ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM WRUF ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM WRUF
Florida clinched the Sunshines State Series against No. 9 Florida State on Tuesday night at Condron Ballpark by beating the Seminoles 5-4.
The Gators got reliable pitching and some clutch two-out hitting to clinch the season series 2-1. Brendon Lawson was the player of the game by going 2-for-4 with a double, home run and four RBIs.
“An in-state rival like that, it’s awesome to get a win like that,”Jake Clemente said.
Jackson Barberi started on the mound for Florida (21-14) on Tuesday. After retiring the first two batters, Barberi gave up back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. He regrouped and struck out Drew Faurot to end the top half of the first. Florida State (25-7) sent Peyton Prescott to the mound. In the first, he gave up a one-out single to Bobby Boser, who stole second to get into scoring position. Boser came around to score on a Luke Heyman ground out to put Florida up 1-0.
It was a quick outing for Prescott, who was pulled after the first inning for Brady Louck in the second.
The final line for Prescott was an inning pitched, two hits and one run allowed.
Gritty Gators
Florida looked primed for a big second inning. With runners at second and third with two outs, Justin Nadeau had just watched ball four. It looked like the Gators would have them loaded, but that ball four-pitch went right between the legs of FSU catcher Hunter Carns. Meanwhile, Ty Evans, the runner at third, took off and tried scoring. Unfortunately for Evans, the ball bounced off the backstop bricks so fast, it went directly back into Carns’ glove. Carns was able to turn back around and catch Evans attempting to steal home to end the inning.
Florida State tied things in the top of the third off a Max Williams sacrifice fly. Joe Charles was the third pitcher for the Seminoles. With two outs, Florida re-claimed the lead off back-to-back doubles from Heyman and Lawson. The Gators headed into the fourth up 2-1. Caden McDonald took the mound for Florida in the top of the fourth, marking the end of the night for Barberi.
The final line on Barberi- three innings, five hits, one run and four strikeouts.
Following back-to-back walks from McDonald forced an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. Charles retired the Gators’ side in order, the first 1-2-3 inning of the game.
FSU outfielder Brody DeLamielleure got the fifth inning going with a towering opposite-field home run to tie the game at 2-2. McDonald walked the next two batters, which was enough for UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan to pull him and put McCall Biemiller in. Biemiller worked out of the first and second jam with a 4-6-3 double play and a strikeout.
#BeatFSU Highlights ️
Wake up. Watch. Repeat. pic.twitter.com/ExTwabDQ27
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 9, 2025
Maison Martinez was the next Seminole pitcher in the bottom of the fifth. With two on and two out, Lawson delivered. Down 0-2 in the count, Lawson sent a ball off the scoreboard for a three-run home run to give Florida a 5-2 lead.
“He threw it twice, I just thought he was gonna go to it again while still trying to stay with the heater,” Lawson said. “Obviously, he left it a little too much over the plate and tried to take advantage of it.”
Biemiller came out for the sixth, but walked the leadoff man and was pulled shortly after. Luke McNeillie was the next Gators’ pitcher. He sat down all three Seminoles he faced and ended the inning. Peyton Manca replaced Martinez on the mound after a lead-off walk. Following a Hayden Yost walk, it seemed Florida was going to add to its lead. But Manca dug in and struck Nadeau and Boser out.
The Seminoles punched back in the seventh with two runs to make it a 5-4 Florida lead. In the eighth, Jake Clemente was the next Gator to take the mound. Clemente wasted no time with FSU hitters, posting an easy 1-2-3 eighth.
JC goes 1️⃣-2️⃣-3️⃣!#GoGators // ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/Ip0dsioLdX
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 9, 2025
Chris Knier came out for the eighth, making him the sixth FSU pitcher of the night. He worked a clean eighth, giving the bats one last chance to tie the ball game up. Clemente came back out in the ninth to face the Seminole top of the order. He struck out the first two guys and get Williams to pop out to third to end the ballgame.
“That’s the best Jake’s pitched all year long,” O’Sullivan said. ” His pace was just outstanding in the ninth.”
Florida pitching held Alex Lodise, Williams and Myles Bailey to a combined 3-for-12 with five strikeouts. The trio entered Tuesday’s contest with a combined 35 home runs and 97 RBIs.
“There is certain guys in the lineup that you don’t want to hurt you, you can put Bailey in there too. He’s dangerous, really dangerous,” O’Sullivan said. ” Their top half of their lineup is really good.”
Sunshine State Series
The Gators have now claimed seven of the last eight season series against the Seminoles. Florida has won 10 of 16 seasons series against FSU under O’Sullivan. Florida is now 129-135-1 all-time against FSU, including 67-50 at home. The Gators are 37-23 overall and 19-4 in Gainesville in the series under O’Sullivan. Florida has won 24 of the last 32 meetings.
Looking Ahead
Florida will now turn the page on this victory with a big SEC series starting Thursday against Missouri (12-20, 0-12 SEC) at Condron Family Ballpark. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on SEC Network. You can listen live at ESPN 98.1-FM/850-AM WRUF + WJXL 1010AM.
