Florida baseball vs Auburn live updates, score, highlights, recap

Hetzler starts things off with a hard grounder up the middle that the second baseman simply could not handle cleanly, resulting in an infield hit and the bases loaded. But Bowen grounds into a 5-4-3 double play on the first pitch he sees to end the game.

Sanders stays in for his fifth inning of work and Sam Miller comes in to pinch-hit for Myers. The first out comes on a swinging strike on a 93 mph fastball on the low outside corner of the plate, but Jones is able to draw a five-pitch walk to give the Gators some hope with one of their best hitters up.

Lawson, who does not match up well against fellow lefties, works the count full before taking first base on an 83 mph slider low and away. With two on and one out, the Tigers meet at the mound for a pitching change — righty Ryan Hetzler comes in to try and close things out. (B9: Auburn 5, Florida 3)

Wilson remains in the game, taking over the right field duties, and McNeillie stays in for his fourth inning of work. The Gators righty gets Belza out looking on an 86 mph breaking ball for the first out and follows that with a flyout off the bat of Rembert for the second.

Steele also flies out to center, ending the inning and giving the Gators just one last chance. (M9: Auburn 5, Florida 3)

Sanders is still in the game, having thrown 53 pitches so far. He opens up the bottom of the 8th with an easy groundout to short off the bat of Cyr, followed by a swinging bunt by Kurland that he fields himself and throws to first for the second out.

The Gators get a two-out baserunner after an 87 mph slider hits Stanford on the knee. Ashton Wilson pinch-hits for Yost and draws a full count before a fantastic diving play by the third baseman on a grounder that looked like it would reach the outfield ends the inning. (E8: Auburn 5, Florida 3)

McNeillie remains on the bump and prevents B. McCraine from causing any more damage with a swinging strikeout on a nice 88 mph slider. He continues his onslaught of breaking balls to M. McCraine, who ends up grounding out on an 87 mph changeup. Two outs.

Guevara strikes out looking at an 88 mph slider that nips the outside part of the plate for out No. 3. (M8: Auburn 5, Florida 3)

Sanders is still in for Auburn and gets Myers to fly out to center for the first out. The lefty has looked good so far, logging eight strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings so far, but he issues his third free pass of the day to Jones to give Florida some life.

Lawson follows that with a grounder into the shallow outfield that is fielded by the second baseman, who was shifted deep and toward first. He makes a terrific play, but the throw is just late and the Gators now have runners at first and second with one out.

Surowiec hits a hard fly ball to deep left, but the fielder is able to chase it down for the second out. A passed ball on the first pitch to Bowen makes things interesting, and another pitch in the dirt brings the catcher out to the mound for a chat. However, Sanders gets him to ground out to shortstop, killing the threat and preserving the two-run lead for Auburn. (E7: Auburn 5, Florida 3)

The top of the seventh starts off with a first-pitch fly ball to right field off the bat of Rembert for out No. 1. Steele draws a four-pitch walk as McNeillie struggles to find the zone. A laser shot right at the center fielder by Bingaman makes it two outs and Madrigal hits another liner, but this one lands in right field for a single.

Runners at first and second and the infielders meet at the mound with the pitcher to work out their strategy for the upcoming hitter, Belyeu. The lefty waves at an 86 mph changeup low and outside and the threat is over. (M7: Auburn 5, Florida 3)

Sanders remains on the mound and gets Cyr to strike out on a check-swing foul-tip for the first out of the frame. Kurland draws a walk after forcing a full count before Stanford strikes out swinging on a wild pitch in the dirt; Kurland takes second on the loose ball, however.

Yost strikes out swinging at a low slider and the Gators leave a runner stranded in scoring position. (E6: Auburn 5, Florida 3)

Lefty Luke McNeillie is now in the game in relief Peterson and opens up with an out, thanks to a great play by the catcher to field and throw a nicely-placed bunt by B. McCraine. His brother comes up next and crushes his second home run of the day to straight-away center. Not shabby for the No. 9 hitter, who came in with just one round-tripper this season.

McNeillie is forced into a full count Guevara, but finally, a checked swing goes too far and the batter is out on the sword. He finishes the inning on a nice low and inside breaking ball to Belza, who whiffs for out No. 3. But the damage has been done. (M6: Auburn 5, Florida 3)

Cade Belyeu takes over in center and lefty Jackson Sanders is now on the mound for Auburn.

Jones hits a hard grounder off the first pitch he sees down the line to third base for the first out of the frame. Lawson strikes out on a pair of checked swings, but Surowiec reaches base for the third time in three tries, watching ball four for a walk.

Bowen swings at a breaking ball in the dirt and is thrown out to end the inning. (E5: Auburn 4, Florida 3)

Peterson gets the first out on a swinging third strike off an 85 mph changeup to Belza before a grounder off the glove of the shortstop sneaks into the outfield for a single by Rembert. A hard smash to first off the bat of Steele results in the second out of the inning, but there is now a runner at second, and Sully comes out to the mound to talk about how to approach Bingaman.

The batter forces a full count from Peterson and draws a walk despite another checked swing that looked close, but not close enough for the umpire. So now there are two runners on with two outs for Madrigal; four straight balls later, the bases are loaded, and the bullpen remains empty.

