Florida baseball’s bullpen couldn’t get the job done.
Despite starter Liam Peterson delivering arguably his best start of the season, the rest of the Gators’ squad failed to support him as UF fell to Georgia 5-1 on Saturday, April 11.
Peterson’s lone mistake came on the first batter he faced in the game as he gave up a leadoff triple, which led to the run scoring on a fielder’s choice to give Georgia (29-7, 11-3 SEC) a 1-0 lead.
However, Florida (26-10, 8-6) got the run back in the third inning from a 2-out RBI single by Ethan Surowiec.
From there Peterson and Georgia’s Dylan Vigue fell into a pitching duel.
Peterson delivered seven innings, his longest outing of the season, scattered eight hits, struck out four batters and did not allow a walk on 97 pitches. Vigue lasted six innings, but struck out seven batters, walked one and gave up a pair of hits.
The game broke down for UF in the eighth inning after reliever Cooper Walls allowed the first two batters he faced get on base, which led to an RBI single. Caden McDonald then took over, but surrendered three more runs from an RBI single, an RBI sac fly and then a wild pitch to give Georgia a 5-1 lead.
The Gators lineup only put up two hits and struck out 12 times.
Back and forth early on
Georgia plates three runs with two outs as the Bulldogs deliver three straight RBI singles to tie the game at 5-5. Russell Sandefer’s day is done as UF turns to Luke McNeillie.
Gators homer again
Hayden Yost and Kyle Jones each hit a solo homer to add to give Florida a 5-2 lead in the second inning. UF has homered three times in the game, while the Bulldogs’ starting pitcher Matt Scott has exited the game.
Georgia answers
Russell Sandefer gets into a jam after giving up a one-out walk, and then a two-out double. Georgia capitalized with the runners in scoring position and come up with a 2-run single to narrow the score to 3-2 in the bottom of the first.
Surowiec homers in the first
To the start the game, Kyle Jones singled, Brendan Lawson drew a walk and Ethan Surowiec followed with a 3-run home run that registered 108 mph off the bat. Florida holds a 3-0 lead over Georgia.
Florida baseball lineup vs Georgia Game 3
On the mound is Russell Sandefer
Game 2 final: Georgia 5, Florida 1
Georgia breaks game open late
Liam Peterson threw seven complete innings and scattered eight hits while surrendering one run. Cooper Walls takes over in the eighth inning and gives up a 2-run single. Walls fails to get out of the inning, and hands the ball off to Caden McDonald, who equally struggled. McDonald gives up an RBI single, RBI sac fly and then a wild pitch to give Georgia a 5-1 lead.
Strong start from Peterson
After giving up a run in the first inning, Peterson has thrown five straight scoreless innings. He’s at 75 pitches and has scattered five hits, while recording four strikeouts. The game is still tied at 1-1 heading into the seventh.
Gators tie it up
Florida makes the score 1-1 in the top of the third inning. Ethan Surowiec delivered an RBI single with two outs.
Georgia strikes first
Liam Peterson gives up a leadoff triple to start the game. The runner scores on a fielder’s choice to give Georgia a 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
Florida baseball vs Georgia Game 2 lineup:
On the mound is Liam Peterson.
Game 1 final: Florida 8, Georgia 2
Florida baseball’s Aidan King was nearly perfect.
In his first start on the Friday role this season, King pitched six perfect innings of baseball which was aided by a 7-run rally from his lineup in the Gators series opening 8-2 win over No. 4 Georgia at Foley Field on Friday, April 10.
Through six innings, King had yet to allow any Bulldog hitter to reach base. Florida’s lineup spotted King a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Kyle Jones scored on an error.
Following King’s six perfect frames, Florida (26-9, 8-5 SEC) broke the game open with 7-run inning in the seventh. After the bases loaded with one out, Karson Bowen kicked off the rally with an RBI single followed by a 3-run double from Blake Cyr.
Landon Stripling then hit a 2-run home run with Cole Stanford capping off the inning with a solo homer to build an 8-0 lead for Florida.
After allowing his first runner of the game to reach on a single in the seventh inning, King fell into trouble in the eighth. King walked a pair of batters with one out before he surrendered a 2-run triple to Georgia (28-7, 10-3).
In King’s final line, he allowed two runs from two hits and two walks. King struck out six batters and threw 107 pitches with 73 as strikes.
Ricky Reeth made his return to the mound for the first since facing Miami in February to close out the victory.
Florida breaks game open
The Gators erupt for a seven-run inning to build an 8-0 lead over Georgia. Karson Bowen hit an RBI single followed by Blake Cyr coming up with a 3-run double. Landon Stripling then hit a 2-run homer with Cole Stanford capping the rally off with a solo bomb of his own.
Aidan King rolling
In his first Friday night start of the season, King has thrown five scoreless innings and recorded five strikeouts. King, who has thrown 62 pitches, has yet to allow a runner on base.
Florida on the board
Kyle Jones, who was hit by a pitch to lead the game off, later scores on a fielding error to give UF a 1-0 lead.
Florida baseball lineup vs Georgia
On the mound is Aidan King.
Florida baseball vs Georgia projected starting pitchers
Game 1: RHP Aidan King (4-2, 1.62 ERA vs. RHP Joey Volchko (6-0, 3.89 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Liam Peterson (1-2, 4.03 ERA) vs. RHP Dylan Vigue (3-1, 2.83 ERA)
Game 3: RHP Russell Sandefer (2-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. TBA
How to watch Florida baseball vs Georgia
Games 1 will be streamed on SEC Network+. Game 2 will be televised on ESPN2, while Game 3 will be shown on SEC Network.
Game 1: Friday, April 10, 6 p.m., SEC Network+
Game 2: Saturday, April 11, 12 p.m., SEC Network+
Game 3: Sunday, April 12, 12 p.m., SEC Network
Stream Florida baseball vs Georgia
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 vs Georgia live updates, TV channel, live stream for Game 3
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
