Jac Caglianone hit his 15th home run and Liam Peterson set a career-high with nine strikeouts.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 6 Florida was defeated by Missouri, 4-3, in game two at Taylor Stadium on Saturday evening.
Despite outhitting the Tigers (14-18, 3-8 SEC), 7-4, the Gators (17-13, 6-5 SEC) left eight runners on base against Missouri’s three. Seven of the nine Gators in the starting lineup collected hits, with Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> (1-for-4) providing the biggest punch with a two-run home run.
For the second time in as many days, Missouri took an early, first-inning lead. With two outs, Jeric Curtis raced home on a wild pitch after reaching via a leadoff infield single. Kaden Peer then singled through the right side to score Jackson Beamen for a 2-0 Missouri advantage.
Florida starter Liam Peterson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/liam-peterson/16631> rebounded for a clean second inning while fanning two Tigers, then went one-two-three again in the third and fourth to make it 10-straight batters retired. The streak remained intact until the fifth, when Peterson fanned Drew Culbertson for the second out of the inning, but he reached first on a wild pitch.
Peterson utilized a strikeout and groundout to strand Culbertson, passing the baton to the top of the UF batting order. Cade Kurland<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-kurland/16372> led off the sixth with a single to right, then came home on a two-run home run to right field off the bat of Caglianone to give the Gators their first lead of the series, 3-2.
The edge proved to be short-lived, as Missouri jumped back in front, 4-3, in the bottom half. Jedier Hernandez came through with a two-out, RBI single to center to bring in Trevor Austin, followed by a wild pitch that plated Jackson Lovich.
Right-hander Blake Purnell<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-purnell/16374> assumed pitching duties in the seventh and used a strikeout and 6-3 double play to make quick work of the Tigers. Florida proceeded to put two runners on in the following half inning via a Tyler Shelnut<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-shelnut/16376> single and fielding error at second base, but Landon Russell<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/landon-russell/16636> lined out to deep left field to end the threat.
Purnell struck out two batters en route to a clean frame in the bottom of the eighth, holding the one-run deficit for the UF offense heading into the top of the ninth. The Gators proceeded to go down in order as the matchup ended in a 4-3 tally in favor of the Tigers.
Tigers reliever Brock Lucas (4-0) earned the victory, surrendering two earned runs in two innings. He was charged with three hits allowed, two walks and three strikeouts.
Peterson (1-4) received the loss. The freshman pitched a career-high six innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out the most batters in his young career with nine.
MU closer Ryan Magdic was awarded his first save of the campaign. He finished with two scoreless innings on one hit and one strikeout.
Mizzou starting pitcher Javyn Pimental did not factor into the decision, tossing five innings of one-run ball on three hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
NOTABLES
* Saturday’s official attendance was 2,209.
* Peterson set career highs with six innings pitched and nine strikeouts.
* Caglianone connected for his team-leading 15th home run of the season.
* Shelnut has reached base safely in 17-straight games followed closely by Caglianone at 16-consecutive.
* The Gators are 44-18 in weekend series since 2023 and 53-21 across the team’s previous 25 series.
* Florida is 43-21 in its last 64 games vs. SEC opponents including a 35-18 regular-season mark.
* Florida is now 31-7 all-time vs. Missouri including 11-6 on the road.
* The Gators are 26-6 against the Tigers under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1752> (11-6 away).
* Florida has won 20 of the last 23 meetings.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On having a better approach at the plate but not coming out on top…
“That’s what it boils down to in these one-run games, having key at bats in certain times. I thought Liam (Peterson) pitched well but, certainly, in certain situations, I think twice he gave up a hit and walked the following hitter and got himself into a bit of trouble. One time I think on a four-pitch walk. They scored four runs on four hits and I think all four of them were with two outs. We’ve gotta do a better job of closing out the inning. Obviously, we gave up a couple there in the first. Offensively, tried to shake up the lineup a little bit. I thought Landon (Russell) had a couple good swings today. He hit the triple down the right field line and hit the line drive to left with two runners on. We had first and second early in the game and struck out and then another strikeout. We tried to put a drag on but didn’t get that down and we ended up striking out. We didn’t move the baseball. That was an opportunity to score a run or two in that inning. Then we had first and third and we need to hit a sac fly there and ended up striking out. We ran Jaylen (Guy) just to try and stay out of the double play and then obviously we struck out and they had the opportunity to walk Jac (Caglianone). We’re just not playing winning baseball. Those types of situations when they come up can make a difference in a one-run game.”
On getting leadoff runners on but not capitalizing against Pimental…
“He ran quite a few 3-2 counts. He had a little trouble spinning it for a strike. His strength is to go glove-side and it looked like he was trying to pitch into the wind because anything hit into the air to right, other than Jac, no one else was going to get a ball out of the yard the other way. Credit their pitching. They’ve done a good job. They threw a 3-2 breaking ball with the bases loaded and landed it. It’s just one of those things. We’ve gotta have one at bat here or there to make the difference in the ballgame.”
UP NEXT
Florida and Missouri meet in the series finale on Sunday, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
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