Sunday, March 22
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
1 PM
Florida Gators
19-6, 0
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14
Alabama
18-7, 0
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Florida
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Alabama
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Photo courtesy of Alabama Athletics
No. 18 Gators Fall in Finale at Alabama
Sunday, March 22, 2026 | Baseball
Florida led from the top of the first until the bottom of the sixth when the Tide struck for seven runs.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 18 Florida led for the first five and a half innings of the series finale against Alabama but came up short by a final score of 14-7 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Gators (19-6, 3-3 SEC) opened a three-run edge on the Crimson Tide (18-7, 3-3 SEC) in the first frame, remaining in front for the majority of the contest until Alabama struck for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Florida starting pitcher Cooper Walls did his part to keep the Orange & Blue ahead in the early going, tossing 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball prior to his exit.
The Florida offense forced Alabama starter Myles Upchurch's exit after recording just one out in the first inning with the bases loaded and the Gators leading, 2-0. Cade Kurland worked a one-out walk, then teamed up with Karson Bowen on a perfectly-executed hit-and-run as the latter laced a single to right field to put Gators at the corners. Kurland scampered home to open the scoring on a failed pickoff attempt at first base while Ethan Surowiec, Blake Cyr and Cole Stanford walked consecutively to force in Bowen.
The second run prompted Upchurch's removal in favor of righty Sam Mitchell, but Florida tacked on a third tally on a hit-by-pitch of Ashton Wilson with the bags still juiced to spot Walls a 3-0 advantage. Walls surrendered a leadoff single and one-out walk, but fanned Jason Torres and John Lemm to strand a pair of baserunners. The sophomore righty fired a one-two-three frame in the second by using his third strikeout for out number three.
The Gators threatened again in the third, but a one-out, based-loaded rally was erased on a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Kolt Myers. In the home half of the inning, Walls issued a leadoff walk but rebounded to retire the next three batters in order while notching his fourth strikeout.
Leading off the fourth, Kyle Jones walked and promptly stole second base on the first pitch to Kurland. A wild pitch on the fourth ball to Kurland put Gators on the corners, allowing Bowen to plate Jones on a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 4-0 in favor of Florida.
Alabama put the first two runners on in bottom-four on a hit-by-pitch of Torres and single to center by Lemm, but Walls forced Will Plattner to hit into a 6-4-3 double play while Justin Osterhouse grounded out to third to quiet the rally.
The Crimson Tide broke into the scoring column in the home half of the fifth, as Walls was removed after issuing a one-out walk to Brennan Holt. Left-hander Ernesto Lugo-Canchola fanned Justin Fowler looking, but Justin Lebron swatted a two-out, two-run homer to left field to cut the UF lead in half at 4-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Alabama plated seven runs including six on two swings to snatch the lead at 9-4. On a full count, Plattner hit a one-out, two-run homer over the left-field wall, then a bases-loaded wild pitch to Lebron allowed Luke Vaughn to scamper home safely. After Lebron was plunked to reload the bags, Brady Neal connected for a grand slam to left field.
Cyr got two runs right back for the Gators in the top of the seventh with a two-run shot to left field. Stanford then drew his second walk and moved to second on a Colton Schwarz groundout while Cash Strayer singled him home with two outs to cut the UF deficit to 9-7.
With the Gators closing the gap, Alabama created separation in the home half of the seventh by plating five more runs. Extending the lead to 14-7, Holt drew a bases-loaded walk and Fowler singled home Osterhouse before Neal cleared the bags with a three-run double to right.
Freshman southpaw Jackson Hoyt pitched a clean eighth inning for Florida.
Crimson Tide reliever Ashton Crowther (2-1) earned the win behind 3 1/3 relief frames. He finished with two earned runs allowed on one hit and one walk while fanning four.
Florida relief pitcher Russell Sandefer (0-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing three earned runs on one hit and two walks in one-third of an inning.
