Bulldogs Fall 4-3 To No. 7 Florida

Friday, May 14

Gainesville, Fla.

6:30 p.m.

University of Georgia

28-19, 11-14

Florida

34-15, 16-9

Georgia

Florida

May 14, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score Game47

GAINESVILLE, Fla.— A two-out, run-scoring single in the eighth inning by Josh Rivera lifted seventh-ranked Florida past Georgia 4-3 Friday in front of crowd of 3,006 at Florida Ballpark.

The Gators (34-15, 16-9 SEC) got two scoreless innings of relief including five strikeouts from Jack Leftwich for the win as he improved to 7-3. Georgia (28-19, 11-14 SEC) put two on with two outs in the ninth and had the hot-hitting Josh McAllister at the plate. However, Leftwich got him swinging to end the contest as he finished a carer-best 4-for-5 on the night.

A two-out, solo home run from sophomore Kendrick Calilao put Florida in front 1-0 in the second.
Bulldog freshman left-hander Liam Sullivan, who was making his second straight SEC Friday Night start, had registered four strikeouts through the first two frames. Georgia responded in the third scoring two runs on two hits and taking advantage of a Gator miscue. In the inning, Cole Tate extended his on base streak to 17 games and his hitting streak to eight games, both career highs. Florida tied the game in the bottom of the inning.

Junior Connor Tate broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth with a two-out, RBI-single, scoring McAllister who had reached with his third hit of the evening and his second stolen base. For Tate, it gave him a 27-game on base streak plus a 10-game hitting streak, both career highs. Florida tied the game in the bottom of the inning as Cory Acton singled and scored on a 1-out double by Jacob Young. He would make it to third with two outs and Sullivan came back to strike out slugger Jud Fabian to end the inning. Sullivan provided five innings, allowing three runs on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. Bulldog junior Jack Gowen started the sixth and Georgia turned an inning-ending double play as Ben Anderson ran down a fly ball in shallow centerfield to start the play.

In the top of the seventh, McAllister reached with a two-out double to give him his first four-hit game of his career. However, the Gators turned to left-hander Trey Van Der Wide who retired Blaylock to keep it a 3-3 game. UF starter Tommy Mace registered 10 strikeouts over 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits in a no decision. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Georgia looked to Ben Harris (4-1), and he pitched a scoreless frame before the Gators managed to plate a run in the eighth. Kris Armstrong reached with a one-out walk. Kirby McMullen was hit by a pitch. Armstrong moved to third on a flyout by Calilao that set the stage for Rivera.

The series continues Saturday with first pitch at 6:32 p.m. The game will be available on SEC Network+ and can be heard on the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.

Georgia's Ike Cousins Head Baseball Coach Scott Stricklin
On the game
"They just made one more play than we did. Liam Sullivan gave us a great start and a chance to win. At the end of the day, they got the big hit, and we just couldn't get it done at the end."