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The 14th ranked Gators (18-9, 3-5 SEC) dropped their second straight game to the Georgia Bulldogs (21-6, 5-3 SEC) 6-1 Friday night. Scoreless through five innings, a strong 6th and 8th inning from the Bulldogs offense propelled Georgia to a series win, handing the Gators their second straight SEC series loss.
Game two final.
Presented by @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/8UtGw2b1LG
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 2, 2022
Early Pitchers Duel
Hard-throwing right-hander Brandon Sproat got the start on the mound for the Gators. Through the first five innings, Sproat easily set down the Bulldogs’ offense striking out seven batters.
Georgia’s ace Jonathan Cannon started on the mound and gave an impressive performance. Cannon was able to wiggle out of trouble multiple times, going six strong innings. Despite striking out only three Gators, he gave up five hits and walked two batters.
๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ญ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ: 6๏ธโฃ#GoGators | ๐บ: https://t.co/WCnbYoafwx pic.twitter.com/wCaSREgHwV
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 1, 2022
Two Big Innings
Georgia’s offense came alive in the bottom of the 6th inning. A bunt rbi single from Chaney Rogers opened the scoring on the night and later in the inning, Parks Harber hit a two-run double just out of the reach of left fielder Wyatt Langford. The Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead heading into the top of the 7th inning.
Moreover, in the 8th inning, the Bulldogs offense struck again. A fielder’s choice and a rbi double extended the Bulldogs lead to 5-1, and another Bulldogs run came in making the score 6-1 heading to the final inning.
Missed Opportunities
The Gators offense collected eight hits throughout the game but were unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position. The team had bases loaded with zero outs in the top of the 6th inning. Eventually, the Bulldogs would escape the inning with no damage done.
In the next inning, the Gators were threatening again with runners on second and third with one out. Sterlin Thompson hit a shallow fly ball to left field, and Mac Guscette tagged from third base but was thrown out at home, ending the inning and halting any momentum the Gators had.
What a play from @ConnorTate9 to @fgonzalez0212 to end the inning!#GoDawgs | #RunItBack pic.twitter.com/BCj2jZyZF8
— Georgia Baseball (@BaseballUGA) April 2, 2022
The Gators were able to get on the scoreboard in the top of the 8th when Wyatt Langford hit his 10th home run of the season. However, Langford was due up next after the double-play that ended the 7th inning. The team was unable to plate any runs for the rest of the game, ultimately losing the game 6-1.
#Gators strike for one in the eighth thanks to a solo blast by Langford.
UF 1, UGA 3 | M8#GoGators | ๐บ: https://t.co/WCnbYoafwx pic.twitter.com/w0EX6G98PH
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 2, 2022
Up Next
The team will look to avoid the sweep against the Bulldogs, playing in the series finale today at 2 p.m.
