Mac Guscette connected for his second home run of the campaign and freshman Anthony Ursitti pitched a career-high 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida dropped Friday night’s series premiere to No. 1 Tennessee by a score of 8-2 at the newly-minted Condron Family Ballpark.
After a scoreless first inning, the Volunteers (35-3, 15-1 SEC) erupted for seven runs in the second. The big blow came from Trey Lipscomb, who connected for a three-run home run to cap off the scoring.
The Gators (23-15, 6-10 SEC) got one run back in the bottom of the third. Colby Halter<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15096&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0skdTqKfautX5UTwulII5PzwWub-5XzWPQqiGf5ul6THeAr-65snuAk19lgbTpTl&s=p1ceEEGzH2WtUpobc8-470teXVUPbyTvmo6vpNXKybM&e= > and Jud Fabian<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15127&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0skdTqKfautX5UTwulII5PzwWub-5XzWPQqiGf5ul6THeAr-65snuAk19lgbTpTl&s=Qs8i27qGQW1c4kCtXtRTcLZKdrbtKrMa59epfwJnfUs&e= > reached base via a fielding error and a walk, then advanced on a double steal. With one out, Sterlin Thompson<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15108&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0skdTqKfautX5UTwulII5PzwWub-5XzWPQqiGf5ul6THeAr-65snuAk19lgbTpTl&s=0ASpHNgfnp2ZqZYAffON4ZPP52RjQv_-3x1Ed-drQ2k&e= > produced an RBI groundout to first base to bring home Halter for Florida’s first run of the night.
Florida and Tennessee traded runs in the fifth, with the Vols using a Cortland Lawson sacrifice fly to extend their lead. Mac Guscette<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15095&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0skdTqKfautX5UTwulII5PzwWub-5XzWPQqiGf5ul6THeAr-65snuAk19lgbTpTl&s=wRGxNXkNJNVr2aJkh8AcULxJOyslXZ1tCFeqlDZixJE&e= > quickly got the run back, as he led off the bottom half with his second home run of the campaign to cut the deficit to 8-2.
The score held throughout the remainder of the game, thanks to a strong relief outing from freshman Anthony Ursitti<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15125&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0skdTqKfautX5UTwulII5PzwWub-5XzWPQqiGf5ul6THeAr-65snuAk19lgbTpTl&s=E-d34CQX7JfOS1ycpXvsZA-HbiYfYG4V6N8FYTPZIHc&e= >. After entering in the fifth inning, the right-hander fired a career-high 3 2/3 scoreless frames, tying his personal best with three strikeouts.
Florida starting pitcher Ryan Slater<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15105&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0skdTqKfautX5UTwulII5PzwWub-5XzWPQqiGf5ul6THeAr-65snuAk19lgbTpTl&s=vWIIR9tFa6oHKamA_8gN3BMXy6Y3SX8y177zVbV974I&e= > (2-2) was saddled with the loss, pitching 4 1/3 innings with eight earned runs allowed on seven hits and four walks. He struck out two.
Tennessee starting pitcher Chase Burns (7-1) earned the victory after tossing 6 1/3 frames of two-run ball on two hits and three walks while striking out five.
NOTABLES
* Prior to the game, Florida unveiled the signage of the newly-named Condron Family Ballpark.
* The ballpark was renamed in honor of former Gators pitcher Gary Condron, who has donated more money to Gator Boosters than any other single donor.
* Condron handled ceremonial first-pitch honors prior to the game.
* Freshman reliever Fisher Jameson<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15120&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0skdTqKfautX5UTwulII5PzwWub-5XzWPQqiGf5ul6THeAr-65snuAk19lgbTpTl&s=HNYHnijfdyLkpWxnAwrQzUFbBAH18JescL3Kmmn8RVk&e= > made his collegiate debut in the ninth inning, retiring each of the two batters he faced.
* Ursitti set a career high with 3 2/3 innings pitched while tying his career high with three strikeouts.
* Thompson drove in Florida’s first run on Friday night.
* The trio of Thompson, Wyatt Langford<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15097&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0skdTqKfautX5UTwulII5PzwWub-5XzWPQqiGf5ul6THeAr-65snuAk19lgbTpTl&s=NLMwigKuTn2Q2ABZOxprEGfq6E2c7_W3vrm3zamz8Yw&e= > and J. Fabian has recorded an RBI in 33 of 38 games this year while picking up hits in 37 of 38 games.
* Florida is now 154-91 all-time against Tennessee.
* The Gators are 83-42 vs. the Vols at home.
* Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_coaches.aspx-3Frc-3D1445&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0skdTqKfautX5UTwulII5PzwWub-5XzWPQqiGf5ul6THeAr-65snuAk19lgbTpTl&s=c-dF5Zt0g_2eiEy2dyZNgB38gjoBQHoxYXjOendyO6M&e= > is 24-17 vs. Tennessee.
* That includes a 12-7 mark at home.
* Florida is 10-6 vs. Tennessee in weekend series under O’Sullivan.
* Florida is 41-11 across the program’s last 52 regular season games at Florida Ballpark.
* The Gators are 26-8 in their last 34 regular season home games.
* Rivera extended his team-leading on-base streak to 12 games.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On the loss…
“I mean it’s disappointing. We had four walks, two hit by batters, two leadoff walks again, and the big inning. Throw in a three-run homer. We got to do a better job with the leadoff men. It’s really that simple.”
On the pitching in the game…
“Gave up seven in the second. I think the biggest takeaway from tonight was, obviously, Ursitti threw the ball really well. Then, Fisher Jameson<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15120&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0skdTqKfautX5UTwulII5PzwWub-5XzWPQqiGf5ul6THeAr-65snuAk19lgbTpTl&s=HNYHnijfdyLkpWxnAwrQzUFbBAH18JescL3Kmmn8RVk&e= > came in and threw the ball across the plate. I thought Ursitti did a really nice job. He’s been getting better. It was nice to get Fisher out there for his first outing. I thought he threw the ball across the plate. Their pitching was really good tonight. Their starter was good. He threw a bunch of cutters. Kept the ball off the barrel. They came up with a hard throwing right-hander in [Ben] Joyce. Then came in with the left at the end, so they had three different looks. They pitched really well. We just got to put this one behind us and get ready to play tomorrow. Look forward to getting Brandon [Sproat] back out there.”
On Ursitti’s performance…
“He’s throwing across the plate. He’s been eager to get back out there some more. We’ve had a couple of talks. He’s kind of voiced that he wants some more opportunities. Tonight, he took advantage of it for sure.”
UP NEXT
The Gators and Vols meet again in game two on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The matchup will stream on SEC Network+.
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