ChompTalk.com

This weekend’s series against No. 5 Arkansas was incredibly important for Florida’s chances at advancing to the post-season. Despite a rocky start, the Gators proved resilient and claimed a 9-5 win to clinch the series victory.

Florida starting pitcher Billy Barlow struggled with location and only lasted 1.1 innings. He allowed four earned runs and hit three batters despite throwing just 36 pitches.

The Gators (30-16, 8-13) even managed to give Barlow a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Blake Cyr doubled down the line to score Luke Heyman.

As has been the issue for much of the year, the rebound runs were allowed, yet again. The Razorbacks plated five runs in the top of the second to take a commanding lead.

Over the next few innings, the Gators would chip away at the lead little by little. In the bottom of the second, Hayden Yost recorded an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 5-2. 

Two innings later, Florida added a pair of runs on back-to-back RBI singles by Justin Nadeau and Bobby Boser.

In the fifth inning, Brody Donay evened the score with a liner to right-center that was bobbled by the center-fielder allowing Cyr to score on the error.

Florida added a couple more runs in the sixth. Yost scored on a Boser double down the left-field line to give the Gators the lead. Brendan Lawson followed by hitting a double to plate Boser and make it a 7-5 advantage.

In the seventh, Ty Evans’ bat woke up as he cranked a solo homer to left-center to make it 8-5.

Florida added one more insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Boser scored on a Blake Cyr fielder’s choice.

Boser finished the day 3-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Lawson was the only other Gators to record two hits (2-4) but Landon Stripling (2) and Evans (2) each scored multiple runs.

On the mound, Florida received solid relief from their bullpen that allowed the team the opportunity to rally. Alex Philpott allowed one run in the second, but pitched another two innings of flawless ball. Luke McNeillie added 1.2 innings of scoreless relief before turning the ball over to Jake Clemente. Clemente completed his second three-inning save of the weekend.

The Gators don’t play a midweek game this week as they take on South Carolina in Columbia this weekend for a Friday, Saturday, Sunday series. The Gamecocks entered Sunday with a 25-19 overall record but are just 5-15 in SEC play.