{"id":178824,"date":"2026-03-05T04:31:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T04:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/178824\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T04:31:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T04:31:08","slug":"three-run-seventh-guides-no-9-florida-past-rattlers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/178824\/","title":{"rendered":"Three-Run Seventh Guides No. 9 Florida Past Rattlers"},"content":{"rendered":"

GAINESVILLE, Fla. \u2013\u00a0No. 9 Florida rallied from a pair of deficits to post a 7-5 comeback victory over Florida A&M at Condron Family Ballpark on Wednesday night.
\n\u00a0
\nNow boasting the longest-active win streak in the country at 13 games, the Gators (13-1) trailed on two separate occasions (2-0, 5-4) before taking the lead for good with a three-run seventh. Florida was carried offensively by the bottom-third of the order, which combined to go 5-for-11 with all but three of UF’s hits on top of four RBI and two runs scored. Shortstop Sam Miller<\/a> (2-for-4) led the way with three RBI while rookie second baseman Colton Schwarz<\/a> (2-for-4) chipped in one double, two runs and one RBI.
\n\u00a0
\nDespite forfeiting five runs (four earned) over the first-five frames, the Florida relief trio of Caden McDonald<\/a>, Ernesto Lugo-Canchola<\/a> and Joshua Whritenour<\/a> blanked the Rattlers (3-9) for the final four innings of the matchup. McDonald shouldered the bulk of the load with three scoreless frames to earn the victory while Whritenour closed down his first-career save thanks to 1 1\/3 perfect innings and two strikeouts.
\n\u00a0

\nFlorida A&M opened the scoring in the top half of the first, plating an unearned run after leadoff man Caden Kresak reached first base due to a throwing error preceded by a dropped-third strike. Kresak later scored from third when Alex Monile grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.
\n\u00a0
\nThe Rattlers pushed ahead to 2-0 in top-two on an RBI double down the left-field line by Josue Figueroa to score Jackson McKenzie. Florida had a response ready in the home half, knotting the tally on a two-out, two-run single to right field from Miller to plate Cole Stanford<\/a> and Schwarz \u2013 who reached on a two-out walk and single, respectively.
\n\u00a0
\nAs the first Gator out of the bullpen, Billy Barlow<\/a> fired a clean frame in third while fanning a pair. The UF right-hander stranded the potential go-ahead run on third base in the fourth by notching his third strikeout.
\n\u00a0
\nIn the bottom of the fourth, the Gators grabbed their first lead of the night at 4-2. After reaching on a one-out hit-by-pitch, Stanford came home for the go-ahead run on an RBI double down the left-field line by Schwarz. Miller then singled, followed by a two-out RBI knock to right-center from Cyr.
\n\u00a0
\nFlorida’s initial edge did not last long, as the Rattlers responded with a three-spot in the top of the fifth to regain the advantage at 5-4. The lone RBI came from McKenzie, who produced a run-scoring single on the heels of a UF throwing error from the mound that plated Kresak and a 6-4-3 twin killing to score Justen Crews.
\n\u00a0
\nChasing one run, McDonald kept the Gators close by striking out the side in order in the sixth. The redshirt sophomore blanked the Rattlers again in the seventh, which gave Florida the opportunity to jump back in front.
\n\u00a0
\nIn the home half, Ethan Surowiec<\/a>, Karson Bowen<\/a> and Cash Strayer<\/a> drew two-out walks to load the bases. Stanford was then plunked to force home the game-tying run. From there, Schwarz hit a ground ball back to the pitcher and after a wild throw to first, Figueroa stepped on the green base and failed to record the out \u2013 allowing both Bowen and Strayer to scamper home safely for a 7-5 UF advantage.
\n\u00a0
\nHaving the lead back in hand, the Gators utilized the relief tandem of Lugo-Canchola and Whritenour for a zero in the eighth. After striking out the final batter of the eighth inning, Whritenour returned to the slab for the ninth and retired the side in order to record his first-career save.
\n\u00a0
\nWhritenour threw 1 1\/3 perfect innings and struck out two to secure Florida’s nation-leading 13th win in a row.
\n\u00a0
\nMcDonald (1-0) earned his first victory of the season, twirling three shutout innings of relief. He surrendered just two hits and one walk while striking out three.
\n\u00a0
\nRattlers reliever Clark Lincoln (0-1) was handed the loss, giving up two runs (one earned) on two walks and three strikeouts in 2 2\/3 frames.
\n\u00a0
\nUF starting hurler Luke McNeillie<\/a> did not factor into the decision, pitching two innings with two earned runs allowed (one earned). He was charged with three hits allowed, two walks and two strikeouts.
\n\u00a0

