Florida baseball beats LSU Tigers in season finale: Final score, recap

O’Sullivan leaves Walls in to close things out and the right-hander responds by surrendering a double that Simpson drives off the right field wall. That brings up Yorke, who hits a hard grounder off the first baseman’s glove for a single that puts runners on the corners with no outs.

Stanfield follows him with a swinging strikeout on a high breaking pitch that backs up a little and Yamin IV follows that with a strikeout looking at a slider that falls into the low inside pocket of the zone.

However, Walls made things interesting again by serving up a fastball over the heart of the plate that Milam sends soaring into the right field bleachers. Florida’s lead is now cut to four.

Curiel singles to left on the first pitch he sees, but the game ends on a flyout to left by Arrambide that was snatched with a leaping catch.

Left-hander Ethan Plog is LSU’s eighth pitcher of the game. He enters with the bases loaded and two outs to face Stripling, who hits a routine grounder to the shortstop to put an end to the rally.

(M9: Florida 15, LSU 8)

Right-hander Dax Dathe is now on the mound for the Tigers, looking to get the third out of the ninth with runners on the corners. Surowiec steps up to the plate and proceeds to draw a four-pitch walk to load the bases for McDonald; that prompts a coach’s visit to the mound for LSU.

McDonald works the count full before putting a high fly ball into medium left field, which the fielder could not get in quickly enough to grab, missing the catch on a flailing attempt falling forward; three more Florida runs cross the plate and the play is scored as a double.

Strayer is intentionally walked, bringing up Bowen who works a full count before drawing a walk — though ball three with a 2-2 count should have been called a strike. And that brings out LSU’s coach for another pitching change.

(T9: Florida 15, LSU 8)

Right-hander Deven Sheerin is now on the mound to try and keep the game within one. He starts off by pumping some high-90s heat at Strayer, who strikes out looking at a breaking ball over the top portion of the plate. Bowen then gets hit on the upper arm two pitches later and that brings out LSU’s coach for a wee chat.

Stripling hits a hard grounder right back up the middle to give the Gators a pair of baserunners with one out for Kurland, who worked back from an 0-2 count to make it full, only to pop out to the shortstop in shallow center. A wild pitch allows the runners to advance to second and third before a runner scores on a breaking ball in the dirt that the catcher struggled to find.

Doesn’t really matter, as Yost crushes his third home run of the game over the right field fence — this one a two-run dinger — and the Gators have now racked up a dozen runs.

The bleeding continues as Cyr gets on base for the first time, thanks to a four-pitch walk, and then Lawson lines a single to right on a hit-and-run play, putting Gators at the corners. And there’s a pitching change for LSU.

(T9: Florida 12, LSU 8)

Right-hander Cooper Walls comes in to try and put out the bases-loaded fire in the eighth with two outs against Arrambide, who already has two home runs today. He induces a grounder to the left side that is misplayed by the third baseman; the shortstop tried throwing it to first, but it was too late to get the runner, allowing a run to score.

LSU brings in two more on a single through the left side under the diving third baseman off the bat of Braun, and now the Tigers are down by only one with runners on first and second.

Dardar hits a swinging but in front of the plate that Walls runs in to field, but throws it offline to first — fortunately, the first baseman kept his foot on the bag long enough to make the out.

(E8: Florida 9, LSU 8)

McDonald climbs the hill again to begin the eighth inning and surrenders a double that bounces off the bottom of the wall in left off the bat of Simpson. It was an 83 mph breaking ball that just hung in the zone, screaming to be hit.

Yorke goes down swinging on a changeup that just disappears below the zone and Stanfield watches a fastball nip the lower edge of the zone for out No. 2, before Jake Brown comes in to pinch hit for Reaves in ceremonial style; Edward Yamin IV then immediately enters the game and steps up to the plate to face McDonald.

Yamin takes a pitch to the hands trying to check his swing, earning a free pass to first with two outs. Milam sees two straight balls before the catcher comes out to talk to his pitcher; the chat didn’t work as Milam sends a high fastball back up the middle on a line drive, plating LSU’s fifth run.

Runner steals third without a throw, putting Tigers on the corners with two outs for Curiel, who works a full count before drawing a walk to load the bases. That’s it for McDonald on the mound today.

(B8: Florida 9, LSU 5)

So now with two out and a runner at first, right-hander Jaden Noot enters the game for the Tigers. On the first pitch to Surwiec, Lawson steals second after getting a good jump and a high throw from the catcher. Surwiec singles up the middle on a ground ball, and that brings Florida’s ninth run across the plate.

McDonald goes down looking at a slider that just nips the low outside corner of the plate and the rally ends for the Gators.

(M8: Florida 9, LSU 4)

Left-hander Santiago Garcia enters the game in relief for LSU with nobody on and one out. The southpaw gets Cyr swinging on a nice breaking ball that cuts through the lower part of the zone after a full count for the second out of the inning. Lawson follows him with his third HPB of the game.