Walls was lifted after 4 1/3 frames and did not qualify for the decision. The sophomore right-hander allowed one run on two hits and three walks while striking out four batters.
Alabama starter Myles Upchurch also did not factor in the decision. The freshman right-hander lasted one-third of an inning and was charged with three earned runs on one hit, four walks and one strikeout.
NOTABLES
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
On not being able to hold the lead despite having the bullpen lined up…
"Everything was set up perfectly. Obviously, it was uncharacteristic of Ernie, the way he threw today. But he's been great for us the entire year. It's the guys that came in after him… it just was not good, not good at all."
On the energy in game three…
"The other thing is, Liam (Peterson) comes up to me before the game and wants to give the team a speech to talk about the energy in the dugout. And I thought our energy was pretty darn good until they tied the game. And then all of a sudden, it took all of the air out of the dugout…"
ON DECK
The Gators head to Jacksonville, Fla. on Tuesday for a neutral-site showdown against in-state foe Florida State at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.
The Gators (19-6, 3-3 SEC) opened a three-run edge on the Crimson Tide (18-7, 3-3 SEC) in the first frame, remaining in front for the majority of the contest until Alabama struck for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Florida starting pitcher Cooper Walls did his part to keep the Orange & Blue ahead in the early going, tossing 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball prior to his exit.
The Florida offense forced Alabama starter Myles Upchurch's exit after recording just one out in the first inning with the bases loaded and the Gators leading, 2-0. Cade Kurland worked a one-out walk, then teamed up with Karson Bowen on a perfectly-executed hit-and-run as the latter laced a single to right field to put Gators at the corners. Kurland scampered home to open the scoring on a failed pickoff attempt at first base while Ethan Surowiec, Blake Cyr and Cole Stanford walked consecutively to force in Bowen.
The second run prompted Upchurch's removal in favor of righty Sam Mitchell, but Florida tacked on a third tally on a hit-by-pitch of Ashton Wilson with the bags still juiced to spot Walls a 3-0 advantage. Walls surrendered a leadoff single and one-out walk, but fanned Jason Torres and John Lemm to strand a pair of baserunners. The sophomore righty fired a one-two-three frame in the second by using his third strikeout for out number three.
The Gators threatened again in the third, but a one-out, based-loaded rally was erased on a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Kolt Myers. In the home half of the inning, Walls issued a leadoff walk but rebounded to retire the next three batters in order while notching his fourth strikeout.
Leading off the fourth, Kyle Jones walked and promptly stole second base on the first pitch to Kurland. A wild pitch on the fourth ball to Kurland put Gators on the corners, allowing Bowen to plate Jones on a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 4-0 in favor of Florida.
Alabama put the first two runners on in bottom-four on a hit-by-pitch of Torres and single to center by Lemm, but Walls forced Will Plattner to hit into a 6-4-3 double play while Justin Osterhouse grounded out to third to quiet the rally.
The Crimson Tide broke into the scoring column in the home half of the fifth, as Walls was removed after issuing a one-out walk to Brennan Holt. Left-hander Ernesto Lugo-Canchola fanned Justin Fowler looking, but Justin Lebron swatted a two-out, two-run homer to left field to cut the UF lead in half at 4-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Alabama plated seven runs including six on two swings to snatch the lead at 9-4. On a full count, Plattner hit a one-out, two-run homer over the left-field wall, then a bases-loaded wild pitch to Lebron allowed Luke Vaughn to scamper home safely. After Lebron was plunked to reload the bags, Brady Neal connected for a grand slam to left field.
Cyr got two runs right back for the Gators in the top of the seventh with a two-run shot to left field. Stanford then drew his second walk and moved to second on a Colton Schwarz groundout while Cash Strayer singled him home with two outs to cut the UF deficit to 9-7.
With the Gators closing the gap, Alabama created separation in the home half of the seventh by plating five more runs. Extending the lead to 14-7, Holt drew a bases-loaded walk and Fowler singled home Osterhouse before Neal cleared the bags with a three-run double to right.
