Sunday, April 26
Gainesville, Fla.
1:30 PM
Florida Gators
29-16, 11-10
1
vs
5
Texas A&M
33-8, 14-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 |
UAA Communications photo by Madilyn Gemme
No. 12/21 Gators Drop Series Finale to No. 8/7 Aggies
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | Baseball
Florida falls to 12-5 against ranked opponents including 8-3 vs. top-ten foes.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 12/21 Florida was taken down in the rubber match against No. 8/7 Texas A&M by a final score of 5-1 at Condron Family Ballpark on Sunday afternoon.
The Gators (29-16, 11-10 SEC) scored their lone run on an RBI single by Caden McDonald (1-for-4) in the fourth inning as the Aggies (33-8, 14-6 SEC) rallied from a loss in game one to claim the series. Landon Stripling (2-for-3) was the only Gator with multiple knocks while closer Joshua Whritenour held Texas A&M to one run on one hit over the final 3 2/3 frames.
UF starting pitcher Russell Sandefer stranded runners at the corners to log a zero in the top of the first inning, then retired the side in order to complete two scoreless frames. Florida threatened with runners at the corners in the home half of the second thanks to a hit-by-pitch of Cade Kurland and single from Stripling but was unable to capitalize.
In the top of the third, Texas A&M jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Boston Kellner singled to third base and moved to second on a throwing error, allowing him to score from second on an RBI knock to center by Gavin Grahovac. Caden Sorrell followed with a single to put Aggies on the corners and Chris Hacopian plated Grahovac with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The two teams traded jabs in the fourth, as the Aggies led off with consecutive singles from Jorian Wilson and Bear Harrison, the latter scoring on a wild pitch two batters later. Florida answered in the home half, as Kurland doubled to left-center with two outs and later came home on an RBI single to left by McDonald to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
Sandefer held the momentum in the top of the fifth, blanking the Aggies thanks to an inning-ending, 4-3 double play ball to Kurland up the middle. Texas A&M returned to the scoring column in the top of the sixth upon Sandefer's removal, extending the advantage to 4-1 on a solo homer to center field off the bat of Wilson.
After limiting the damage to one run in the sixth, Whritenour chucked clean frames in the seventh and eighth to keep the Gators within striking distance. Florida threatened with a pair in scoring position in bottom-eight on a Cyr single and Karson Bowen double, but a double play on a fly out to right paired with an out at home fizzled the rally.
Harrison led off the top of the ninth with a solo homer to center to bring the score to its final tally of 5-1.
Aggie reliever Gavin Lyons (8-0) recorded the win behind three scoreless innings of relief. He finished with one hit allowed, one walk and two strikeouts. Clayton Freshcorn secured his ninth save with two shutout innings pitched.
Sandefer dropped to 2-2, pitching five innings of three-run ball on eight hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
Texas A&M starter Weston Moss did not qualify for the decision, surrendering one earned run on four hits and two walks in four frames. He struck out two.
NOTABLES
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
On today's start on the mound and offensive approach…
"I thought Russ was just hanging on to be honest with you. Looked up on the board and he had 80 pitches through four and their guy had less than 40. I think that pretty much tells the difference in the starts. Tried to get an inning out of Coop and couldn't do that, and Josh came in and did an outstanding job. Pretty typical of the way we have been losing games this year. Had an error, led to a run and bobbled the ball in left, led to a run… Got beat by a fastball for five innings with Lyons and Freshcorn, two pitchers that we have seen this weekend, and we had two backwards Ks in key spots on fastballs…"
On whether he views the backend of the schedule as favorable…
"I am not looking at anything like favorable, honestly. I am just worried about our team and how we can improve. I am not looking at it any other way. I'll watch Oklahoma. They are gonna be a handful. They can pitch, they can play defense and they run the bases extremely aggressively. We will have a lot of work to do this week to prepare for them."
ON DECK
The Gators have the midweek off before traveling to Norman, Okla. for their first-ever three-game series at Oklahoma from May 1-3.
The Gators (29-16, 11-10 SEC) scored their lone run on an RBI single by Caden McDonald (1-for-4) in the fourth inning as the Aggies (33-8, 14-6 SEC) rallied from a loss in game one to claim the series. Landon Stripling (2-for-3) was the only Gator with multiple knocks while closer Joshua Whritenour held Texas A&M to one run on one hit over the final 3 2/3 frames.
UF starting pitcher Russell Sandefer stranded runners at the corners to log a zero in the top of the first inning, then retired the side in order to complete two scoreless frames. Florida threatened with runners at the corners in the home half of the second thanks to a hit-by-pitch of Cade Kurland and single from Stripling but was unable to capitalize.
