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After getting blown out in the last two games, the No.7 Florida Gators got a much-needed win Wednesday by beating the FAU Owls 4-2 at Condron Ballpark.
A pair of clutch solo home runs and some timely pitching were the biggest reasons the Gators got back in the win column.
Florida (12-2) jumped on the board first after a Colby Shelton RBI double that brought Bobby Boser in. FAU (10-2) got out of the first-inning jam by giving up just one run. The scoring continued in the second inning when Luke Heyman scored from third off a Hayden Yost sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. Again, FAU got out of trouble, allowing just one run.
Following a scoreless third inning, Blake Cyr sent one to the right field berm to make it 3-0 in the fourth with his second homer of the season.
After the hot start early on for Florida, the bats went cold for the rest of the middle innings. In the eighth inning, Florida was bleeding some. Seemingly just trying to hold on to the one-run lead. It wasn’t until big Brody Donay cranked his seventh home run of the season to give the Gators a big insurance run that pushed the lead to 4-2.
️ DONAY DEMO NO. 7 ️#GoGators // SECN+ pic.twitter.com/ZPWD8NwbPm
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) March 6, 2025
Missed Opportunities for Both Teams
Florida had opportunities to stretch the lead, but failed to get that big hit. The Gators consistently ran themselves out of innings in large part due to double plays. The big one came in the seventh, with a 3-2 lead and the bases loaded. Florida grounded into a 6-3 double play to end the inning. Credit the FAU pitching staff for delivering in key spots.
FAU had two massive chances to even this ball game in the seventh and eighth innings. Back-to-back innings the Owls got the tying run on second with nobody out and failed to get the tying run home.
Barlow Gets Back on Track
Entering Wednesday night’s game, the pitching staff for Florida has looked rough. But righty Billy Barlow got the train back on track with a solid start for the Gators. It was Barlow’s best outing of the year. He took command of the zone and allowed his defense to work. Barlow kept a talented Owls offense at bay, giving up just one run in the sixth.
The only trouble Barlow faced was in the fifth inning when FAU had runners at first and second with only one out. But he struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
“It was big,” Barlow said. “I’m just trying to let my defense work, make plays for me and I’m glad it worked out in my favor.”
First win in Orange & Blue
5.1 IP
4 H
1 R
0 ER
1 BB
5 K pic.twitter.com/O2v09rAbes— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) March 6, 2025
His final line on the night: 5 1/3 innings pitched, one run, zero earned runs, four hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
Left-handed pitcher Frank Menendez relieved Barlow in the sixth and was able to escape with just one run scoring, but ran into more danger in the seventh after a leadoff walk came around to score, largely in part to an error by second baseman Justin Nadeau,who tried to underhand flip a ball from point-blank range and sailed it well over first baseman Brendan Lawson’s head.
With the tying run on second with nobody out, Menendez buckled down and struck out the next three hitters to get out of the inning.
Closer Alex Philpott assumed the role of getting the six-out save and putting this game on ice. He escaped danger in the eighth after FAU got the leadoff man on second via a single and a stolen base by striking out the next three hitters.
Filthy Philly #GoGators // SECN+ pic.twitter.com/HnOJ1bNMqC
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) March 6, 2025
It was a much cleaner ninth for Philpott. The leadoff man got on again, but he retired the side to finish the game.
Up Next
The Gators are back in action Friday night for the beginning of a three-game series against the Harvard Crimson. Watch the game on SEC Network+ or listen live on ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM WRUF. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
