No. 7 Florida Suffers First Midweek Loss of Season to UCF, 13-3

The Florida Gators experienced their first midweek loss of the season, falling 13-3 to UCF at John Euliano Park on Tuesday night.

The defeat drops the Gators to 11-2 on the season, while the Knights improve to 9-3.

Florida’s offense started with a leadoff single from Hayden Yost in the opening frame, but the Gators were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, going scoreless in the first.

UCF wasted no time taking control in the bottom half of the inning, as Andrew Williamson belted a two-run homer to left field, putting the Knights ahead 2-0.

The Gators responded quickly in the top of the second, tying the game at 2-2.

Brody Donay got the rally started with a single to right, then advanced to second on a walk from Landon Stripling.

Luke Heyman and Blake Cyr followed with timely RBI singles, bringing both Donay and Stripling home.

Florida starter Matthew Jenkins, making his first-career start, settled in over the next two innings.

The freshman retired UCF in order in the second and third, striking out three along the way.

However, the Gators’ momentum was halted in the fourth inning, as the Knights took a 3-2 lead after Lex Boedicker tripled and scored on a single from Braden Calise.

The Gators had a chance to tie things up again in the fifth.

After Bobby Boser reached base on a throwing error, Colby Shelton doubled into the left-field corner.

However, Boser was thrown out at home trying to score the tying run, and the opportunity slipped away.

UCF capitalized on the momentum swing, adding to their lead in the bottom half of the fifth.

Edian Espinal crushed a three-run home run to right field, pushing the Knights' advantage to 6-2.

The home run was just the beginning of a dominant stretch for UCF, as they tacked on four more runs in the sixth.

Dylan King drew a bases-loaded walk, and DeAmez contributed a two-run single.

Espinal then doubled home King to extend the lead to 10-2.

Florida was held scoreless in the seventh, but UCF continued to pour it on in the eighth.

The Knights scored three more runs to make it 13-2.

Ross singled home Antonio Jimenez, while King scored on a 6-3 double play by Espinal.

Boedicker rounded out the scoring with a single that plated one more run.

The Gators showed some fight in the ninth, with Brendan Lawson leading off the inning with an opposite-field home run, his third of the season, cutting the lead to 13-3.

Despite the late rally, Florida couldn't muster any more offense.

Reliever Dominic Castellano (2-0) earned the win for UCF, tossing 3 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just one hit, two walks, and striking out three.

Florida’s Jenkins (0-1) was tagged with the loss after a career-high 3 1/3 innings of work, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.

Florida's offense was led by Lawson, who went 2-for-3 with his homer, continuing a strong start to his season.

The Gators’ offense was otherwise quiet, though, and they were unable to generate much against UCF's pitching staff.

With the loss, Florida drops to 11-9 in the all-time series against UCF, and their road record in Orlando falls to 3-5 under head coach Kevin O'Sullivan.

The Gators, who have now homered in all 13 games of the season, will look to bounce back Wednesday when they return home to face Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m.