And thus ends Garcia’s day as LSU’s coach comes out to make a pitching change.

(T8: Florida 8, LSU 4)

Guidry remains on the mound for the Tigers and gets Stripling looking at a well-located breaking ball for the first out. He wasn’t quite as fortunate against Kurland, who drove a fastball left over the plate to the opposite field over the right field fence to give the Gators a little insurance.

Yost wasn’t satisfied with just one home run in this game, knocking his second one over the right field fence to stretch the lead to four. And that’s all she wrote for Guidry.

(T8: Florida 8, LSU 4)

McDonald remains on the mound for the Gators in the seventh and opens up running a full count to Arrambide, who he eventually gets out on a scorcher knocked down by the third baseman and thrown to first by the shortstop. Great heads-up defense by the Gators there.

Braun follows that by grounding out the shortstop for out No. 2 and Dardar flies out to centerfield, ending the seventh inning.

(E7: Florida 6, LSU 4)

Guidry remains in the game for LSU and starts things off by surrendering a line drive single up the middle by Surowiec. Three pitches later, McDonald pops up to the shortstop just beyond the infield dirt for the first out; Strayer pops up to the third baseman along the foul line in the outfield for out No. 2.

Bowen hits a routine grounder to the shortstop, who tosses it to second for the force out and the inning is over.

(M7: Florida 6, LSU 4)

Caden McDonald comes in to relieve Sandford with runners at first and second and two outs. He gets the third out on a high chopper of Curiel’s bat to the shortstop, who gets the force at second to end the threat.

(E6: Florida 6, LSU 4)

The big man Yorke steps up to the plate for the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh and starts things off by hitting a towering fly ball to right-center, where the center fielder hauls it in for out No. 1. Stanfield works a full count before drawing a walk and that brings the catcher out to chat with his pitcher; they are joined by O’Sullivan with a currently inactive bullpen.

Sandford stays in the game and uses a 97 mph fastball that nips the inside of the plate just below Reaves’ belt for the second out of the inning. On a 1-0 count to Milam, he tries to pick Stanfield off first, but instead throws the ball away, allowing the runner to advance to second.

So now the bullpen is active with a pair of pitchers warming up and the count goes to 3-0. Sandford throws a strike before missing inside for ball four, giving the Tigers a pair of baserunners with two outs. O’Sullivan stops to talk to the umpire before trotting out to the mound for a pitching change.

(B6: Florida 6, LSU 4)

Right-hander Gavin Guidry is now in the game for the Tigers and gets Cyr to strike out looking at a big, bending breaking ball for out No. 2 of the inning. Lawson strikes out swinging at a slider in at his hips to end the frame.

(M6: Florida 6, LSU 4)

Fontenot remains in the game for LSU and starts off by surrendering a liner off Stripling’s bat over the third baseman’s head into left field for a single. Two pitches later, Kurland pops up to the first baseman, who collides with the third baseman but makes the catch for out No. 1.

Yost gives the Gators the lead back with a towering home run into the right field bleachers off a fastball over the plate.

And LSU is now making a pitching change.

(T6: Florida 6, LSU 4)

Replacing Reeth on the mound for Florida is right-hander Schuyler Sandford, who gets Simpson to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame. But the damage has already been done.

(E5: Florida 4, LSU 4)

Right-hander Ricky Reeth is now in the game for the Gators with one out and nobody on. Braun sends his second offering deep into right-center, where it bounces off the warning track into the wall for a stand-up double. Dardar hammers a single into right field and that brings the tying run home.

O’Sullivan has seen enough. New pitcher is incoming.

(B5: Florida 4, LSU 4)

Sandefer gets Milam to foul out to the third baseman on his first pitch and follows that up by surrendering a single to Curiel on a grounder up the middle that goes under the second baseman’s glove. And Florida’s bullpen starts to get active with two pitchers warming up.

Arrambide cuts the Gators’ lead to one with a two-run shot to straight-away center, and that brings the infield to the mound for a brief conversation.

After a minute, O’Sullivan exits the dugout… and there’s the pitching change after 82 offerings today for Sandefer.

(B5: Florida 4, LSU 3)

Lawson leads off the fifth by taking a pitch on his shin — his second HBP of the game already. Fontenot throws another pitch that comes too close to the batter, but this one hits the base of Surowiec’s bat for a foul; that’s fine, the Gator lines the next pitch into right field for a single, sending Lawson over to second.

McDonald strikes out looking at a fastball over the plate at his knees; he is followed by Strayer, who forces a full count before watching a ball below the zone get called for strike three, giving the Gators two outs and two on. Bowen flies out to right and that ends Florida’s threat in the fifth.

(M5: Florida 4, LSU 1)

Sandefer gets Simpson to pop up to the catcher behind the plate for out No. 1, bringing up Yorke, who strikes out swinging at a fastball a bit above the zone. With two outs and nobody on, Stanfield steps up to the plate and hammers a line drive into the left field corner for a double, keeping the Tigers alive in the fourth.

