Florida run rules Vanderbilt for walk-off win in seventh inning of key SEC showdown

The Florida baseball team secured a major series-opening win against Vanderbilt, doing so in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Florida slugger Jac Caglianone ended the game early by run-ruling Vanderbilt with a one-out single to left field that plated a couple runs and ran the score up to 10-0.

Caglianone notched his 72nd RBI of the season with the poke that ended the game.

𝐂𝐀𝐆𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄‼️#GoGators // 📺 SEC Network pic.twitter.com/85SA9eI8BS

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 12, 2023

The Gators didn’t waste much time getting out to a hot start in the pivotal SEC series. An unlikely contributor got things going, thanks to an injury that sidelined one of the team’s stars.

Shortstop Josh Rivera was sidelined in concussion protocol after a hit on a slide into second base in a game against Texas A&M. His absence allowed Deric Fabian to make his first start since April 18 and Fabian delivered in a big way.

After right fielder Tyler Shelnut got aboard in the bottom of the second inning with a double to right center field, Fabian came up to bat with one out. He saw three pitches, launching a deep home run to left field to open the game’s scoring at 2-0.

Florida plated a third run in the bottom of the second inning.

The Gators would also plate two runs in the third inning and three runs in the fourth inning to take a commanding lead on a night when ace Brandon Sproat was hot on the mound.

Fabian, who entered the game with just four RBI on the season, collected four on Friday night alone. He also drove in two RBI with a single to left center field in the bottom of the third inning.

Caglianone hit a sacrifice fly to plate the first run in the fourth inning, then catcher BT Riopelle pounded a ball over the left field wall for a two-run shot that extended the lead to 8-0.

Sproat (W, 7-2) collected the win on the mound after going six full innings and giving up five hits with no runs allowed. He struck out five and walked three, while hitting one batter.

Florida entered the night trailing Vanderbilt and Arkansas by two games in the SEC standings. Vanderbilt and Arkansas boasted a 17-7 record, while Florida was at 15-9. LSU is also in the thick of the SEC race, with a 16-7 conference record.

The two teams will be back in action on Saturday with a first pitch at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network +.