UF second baseman Cade Kurland, center, has slammed four home runs in three games in the Gainesville Regional. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — On the final weekend of the regular season at Condron Ballpark, as head coach Kevin O'Sullivan watched Cade Kurland take batting practice, he turned to associate head coach Tom Slater.
O'Sullivan had seen enough of Kurland in the past four seasons to know when the second baseman from Tampa is on the verge of heating up. Slater had not.
"He's looking good in there,'' O'Sullivan said. "He could be about to get hot."
O'Sullivan's eyes did not deceive him, as Kurland has hit in nine of the last 12 games and been a power boost in the eighth hole of Florida's lineup in the Gainesville Regional. Kurland homered for the third consecutive game in Sunday's 16-11 loss to Troy and is 5-for-13 with four home runs, 10 RBI and five runs in the regional.
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 1, 2026
Kurland belted two home runs in UF's 22-10 win over Miami on Saturday night, and he hit a go-ahead homer in Friday's win over Rider before teammate Brendan Lawson's walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth.
A redshirt junior, Kurland went to Omaha in his first two seasons at UF. He missed the postseason last year after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in April. Instead of watching from the dugout, Kurland has returned to the NCAA Tournament with a bang.
Following the memorable win over the Hurricanes, Kurland recalled beating South Carolina at home in 2023 to advance to the College World Series. The atmosphere on Saturday night was similar.
"It might have been the best I've ever seen it,'' Kurland said.
Kurland, hitting .273 with nine homers and 33 RBI, is two hits shy of reaching 200 for his career. He established a program record on Sunday when a pitch for the 52nd time hit him. He has at least one more chance in Monday night's rematch against Troy to add to those numbers, and more importantly, keep alive the quest for a third trip to the CWS in four seasons.
HOMERFEST
Home runs are flying out of Condron Ballpark at an unprecedented rate since the stadium opened in 2021. Through six games in the Gainesville Regional, teams have combined for 35 homers.
"Home runs are fun,'' said Gators shortstop Brendan Lawson, who leads the team with 19. "I mean, not when they are hit against you. It's cool seeing guys leaving the yard."
Gators shortstop Brendan Lawsonafter his two-run homer against Troy on Sunday. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)
The Gators have hit 16, with Troy (10), Miami (5) and Rider (4) rounding out the power explosion. In simple math: 35 homers/6 games = 5.83 per game.
For context, the Gators hit 42 homers in 35 regular-season home games, and opponents smacked 25. Simple math: 67 homers/35 games = 1.91 per game.
"It seems like every fly ball you kind of hold your breath,'' O'Sullivan said. "It's not like we have a small ballpark. It's kind of head-scratching, honestly."
START ME UP
Florida's pitching plans for Monday's rematch against Troy remained uncertain after Sunday's loss.
O'Sullivan said he and his staff would evaluate the numbers and matchups before making a final decision. Caden McDonald Cooper Walls, who opened the season as the No. 3 starter, and Caden McDonald seemed the most likely candidates to get the nod. Meanwhile, the bullpen likely will be all arms on deck other than Sunday starter Liam Peterson (104 pitches).
"We'll have enough to be competitive and have a chance to win,'' O'Sullivan said. "I do know that. We just need a couple of guys to step up."
McDonald, who threw 26 pitches in 1 1/3 shutout innings out of the bullpen in Friday's win over Rider, said regardless of who is on the mound, the Gators must pitch better than they have.
"Get ahead of guys and don't fall behind in counts,'' he said. "We've obviously seen that Troy can hit. We've just got to be confident in our stuff and really execute with two strikes. It seems like that was our issue [Sunday], they were getting a lot of two-strike hits."
QUOTE OF NOTE
"They have no choice. You win, you move on. You don't, your season is over. We played a tough schedule. We've been through our ups and downs. I most definitely think they will be ready to play." – O'Sullivan on if he is confident the Gators will be ready to go Monday night
NUMBERS GAME
Offense has been the story of the Gainesville Regional and the NCAA Tournament as a whole.
The Gators fit perfectly into the larger narrative when you look at the numbers.
The Gators are averaging 13.7 runs in their three regional games, hitting .298 (37-for-124) with 16 HR and 39 RBI. Their opponents are averaging 11 runs per game while hitting .339 (40-for-118) with nine HR and 32 RBI.
Balls have been flying out of Condron Ballpark during the Gainesville Regional. (Photo: Hannah White/UAA Communications)
The most surprising numbers are on the mound. Florida's starting pitchers have pitched 13 2/3 innings, allowing 20 hits, 15 runs (all earned) and two walks. UF starters have struck out 12 with a 9.88 ERA. The bullpen has been worse. Florida relievers have pitched 12 1/3 innings, surrendering 20 hits, 18 earned runs, and 10 walks. UF relievers have struck out 13 and combined for a (gulp!) 14.59 ERA.
What kind of pressure does that put on the offense in Monday's winner-take-all game?
"Same pressure as always,'' McDonald said. "Baseball is a complementary game. Tomorrow, our pitchers could throw a shutout, and we're having a different conversation."
Catcher Karson Bowen remains confident in the Gators' pitching staff and said the offense needs to keep doing what it's been doing.
"We can explode at any moment,'' Bowen said. "When we just hunt our pitches and don't chase out of the zone, that's what you can get. Score as many runs as you can because it makes your life easier."
