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After giving up a two-run, go-ahead bomb in the top of the ninth inning Friday, and putting runners on the corners, the Florida Gators found themselves with two outs and the winning run at first. Instead of completing the comeback, designated hitter struck out to keep the Gators winless in conference play.

No. 13 Florida (18-6, 0-4 SEC) fell to No. 4 Georgia (22-2, 3-1 SEC) 8-7 Friday night in the Gators’ conference opener. Florida’s pitching staff combined for seven earned runs and five walks

“It’s been a theme, the rebound runs.” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We let up too many walks. And our starters gotta start going six innings.”

Freshman right-hander Aidan King got the start for the Gators. He worked three quick outs to open up the game but let up some hard contact which showed the power potential of a Georgia team leading the nation in home runs.

Georgia starter Charlie Goldstein followed King with a less-than-ideal start in one of the more hostile home crowds for the Gators this season. Justin Nadeau led off with a walk before advancing to second on a single from Bobby Boser. Colby Shelton would clear the base paths on a three-run shot into the right grove.

King headed out for the second inning with a 3-0 cushion. He gave up a leadoff single and plunked a batter to put two runners on with no outs. O’Sullivan went out to chat with him as King seemed to struggle finding the zone.

It didn’t seem to help as he walked the bases loaded. A three-run double from Devin Obee made it a tie ballgame. King struck out a batter, then allowed an infield single. Landon Stripling couldn’t make the play at first and the go-ahead run scored for UGA. King eventually picked up the last two outs and exited the inning trailing 4-3.

Florida couldn’t get anything going in the bottom second and sent King back out for the third inning still down 4-3. He worked a 1-2-3 frame with the help of a glove gem in left from Blake Cyr for the third out.

In the bottom third, Boser added his eighth home run of the season to tie the game back up. It also tied him with Brody Donay for the team-high figure. Florida eventually found itself with two on and two outs with Donay at the plate, prompting Georgia coach Wes Johnson to call on bullpen righty JT Quinn.

After three innings, the game was tied. King returned for the top fourth. He worked an out before allowing a double lined into right on a full count. Another single and a steal put put two runners in scoring position, but Florida’s bullpen remained lifeless.

King picked up the second and third out, but not before allowing the go-ahead run. The Gators went back to work at the plate down 5-4.

Heyman was quick to answer, lining a ball into the Georgia bullpen to make it 5-5 in the bottom fourth. King would return for the fifth with an even score and right-handed sophomore Luke McNeillie getting loose in the bullpen.

“Had to go to him earlier than we needed to,” O’Sullivan said.

After letting up a leadoff walk, King’s night was over. McNeillie took over with the go-ahead run at first and no outs. He’d get the outs needed to put Florida back at the plate with a chance to pull ahead.

The Gators couldn’t capitalize, striking out twice and leaving Brendan Lawson stranded at second. Florida and Georgia were tied at five runs after five innings.

McNeillie returned to the bump for the sixth inning. He let up a two-out walk before picking up his third strikeout of the night to close the frame. Georgia brought new right-hander DJ Radtke out for the bottom sixth.

Hayden Yost entered to pinch hit for Ty Evans with two outs and reached first on a hit-by-pitch to turn the order over. Nadeau couldn’t take advantage, flying out to keep the score at 5-5 and bring out McNeillie once more for the seventh inning.

“We need better at-bats, you know?” O’Sullivan said. “We just didn’t put very good at-bats together there.”

He let up a leadoff walk, prompting O’Sullivan to have a word at the mound and get Philpott moving in the bullpen. McNeillie let up a single to put runners on the corners but wasn’t pulled. He picked up a sacrifice fly for the first out and allowed Georgia to take a one-run lead.

McNeillie would pick up the double play to end the inning trailing 6-5.

With one out, Shelton reached second on an error. Blake Cyr advanced him to third on a sacrifice fly, bringing Lawson to the plate with two outs. He walked to put runners on the corners.

Stripling came up behind Lawson, grounding out to send McNeillie out for the eighth inning still trailing by a run. He let up a leadoff walk and was replaced by Philpott.

The right-hander punched out three straight-batters to strand the runner and end the top eighth.

Donay led off the bottom eighth with a single. Luke Heyman followed it up with a game-tying triple deep into right-center field. Yost came up to the plate with Heyman at third as the go-ahead run. He’d hit a fly out to left which had enough distance to score Heyman and give the Gators a 7-6 lead after eight.

Philpott came in with the chance to close. After a single and a strikeout, he let up a two-run nuke to the nation’s home run leader, Ryland Zaborowski. The ‘Dawgs led 8-7 after nine and the Gators had three outs to mount a comeback.

Florida couldn’t get the job down and gave up the series opener.

“The injuries are mounting, but we need guys to step up,” O’Sullivan said.

The Gators will look to even up the series tomorrow at noon.