No. 7 Florida Dominates No. 5 Florida State 7-2, Ends Seminoles' Undefeated Streak

No. 7 Florida delivered a dominant performance against No. 5 Florida State on Tuesday night at Dick Howser Stadium, securing a 7-2 victory and handing the Seminoles their first loss of the season.

The win extended the Gators' current winning streak to five games as they head into SEC Opening Weekend.

With the victory, Florida (16-2) improved its all-time record under Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan to 36-22 against Florida State (15-1), including 23 wins in the last 30 meetings between the two rivals.

Florida’s pitching staff played a key role in the game, with a trio of arms limiting the Seminoles to just one run through the first eight innings.

Billy Barlow started on the mound for the Gators and was solid through three innings, allowing no runs on three hits.

Jackson Barberi took over for Barlow in the fourth, earning his first career win with three shutout innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit.

Luke McNeillie closed out the final two innings, adding four strikeouts and keeping Florida State from making a comeback.

At the plate, the Gators were led by Colby Shelton, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and a team-high three RBIs.

Shelton’s bat helped extend the lead for Florida in the later innings.

Luke Heyman and Justin Nadeau also contributed key hits, with Heyman finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI single, while Nadeau was 2-for-5, scoring two runs and driving in one.

The game was scoreless through the first inning, but Florida broke through in the top of the second.

Brendan Lawson reached base after being hit by a pitch, and after advancing to second on a failed pickoff attempt, Heyman delivered a two-out RBI single to put the Gators up 1-0.

Barlow worked efficiently through the next two innings, and though he took a line drive off his shoulder in the third, he managed to keep Florida State at bay.

With the 1-0 lead, Florida added three more runs in the fifth.

Landon Stripling drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Heyman moved him to third with a single, and Ty Evans brought him home with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Nadeau followed with an RBI double down the right-field line, and Shelton capped off the inning with an RBI single, extending Florida’s lead to 4-0.

Florida State responded in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run from Drew Faurot, cutting the Gators' lead to 4-1.

However, Barberi quickly settled in and retired the next two batters, and Florida's lead remained intact.

In the seventh inning, the Gators tacked on two more runs.

Nadeau reached base with an infield single, and Shelton followed with a two-run homer to left-center, his second of the season, to make it 6-1.

Florida added one more run in the eighth, as Stripling drew another walk, and Heyman and pinch-hitter Hayden Yost were both hit by pitches to load the bases.

Bobby Boser drove in Stripling with an RBI groundout, giving Florida a 7-1 advantage.

Florida State managed to get one run back in the bottom of the ninth, as Myles Bailey hit a solo homer to right, but closer Alex Philpott came in and retired the next three batters to seal the 7-2 win for the Gators.

Barberi (1-0) was credited with the win, throwing a career-high three innings in relief and allowing just one run.

Florida State starter Evan Chrest (2-1) took the loss, allowing one unearned run in just one inning of work.

With the win, the Gators have now outscored their opponents 52-10 during their five-game winning streak.

Florida’s pitching staff has been dominant, striking out 213 batters while allowing just 49 walks in 18 games this season.

Florida will look to carry this momentum into their SEC Opening Weekend series at Tennessee, where they will face a tough challenge against the second-ranked Volunteers.

The Gators will open the series on Friday, March 14, at 6:30 p.m., live on SEC Network+.

Game two is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m., and the series finale will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m., also on SEC Network+.