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Headed into Sunday’s matchup against the Miami Hurricanes, the Florida Gators were on a roll. A dominant 11-0 start including two wins already in the weekend series made a sweep seem all but inevitable. That is, until UF gave up five runs in the fifth inning, revealing that both on the field and, now, in the standings, that the Gators are far from perfect.

No. 8 Florida (11-1) fell 13-7 to Miami (9-3) for its first loss of the season. Billy Barlow would pick up the loss on the mound for the Gators, letting up three runs in 3.0 innings pitched.

“It’s disappointing,” said Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. “We kinda just fell apart on the mound.”

The Gators wasted no time taking the lead on Sunday. Hayden Yost led off the game with an automatic double before Bobby Boser hit him the rest of the way around on an RBI single. Miami starting pitcher Brian Walters would walk the bases loaded, but Florida only added one additional run an a sacrifice fly from Landon Stripling.

After one inning, the Gators led 2-0.

Clemente kept the ‘Canes scoreless through the opening third, including a third inning in which he struck out the side for his third, fourth and fifth Ks of the afternoon.

The Gators added some insurance in the bottom frame as Brody Donay hit a two-RBI home run for his sixth jack of the season.

Things began to unravel for the Clemente in the fourth inning. He walked a batter and hit another before giving up an RBI single. He’d then plunk another batter to load the bases with two outs before walking in Miami’s second run of the day.

Despite the hiccup, Clemente finally secured the last out of the inning with the Gators still out in front. After a quiet 1-2-3 bottom frame from Florida, Clemente got another shot in the fifth, but quickly walked another batter and let up a single. He was subsequently pulled for freshman lefty Niko Janssens.

“We needed our starter to go six innings, said O’Sullivan. “We’ll have to look at this starting pitching stuff.”

Janssens walked a batter and was quickly replaced by right-handed veteran Billy Barlow. He let up two runs of his own to make it a 5-4 Miami lead before Florida could even make the first out of the inning. Barlow picked up two more runs before finally making the third out of the fifth.

Headed into the back half of the game, the Gators trailed 7-4.

Florida continued to let the game slip out of its reach. An E8 allowed a runner to reach second base for Miami before he was brought home on an RBI single. Another RBI single made it a 9-4 Miami lead before Barlow could close the frame.

Jackson Barberi took over for Barlow in the seventh. He picked up the Gators’ first scoreless frame in three innings as Miami led 9-4 headed into the three remaining offensive frames for UF. Meanwhile, Florida picked up its fourth-straight 1-2-3 frame.

Left-hander Jacob Gomberg took over in the eighth. He gave up three singles and walk to tack on another run for Miami. An RBI double put the ‘Canes within one run of walking the game off early, prompting O’Sullivan to swap Gomberg with Christian Rodriguez.

The righty would be the one to finally get out of the eighth inning. Leaving the Gators with six more outs and a nine-run defecit.

Florida showed a small sign of life in the eighth, scoring two runs on an RBI single from Brendan Lawson and another from Stripling. That sign of life grew as Blake Cyr dropped in a single to shallow center and loaded the bases with no outs.

Luke Heyman, Ty Evans and Yost then made three-straight outs to strand their teammates and close the inning without any additional runs scored.

Rodriguez came back out for the ninth and worked a scoreless frame, leaving Florida with three outs and needing five runs. It picked up one, but couldn’t get the job and picked up its first loss of the season.

“Today was just one of those days it kinda got away from us,” said O’Sullivan.

Next up, the Gators take on a midweek slate of UCF and Florida Atlantic. First pitch Tuesday in Orlando is set for 6 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.