\nFlorida A&M starter Karson Lindsey also received a no-decision, working 2 1\/3 frames of two-run ball on four hits and two walks. The southpaw struck out two.<\/p>\n

NOTABLES
\n \n<\/p>\n


\n\tFlorida has won an NCAA Division I-best, 13-straight games since its Opening Night loss, marking the team’s longest win streak since starting 16-0 in the 2020 campaign.
\n\tThe Gators are 20-4 across 24 games vs. in-state foes since 2025.
\n\tFlorida posted its sixth comeback win of the campaign.
\n\tMiller had a breakout game in Orange & Blue, finishing 2-for-4 with a season-high three RBI.
\n\tMiller and Schwarz both logged their second multi-hit efforts of the season.
\n\tCyr produced his fifth multi-hit game of the campaign.
\n\tMcDonald won his first game of the season behind three shutout innings of relief and three strikeouts.
\n\tWhritenour registered his first-career save, retiring all four batters he faced for 1 1\/3 perfect frames and two strikeouts.
\n\tThe Gators have won 30 of their last 36 regular-season games dating back to 2025.
\n\tFlorida is 35-5 in regular-season, non-conference play dating back to last season.
\n\tFlorida is now 33-1 all-time vs. Florida A&M (all games in Gainesville).
\n\tThe Gators are 17-1 against the Rattlers under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan<\/a>.
\n\tFlorida has won 15-straight games vs. Florida A&M dating back through 2015.
\n\tWednesday night’s official attendance was 6,085. <\/p>\n

\u00a0
\nFROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
\nOn his thoughts on the night’s pitching\u2026
\n“I thought Luke in the first inning was really good. He’s just got to get the ball down in the strike zone a little\u00a0bit more and have the ability to land that slider for a strike early and he’s just got to land it in a better spot with two strikes. I just thought some balls just got to the middle of the plate, but he did limit the damage there in the second, just giving up the one earned run. It was unfortunate that we threw the ball away there at first to start the game, but his stuff was fine. Like I said, he’s just got to get the ball down in the strike zone just a little bit more, just seems like it’s a little elevated and at times when he gets in advantage counts, he hangs his breaking ball. If he can locate that thing a little bit better, I think he’ll have more success. I thought Billy, for the first two innings, was really good. We scored two there in the bottom of the fourth, but then he walked the leadoff guy to start the fifth and then we threw a bunt away and that kind of opened things up. Caden came in and threw three solid innings for us and Ernie did his job. Obviously, they went to the bench with a right-handed hitter and kept his pitch count at 20. High Point’s two best hitters hit right there in the middle of the order, left-handed. Not that Ernie can’t pitch against right handers, but then Josh threw 14 pitches at 12 strikes. He was outstanding again.”
\n\u00a0
\nOn the game overall\u2026

\n“I do want to credit Florida A&M, they played really good. They played sound defense. They had different looks on the mound, they made some really tough plays defensively. It seemed like Jamey made every right move when he went to the pen. We were just fortunate enough to where it was that freak play at first base with the first baseman. I thought it was a good game, I really do. I don’t think we played poorly. I think we made some mistakes with the errant throw in the first, which cost us a run. We didn’t take an extra base with Sam at first with two outs and then Yosty comes up and gets the base hit, that costs us the run. I thought Colton Schwarz<\/a> played outstanding tonight, both defensively and offensively.”
\n\u00a0
\nOn the bottom of the UF order producing\u2026
\n“I think how that second inning started with Cole walking and Colton hitting the single to center field, and advanced with really good baserunning because they bobbled the ball. Then obviously, Sam came up with the single to drive in two. That was a big at bat for us to get us back in the ballgame.”<\/p>\n

UP NEXT

\nFlorida’s lengthy homestand continues through the weekend, hosting High Point in a three-game series from March 6-8. The series opener is set for Friday night at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.

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