The Gators saw their five-game winning streak end despite 3 1/3 strong innings of relief from Nick Ficarrotta and a three-hit day by Wyatt Langford.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – One day removed from clinching a series victory with a doubleheader sweep, No. 11 Florida dropped game three to Seton Hall by a score of 6-4 at Florida Ballpark on Sunday afternoon.
For the second-straight game, the Pirates (1-12) took an early lead over the Gators (13-4). In the second, Seton Hall put on a pair of runners with a walk and a Staus Pokrovsky single through the left side. Will Gale then came in to score on a Collin Sheehan sacrifice bunt to second base, making it a 1-0 game.
Seton Hall tacked on two more runs in the third to go up 3-0, scoring the first on an RBI single to left field by Gale and the second on a bases-loaded walk by Sheehan.
Coming off a six RBI day during Saturday’s doubleheader, 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=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=iPa2ChvSDngTeacvAHML3PTDgzJLAwXJ_aC-mfFhJ68&e= > put the Gators on the board in fourth. Leading off the frame, Langford deposited a 1-0 offering from Pirates starter Brennan O’Neill over the left field wall to cut the deficit to two.
Seton Hall got the run back the next half inning, as Pokrovsky singled through the left side to bring in Pat D’Amico. From that point forward, right-handed reliever Nick Ficarrotta<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15094&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=0fCozdBrLZWgSjoSLSjdxns36Xo1Tj41KeUf29xoCO0&e= > was in control, holding the score at 4-1 through the top of the sixth. Ficarrotta finished with 3.1 innings pitched, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out two.
The Gators began to claw their way back with a two-run effort in the sixth, beginning with a wild pitch that allowed 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=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=WZrEjrwH1z4XgE2oiSDO767Sho2MH84YvgzajbL486o&e= > to touch home. After previously reaching on a single to right, 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=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=rN9rLNLhIjjEQQJOEQKSK49Pa8kfxw9doDk8jblOGL8&e= > came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Kendrick Calilao<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15092&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=oMGpsqtALNESO8LiyQ1tf_SuSmIqB6FeBJdLlY5RrRc&e= >.
The Pirates re-extended their lead to three runs by answering back with two runs of their own in the seventh. Gale singled to right field to plate D’Amico, while Oscar Murray scored on a fielding error by Deric Fabian<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15119&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=NMh6Xqx0_5L_QYAqhZAuCMgxNF-11RzcQUojG3f0Q8k&e= > to put Seton Hall ahead, 6-3.
Florida remained behind by three runs up until the bottom of the ninth, at which point the Gators attempted to put together a late rally to salvage the finale. D. Fabian led off with a walk, then Ty Evans<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15111&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=b7pzlYMgY8ZcP5yFqb5NnQ9YVHYMdS77nahOeEpRqo4&e= > came through with a pinch-hit single to right two batters later. With one man down, J. Fabian reduced the Seton Hall lead to two runs via a sacrifice fly to left-center field. That ultimately marked the extent of the scoring for Florida, as the game concluded with a final tally of 6-4.
Starting pitcher Nick Pogue<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15102&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=A5HmaUj__G_cTM3ooq0AX5QbiczOqEMjRZP-FF-iuh8&e= > (0-1) made a 733-day return from Tommy John surgery, but was saddled with the loss after pitching 1.2 innings with one earned run allowed on three hits and three walks.
Blake Purnell<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15103&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=Gy9xU7qEX8Q_gTJC6iqvUsT456xvJdYaFbYe9vj7t68&e= > (1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 1 K) and Garrett Milchin<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15100&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=2lPGgddRR74bkarh3-2vfcNU-i8ergSifuArDJhw9F0&e= > (1.0 IP) provided scoreless relief appearances for Florida to finish out the game.
O’Neill (1-2) earned the victory, tossing five innings with three earned runs allowed on four hits and one walk while striking out nine. Joe Cinnella was credited with the save after pitching two innings to close it out with one earned run allowed on two hits and one walk.
Langford (3-for-4) was the lone Gator to record multiple hits.
NOTABLES
* Langford produced a 3-for-4 day with one home run and one double.
* Langford went a combined 7-for-12 (.583) with two homers, one triple, one double, seven RBI, five runs and one stolen base across the three-game series.
* With today’s start on the mound, Pogue made a 733-day return from Tommy John surgery.
* Pogue last pitched on March 10, 2020 vs. Florida State.
* 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=27EoDM2F7B9UQ9IPLtgNKu5NPrCTIEH0TkVSYjKOOGEoUfZ0XUApzIiUd0W4A_5V&s=F-ot7w_LEADqTNh6oBZAgxOJ3ly-zZZexKHghdq_yOc&e= > sits at 598 career victories – just two away from reaching the milestone of 600 wins (all at Florida).
* Florida is now 4-2 all-time vs. Seton Hall (all home games).
* Florida is 36-7 across the program’s last 43 regular season games at Florida Ballpark.
* The Gators are 21-4 in their last 25 regular season home games.
* The Gators have won 12 of their last 14 games overall.
* Calilao extended his hitting streak to a team-leading seven games.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On his thoughts on game three…
“You know, just congratulate their starter. He came in with 10 walks in 10 innings pitched and threw strike after strike. Offensively, we weren’t very good the first half of the ballgame. I think we struck out nine times in the first-five innings. It was good to get Nick [Pogue] back out there. Unfortunately, went to the pen and we weren’t able to find the strike zone, and we fell behind. Their starter kept throwing strike after strike. The wind was blowing in, so everything hit in the air was going to have a really hard time getting out of the yard. But, credit them. They played really well. Their shortstop made a really nice play to start one of the innings in the six hole. And you know, we just fell behind and we just had a hard time catching up. It’s really that simple. And credit Seton Hall. They played really well today.”
On whether rebound runs were a cause for concern today…
“No, I didn’t feel like that. I felt like, you know, Neely’s been throwing the ball good. I thought we may have had a shot catching that ball in right field. And then there’s a ball that’s capped that’s hit in the three hole. So now, all of a sudden you got first and third and I think we created our own issues. We had a double play ball we didn’t make. That hurt. That cost us a run. But it’s just not one phase today. We didn’t hit. We didn’t pitch. And defensively, we made some mistakes that kind of hurt us. It’s really that simple.”
On the importance of moving forward and focusing on FSU…
“There’s nothing else we can do, honestly. Disappointing. I just got asked on the radio what’s the positive coming out of today. Well, you know what? We’re figuring out who we can count on and who we can’t. You know, it’s really that simple, going into SEC play. We’ve been playing for a month now and we’ve been giving some guys some opportunities. Our first two starters have been really solid for us. We’ll figure out Sunday. Garrett [Milchin]’s been throwing the ball good. I think [Ryan] Slater’s been throwing the ball good. He’s got starter stuff. Obviously, you guys have seen Fic and Purnell. I think Neely’s been throwing the ball good. We just need a little bit more help. But, we’ll figure it out. I guess that’s the only positive, coming into SEC play, at least you have a really good handle of who can do what.”
UP NEXT
Florida hosts rival Florida State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The game will stream live on SEC Network+.