In the top of the third, Texas A&M jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Boston Kellner singled to third base and moved to second on a throwing error, allowing him to score from second on an RBI knock to center by Gavin Grahovac. Caden Sorrell followed with a single to put Aggies on the corners and Chris Hacopian plated Grahovac with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The two teams traded jabs in the fourth, as the Aggies led off with consecutive singles from Jorian Wilson and Bear Harrison, the latter scoring on a wild pitch two batters later. Florida answered in the home half, as Kurland doubled to left-center with two outs and later came home on an RBI single to left by McDonald to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
Sandefer held the momentum in the top of the fifth, blanking the Aggies thanks to an inning-ending, 4-3 double play ball to Kurland up the middle. Texas A&M returned to the scoring column in the top of the sixth upon Sandefer's removal, extending the advantage to 4-1 on a solo homer to center field off the bat of Wilson.
After limiting the damage to one run in the sixth, Whritenour chucked clean frames in the seventh and eighth to keep the Gators within striking distance. Florida threatened with a pair in scoring position in bottom-eight on a Cyr single and Karson Bowen double, but a double play on a fly out to right paired with an out at home fizzled the rally.
Harrison led off the top of the ninth with a solo homer to center to bring the score to its final tally of 5-1.
Aggie reliever Gavin Lyons (8-0) recorded the win behind three scoreless innings of relief. He finished with one hit allowed, one walk and two strikeouts. Clayton Freshcorn secured his ninth save with two shutout innings pitched.
Sandefer dropped to 2-2, pitching five innings of three-run ball on eight hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
Texas A&M starter Weston Moss did not qualify for the decision, surrendering one earned run on four hits and two walks in four frames. He struck out two.
NOTABLES
- Florida remains 12-5 against ranked opponents this season highlighted by the most Quad 1 wins in the country (13).
- The Gators dropped to 8-3 against top-10 foes.
- Florida has won nine of its last 13 SEC series dating back to last season, going 25-14 across 39 SEC contests in that span.
- McDonald collected an RBI hit for the third-straight game in the series (RBI single in fourth) after hitting his first-two career homers in games one and two.
- Whritenour pitched a career-high 3 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out two.
- Florida has won 46 of its last 67 regular-season games dating back to last season.
- Florida is now 15-20 all-time and 10-6 in Gainesville against Texas A&M.
- The Gators are 14-14 overall and 9-3 at home vs. the Aggies under Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan.
- Sunday's official attendance was 5,578.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
On today's start on the mound and offensive approach…
"I thought Russ was just hanging on to be honest with you. Looked up on the board and he had 80 pitches through four and their guy had less than 40. I think that pretty much tells the difference in the starts. Tried to get an inning out of Coop and couldn't do that, and Josh came in and did an outstanding job. Pretty typical of the way we have been losing games this year. Had an error, led to a run and bobbled the ball in left, led to a run… Got beat by a fastball for five innings with Lyons and Freshcorn, two pitchers that we have seen this weekend, and we had two backwards Ks in key spots on fastballs…"
On whether he views the backend of the schedule as favorable…
"I am not looking at anything like favorable, honestly. I am just worried about our team and how we can improve. I am not looking at it any other way. I'll watch Oklahoma. They are gonna be a handful. They can pitch, they can play defense and they run the bases extremely aggressively. We will have a lot of work to do this week to prepare for them."
ON DECK
The Gators have the midweek off before traveling to Norman, Okla. for their first-ever three-game series at Oklahoma from May 1-3.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gavin Lyons (8-0)
L: Sandefer, Russell (2-2)
S: Clayton Freshcorn (9)
Batting:
2B: Bear Harrison 1
HR: Jorian Wilson 1 ; Bear Harrison 1
RBI: Gavin Grahovac 1 ; Chris Hacopian 1 ; Jorian Wilson 1 ; Bear Harrison 1
SF: Chris Hacopian 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gavin Grahovac 1 ; Jorian Wilson 2 ; Bear Harrison 1 ; Boston Kellner 1
Batting:
2B: Bowen, Karson 1 ; Kurland, Cade 1
RBI: McDonald, Caden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kurland, Cade 1
HBP: Kurland, Cade 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP/1B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballJosh Whritenour Postgame Press Conference April 26, 2026 | Texas A&M
Sunday, April 26
Kevin O'Sullivan Postgame Press Conference April 26, 2026 | Texas A&M
Sunday, April 26
Blake Cyr Postgame Press Conference April 25, 2026 | Texas A&M
Saturday, April 25
Kevin O'Sullivan Postgame Press Conference April 25, 2026 | Texas A&M
Saturday, April 25