A pinch hitter comes in for the left-hitting Terrell — righty Caiden Combs. He gets a grounder to shortstop that is tossed to the second baseman for the force-out, ending the rally. But Peterson’s pitch count is up to 96. (M5: Auburn 4, Florida 3)

The Gators strike back with a solo shot off Cyr’s bat over the left field wall to cut the lead to one.

Kurland just misses back-to-back dingers with a drive off the right-field wall for a double, making it no outs with a runner in scoring position once again. And now there’s activity in the Auburn bullpen — a lefty — with the bottom of the order coming up.

Stanford grounds sharply to third, but the field makes a nice play and throws to first for out No. 1. Yost follows that with a grounder to first that is fielded behind the bag for the second out. Myers strikes out swinging and the inning is over. (E4: Auburn 4, Florida 3)

Bingaman continues his dominance of Peterson with a line-drive double on the second pitch he sees to start a potential rally for the Tigers. Madrigal flies out to left field for the first out before Terrell waves at an 82 mph 12-6 breaking ball for out No. 2. B. McCraine skies a pop-up to third base, but Myers loses the ball in the sun and the runner scores on his error.

M. McCraine comes to the plate, and during his at-bat, his brother steals second. He then proceeds to crush a two-run shot to left field — opposite field for him — to give the Tigers a two-run lead. That’s three unearned runs this inning.

Peterson finally gets out of the frame by getting Guevara to strike out swinging, but the damage is done and the pitch count is now at 71. Yikes. (M4: Auburn 4, Florida 2)

Fralick was out catching warmup pitches before a throw back to the mound appeared to re-tweak that rib muscle, and he was replaced by Taylor Belza. Tough break for the Tigers, as they are now down two of their starters already.

Hayden Yost reaches first on a wild pitch strikeout and then advances to second on a passed ball — looks like the catcher was crossed up on the inside pitch. So with a runner in scoring position and no outs, Auburn has a coach’s visit to the mound to figure things out.

Kolt Myers puts down a perfect bunt in front of the plate that is fielded by the pitcher and subsequently thrown into the right field foul territory, allowing Florida’s first run to cross the plate; the runner advances to second.

Jones lays down a really good bunt as well, but the ball lands closer to the plate, allowing the catcher to throw a strike to first for the out. But now there is a runner on third with one out, setting up the sac fly. Lawson waves wildly at a 79 mph slider low and outside for out No. 2, but Surowiec slaps a grounder through the right side to plate the Gators’ second run.

Bowen grounds out to shortstop on the first pitch he sees and the inning is over. (E3: Auburn 1, Florida 2)

Peterson opens up with a couple of breaking balls to McCraine and finishes him with a strikeout looking at another one on the outer portion of the plate.

Guevara gives the ball a ride into deep center field, but Kyle Jones is able to chase it down for out No. 2. Then with an 0-2 count, Peterson plunks Fralick just below the ribs, missing on a much-needed 1-2-3 inning. It takes a minute for Fralick to take first base — looks like that one is going to leave a mark.

Rembert reaches out for an 0-2 slider down and away for a soft single to left and Liam’s pitch count is once again rising. The inning ends on a routine grounder to second by Steele; pitch count at 48. (M3: Auburn 1, Florida 0)

Blake Cyr goes down swinging at a 75 mph slider way outside and low for the first out of the frame. Cade Kurland can’t do much, popping up to the pitcher for out No. 2. Cole Stanford grounds up the middle to the second baseman for the third and final out. (E2: Auburn 1, Florida 0)

Peterson throws a fastball right down the heart of the plate and Ethin Bingaman and not miss, sending it over the left-center fence for the first run of the game. First home run allowed in 46 innings pitched for Florida’s righty, per the announcers.

Eddie Madrigal pops up to the second baseman on the second pitch he sees, and Bub Terrell keeps Cade Kurland busy with a grounder for out No. 2. Brandon McCraine strikes out looking and the inning is over. (M2: Auburn 1, Florida 0)

Kyle Jones takes a low fastball for ball one from Jake Marciano before striking out on a heater over the plate on a 1-2 count — a rare whiff from the leadoff spot. Brendan Lawson swings at the first pitch he sees for a flyout to center for out No. 2. Surowiec, however, isn’t ready to end the inning just yet, slugging a double into the left-center field gap for a double.

Two outs, runner on second and Karson Bowen comes up to the plate, but can’t bring his teammate home as he waves at a 77 mph slider low and outside for out No. 3. (E1: Auburn 0, Florida 0)

Lucas Steele, another lefty, comes in to replace the injured Gregorio and works his inherited count full before hitting a towering fly ball to right field that is easily caught. Peterson is out of trouble, but needed 22 pitches to get out of the first. (M1: Auburn 0, Florida 0)

Liam Peterson starts the game with a fastball over the outer half of the plate for a strike to the leadoff hitter, Mason McCraine, and we are underway! He gets the Tiger to ground out easily to the second baseman for the first out.

He surrenders a grounder up the middle for a single to one of the best hitters in the country, Eric Guevara, after almost getting him to strike out on a check swing that was very borderline.

One out, one on and Chase Fralick hits a laser to second that takes a short hop, then glances off his glove to give Auburn a pair of baserunners at first and second.

Chris Rembert pops out to shortstop, which brings up the designated hitter Logan Gregorio. The left-handed batter tweaks his rib muscle on a check swing and has to leave the game for a replacement. (T1: Auburn 0, Florida 0)