With a runner in scoring position and two outs, Reaves flies out to left, leaving that runner on base for LSU.

(E4: Florida 4, LSU 1)

Right-hander Grant Fontenot is now in the game for the Tigers with two on and no outs, and his first offering is a breaking ball way outside to Kurland. However, he comes back with three straight strikes, getting Kurland swinging at a fastball on the hands for out No. 1.

Yost follows that up with a flyball to shallow center that is caught for the second out and Cyr flies out to the right fielder to end the threat.

(M4: Florida 4, LSU 1)

Strayer opens up the fourth with a hard-hit single to left on the second offering from Cowan, and Bowen follows him with a beautiful bunt down the third base line on the first pitch to give the Gators a pair of baserunners with no outs. That brings up Stripling, who sneaks a grounder through the right side to plate Florida’s fourth run of the game.

Still no outs and runners at first and second, LSU’s coach comes out to change pitchers. That’s it for Cowan today.

(T4: Florida 4, LSU 1)

LSU’s batting order turns back over to Milam, who chops a grounder to short for out No. 1. Sandefer starts to struggle with his control, throwing three straight fastballs well out of the zone in his sequence against Curiel, who eventually flies out to center after working the count full.

Arrambide wasn’t ready to go down without a fight, however, and proceeded to send the first pitch thrown to him over the opposite field fence in right to give the Tigers their first run of the game.

Braun also sends the first pitch he sees the opposite way, this time a low liner through the left side for a single; another ball in play on the first pitch from Sandefer almost goes up the middle but is saved by Lawson, who steps on second for the force out to end the inning.

(E3: Florida 3, LSU 1)

Cade Kurland sends the first pitch he sees over the left field fence for a solo shot and the first run of the game.

Hayden Yost follows him with a low liner that goes through the right side for a single, giving the Gators a baserunner with no outs.

Cyr goes down swinging on a slider low and away for the first out before Lawson gets hit by a pitch despite his attempt to leap over the ball. That puts a runner in scoring position with one out for Surowiec, who sees a wild pitch go by that allows the baserunners to move up and puts two in scoring position; he chops a grounder up the middle to bring both Gators home.

Runner on first and one out for McDonald, who hits a grounder to second that gets turned for a double play, and that’s it for the Gators in the third.

(M3: Florida 3, LSU 0)

Mason Braun works a full count against Sandefer before drawing a walk for the first baserunner of the game for either team. Seth Dardar then sends the first pitch he sees to left field for a single, giving the Tigers a pair of base runners with no outs.

Brayden Simpson watches two balls go by before Kevin O’Sullivan comes out to check on his pitcher. Sandefer gets a tough call on what looked like strike two, and after the count goes full, he nips the outside edge with a fastball for the strikeout.

Zach Yorke then comes up to the plate only to become Sandefer’s second strikeout victim of the inning on a pitch that looked a little low, but perhaps a makeup for the previous bad call. With two outs, Chris Stanfield comes up looking to capitalize on the scoring opportunity; instead of driving in a run, he draws a full-count walk watching a slide low and away.

Tanner Reaves sends the second pitch into left, where Cyr makes a diving catch to end the inning without allowing a Tiger to cross home.

(E2: Florida 0, LSU 0)

Caden McDonald comes up to the plate to lead off the second and works the count to 2-1 before the catcher and infielders meet at the mound for a short chat. After the ump breaks them up, McDonald ends up striking out swinging on a nice changeup that eats him up low and inside.

Next up is Strayer, who works a full count before hitting a check-swing rolling grounder to the shortstop, whose throw beats him at first by a hair — the Gators do not contest the call and there are now two outs. Karson Bowen keeps the inning alive with a triple off the bottom of the wall in right-center field that the centerfielder misplays.

Now, with a runner on third and two outs, LSU’s coach comes out to talk with his pitcher as Landon Stripling walks up to the batter’s box. He hits a hard grounder to the second baseman, who fields it on a hop and sends it over to first to end the threat.

(M2: Florida 0, LSU 0)

Russell Sandefer opening offering to Steven Milam is a chest-high 95 mph fastball that gets the edge of the plate for strike one; Milam flies out to right field on a hard-hit ball that goes right at Cash Strayer, who makes the catch. Derek Curiel follows him with a groundout to second.

Two outs, nobody on and Cade Arrambide watches three straight fastballs that go over the plate for the third out, ending the first frame of the game.

(E1: Florida 0, LSU 0)

Zac Cowan’s first pitch to Blake Cyr is a fastball that gets the corner of the zone low and away for a strike; Cyr grounds to third on a 2-2 count for the first out of the game. Brendan Lawson follows him with a 0-1 bunt attempt that goes foul before swinging at a slider at his feet for the strikeout.

Two outs, nobody on for Ethan Surowiec, who works a full count before swinging and missing at a slider low and away to end the frame.

(M1: Florida 0, LSU 0)