from a fly ball being lost in the sun, which led to a 2-out RBI single. However, Florida (28-11, 10-6 SEC) got the run back an RBI double from Karson Bowen.
After King gave up the run in the first, he threw five straight scoreless innings. By the end of his outing, he gave up three hits, two walks and recorded eight strikeouts, while improving his win-loss record to 6-2.
The No. 18 Gators took control of the game after Blake Cyr hit a 3-run homer to build a 4-1 lead in the third inning. UF then added two more runs in the fifth inning from a 2-run double by Kyle Jones to extend the lead to 6-1.
Auburn managed to pick up two more in the eight from a pair of 2-out RBI singles. However, Ernesto Lugo-Canchola and Joshua Whritenour, who earned his seventh save, closed out the game to secure the win.
Auburn scratches a pair of runs
Ricky Reeth gives up a 2-out RBI single, and fails to finish the inning. Ernesto Lugo-Canchola surrenders an RBI single but gets out of the inning as Auburn narrows the score 6-3 in the seventh inning.
Aidan King dealing
Aidan King has covered six complete innings. He has recorded eight strikeouts, three hits, two walks in 98 pitches as Florida holds a 6-1 lead.
Blake Cyr homer
Blake Cyr hits a 3-run homer over the left field wall to give Florida a 4-1 lead over Auburn in the third inning. Auburn’s starting pitcher failed to finish the inning as he gave up six hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
Trading runs early on
In the first inning, Auburn takes advantage of a routine fly ball lost in the sun, which sets up a 2-out RBI single. The Gators get out of the inning from Blake Cyr making a diving catch in left field. In the bottom of the frame, Karson Bowen delivered a 2-out RBI double to tie the game at 1-1.
Florida baseball vs Auburn projected starting pitchers
Game 1: RHP Aidan King (5-2, 1.74 ERA) vs. RHP Andreas Alvarez (6-1, 1.24 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Liam Peterson (1-2, 3.60 ERA) vs. LHP Jake Marciano (3-2, 1.88 ERA)
Game 3: RHP Russell Sandefer (2-1, 4.56 ERA) vs. RHP Alex Petrovic (6-1, 2.66 ERA)
How to watch Florida baseball vs Auburn
Game 1 and 2 will be shown on the SEC Network, while Game 3 will featured on ESPN2.
Game 1: Thursday, April 16, 7 p.m., SEC Network
Game 2: Friday, April 17, 5:30 p.m., SEC Network
Game 3: Saturday, April 18, 12 p.m., ESPN2
Stream Florida baseball vs Auburn
Florida baseball schedule
Florida’s next five matchups:
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida baseball drops series to Auburn as Gators blow Game 3: Final, highlights
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