Freshman southpaw Jackson Hoyt pitched a clean eighth inning for Florida.
Crimson Tide reliever Ashton Crowther (2-1) earned the win behind 3 1/3 relief frames. He finished with two earned runs allowed on one hit and one walk while fanning four.
Florida relief pitcher Russell Sandefer (0-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing three earned runs on one hit and two walks in one-third of an inning.
Walls was lifted after 4 1/3 frames and did not qualify for the decision. The sophomore right-hander allowed one run on two hits and three walks while striking out four batters.
Alabama starter Myles Upchurch also did not factor in the decision. The freshman right-hander lasted one-third of an inning and was charged with three earned runs on one hit, four walks and one strikeout.
NOTABLES
- The Gators are now 17-7 in their last 24 SEC games dating back to last season.
- Florida had its league-best, seven-SEC-series win streak snapped this weekend.
- Florida's last SEC series loss was a sweep against No. 23 Vanderbilt from April 4-6, 2025.
- Jones swiped his team-leading 10th and 11th bags of the season in the fourth and sixth innings.
- Cyr launched his fourth homer of the campaign in the seventh inning.
- The Gators have won 36 of their last 47 regular-season games dating back to 2025.
- Florida is now 72-63 all-time and 25-34 on the road against Alabama.
- The Gators are 31-11 overall and 11-7 in Tuscaloosa in the series under Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan.
- Florida has won 18 of the last 24 meetings with Alabama and 25 of the last 32.
- Sunday afternoon's official attendance was 3,753.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
On not being able to hold the lead despite having the bullpen lined up…
"Everything was set up perfectly. Obviously, it was uncharacteristic of Ernie, the way he threw today. But he's been great for us the entire year. It's the guys that came in after him… it just was not good, not good at all."
On the energy in game three…
"The other thing is, Liam (Peterson) comes up to me before the game and wants to give the team a speech to talk about the energy in the dugout. And I thought our energy was pretty darn good until they tied the game. And then all of a sudden, it took all of the air out of the dugout…"
ON DECK
The Gators head to Jacksonville, Fla. on Tuesday for a neutral-site showdown against in-state foe Florida State at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ashton Crowther (2-1)
L: Sandefer, Russell (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Cyr, Blake 1
RBI: Bowen, Karson 1 ; Cyr, Blake 2 ; Stanford, Cole 1 ; Wilson, Ashton 1 ; Strayer, Cash 1
SF: Bowen, Karson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Kyle 1 ; Kurland, Cade 1 ; Bowen, Karson 1 ; Surowiec, Ethan 2 ; Cyr, Blake 1 ; Stanford, Cole 1
SB: Jones, Kyle 2
HBP: Miller, Sam 1 ; Wilson, Ashton 1
PO: Kurland, Cade 1
Batting:
2B: Brady Neal 1
HR: Justin Lebron 1 ; Brady Neal 1 ; Will Plattner 1
RBI: Bryce Fowler 1 ; Justin Lebron 2 ; Brady Neal 7 ; Will Plattner 2 ; Brennan Holt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bryce Fowler 2 ; Justin Lebron 2 ; Brady Neal 1 ; John Lemm 1 ; Will Plattner 2 ; Justin Osterhouse 1 ; Luke Vaughn 2 ; Brennan Holt 3
CS: Justin Osterhouse 1
HBP: Justin Lebron 1 ; Jason Torres 1
Game Leaders
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AB
4
R
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H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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RHP
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OF/INF
/ BaseballRoad to Gameday: Florida Baseball
Wednesday, March 18
Ethan Surowiec Postgame Press Conference | March 17, 2026 | Stetson
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Russell Sandefer Postgame Press Conference | March 17, 2026 | Stetson
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Kevin O'Sullivan Postgame Press Conference | March 17, 2026 | Stetson
Tuesday, March 17
