UF BSB: Kurland, Heyman Provide Late Fireworks as Gators Even Series at Georgia

Cade Kurland tied it in the eighth with a two-run shot while Luke Heyman’s three-run blast in the 10th provided the game-winning blow.

ATHENS, Ga. – Florida scored five unanswered runs from the eighth inning on to rally for a 7-4, series-evening victory over No. 9 Georgia at Foley Field on Friday afternoon.

The Gators (27-26, 12-17 SEC) trailed by two after seven frames, but plated five unanswered runs on two big flies to steal game two. Cade Kurland<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-kurland/16372> (1-for-5) and Luke Heyman<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/luke-heyman/16370> (1-for-5) provided the late heroics for the Orange & Blue. Kurland tied it in the eighth with a two-out, two-run shot while Heyman’s three-run blast in the 10th signified the game-winning blow. Michael Robertson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/michael-robertson/16375> (3-for-4) and Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> (3-for-4) both turned in three-hit days, doubled, scored and drove in a runs.

On the pitching end, right-hander Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/16373> dazzled with 4 2/3 innings of relief, allowing just one run on two hits. He struck out six en route to his second win of the campaign.

The Gators and Bulldogs (39-13, 17-12 SEC) exchanged zeros across the first two innings before Florida took a 1-0 lead in the third. Robertson reached on a one-out single up the middle, then advanced to second on a groundout to second base by Ashton Wilson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ashton-wilson/16638>. Caglianone put the Gators on the board with a two-out, RBI double to center field.

UF starter Liam Peterson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/liam-peterson/16631> chucked another scoreless frame in the third, notching a strikeout of Charlie Condon for his third of the day. The freshman retired the side in order in the fourth while fanning another Bulldog.

Georgia eventually broke through in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-1 edge. With two outs, Corey Collins deposited a 1-1 offering over the right-field wall for a two-run homer.

The Bulldogs tacked on one more in the sixth, using an RBI single to right from Slate Alford to extend their lead to 3-1. Georgia had a chance to produce a crooked number, but Neely entered a one-out, bases-loaded jam and recorded two-straight strikeouts to minimize the damage.

The two teams traded runs in the seventh, with Robertson doubling home Dale Thomas<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/dale-thomas/16378> with a knock into the left-center gap to bring the Gators within one. The Bulldogs promptly answered, as Collins smacked a leadoff homer to left-center in the bottom half to regain a two-run lead at 4-2.

Caglianone led off the eighth with a single to right for the Gators, but the next two hitters were retired for the Orange & Blue. With two outs and a full count, Kurland came up clutch with a game-tying, two-run home run to left field for a 4-4 ballgame.

Now tied up at four, Neely blanked the Bulldogs in the bottom of the eighth. The UF closer then registered three-straight outs in the ninth to send the matchup into extra innings.

Leading off the top of the 10th, Wilson got the Gators going with a single to left. Caglianone followed with a knock to center and Colby Shelton<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/colby-shelton/16639> bunted both runners into scoring position. Heyman then stepped to the plate and slugged a go-ahead, three-run jack to left field for a 7-4 Florida advantage.

Neely navigated a scoreless bottom of the 10th to cement the win for Florida. The righty improved to 2-4, earning the victory by firing 4 2/3 relief innings with just one run allowed on two hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Georgia reliever Brian Zedlin dropped to 3-3 after surrendering six earned runs over 3 2/3 frames. He was charged with seven hits allowed, three walks and six strikeouts.

Peterson did not factor into the decision after pitching 5 1/3 innings with three earned runs allow. The right-hander finished with five hits allowed, two walks and four strikeouts.

UGA starting pitcher Leighton Finley also received a no-decision with six frames of one-run ball on three hits and two walks. He struck out eight.

NOTABLES

* Thursday’s official attendance was 3,483.
* Florida produced its 14th come-from-behind win of the season including the team’s 11th in SEC play.
* Heyman homered for the fifth time in the last four games and for the third time in the series.
* Heyman now owns a career-high 13 home runs on the year.
* Heyman’s game two homer gave Florida a 7-4 lead in the 10th inning.
* Florida’s scoring streak of 132-consecutive games is the third-longest in program history (May 27, 2022-present).
* Caglianone extended his on-base streak to 39-straight contests.
* Caglianone has hit safely in 50 of 53 games while reaching safely in all but one contest.
* Caglianone recorded his 27th multi-hit game and sixth three-hit performance.
* Kurland hit his 11th homer of the season to tie the game in the eighth.
* Robertson picked up his fifth multi-hit game of the season with a 3-for-4 performance.
* Across the team’s last 82 tilts against SEC teams, Florida is 49-33.
* That includes a 41-30 regular-season mark.
* Florida is now 194-116-2 all-time vs. Georgia including an 87-65 mark in Athens.
* The Gators are 31-18 against the Bulldogs under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1752> (12-11 away).
* Florida has won 17 of the last 29 meetings.