Editor’s note: Check back later for an updated version of this story.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — If you like late-inning drama with your Gators postseason baseball, you must have loved what went down on Friday afternoon at Condron Ballpark.
The Gators pulled off a whiplash 8-7 victory to defeat Rider in the first game of the Gainesville Regional. Shortstop Brendan Lawson played hero, leading off the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off home run.
The No. 1-seed Gators appeared on the way to a ho-hum victory until Rider scored six runs in the top of eight inning to go up 6-4. The big swing was a game-tying grand slam from Anthony Paskell off UF reliever Jackson Barberi. The Broncs were not done, as Nick Shuhet clubbed a two-run homer off Joshua Whritenour to make it 6-4.
The Gators got back up quickly, with Caden McDonald leading off the bottom of the inning with a home run, and after a triple by Karson Bowen put the tying run at third, Cade Kurland drilled a two-run, go-ahead homer to right-center to put the Gators back up, 7-6.
But it wasn’t over. Rider tied the game in the top of the ninth on a solo homer by No. 9 hitter Matt Leahy, his first home run of the season.
That set the stage for Florida’s ninth-inning magic, as Lawson stepped to the plate and sent the home crowd home happy.
UP NEXT
The Gators face the winner of Friday night’s Miami-Troy game on Saturday at 6 p.m. The loser of the Miami-Troy game plays Rider at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
NOTABLES
(Notes to be updated after press conference)
— Sullivan Bortner contributed to this report.