Gators use 19 hits to even the series with Auburn

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Hurston Waldrep got off to a rocky start but settled in and led the Florida Gators to a 12-5 win over Auburn, evening the series. The win was the 650th of Kevin O’Sullivan’s career with the Gators.

For the second night in a row, the Auburn Tigers (18-8-1, 3-5 SEC) got on the board first. Cole Foster singled and Bobby Peirce walked. A wild pitch and a groundout netted a run and brought Kevin O’Sullivan out of the dugout.

“The past couple of weeks for me have been a struggle early on. Having trouble getting going,” Waldrep said after the game. “He knows what he’s doing, obviously. He’s coming out there to give me a break, settle me down.”

The talk worked and Waldrep was able to get out of the inning. Sunday starter Jac Caglianeone was quick to pick up his teammate. Caglianone hit a 1-0 breaking ball high into the early night sky for his nation-leading 18th home run of the season.

Waldrep would relinquish the lead in the third inning. A walk and a two-run homer saw Auburn retake the lead. Waldrep was able to get out of the frame without allowing any more damage.

The Gators’ offense went to work in the bottom of the frame.

Wyatt Langford reached on an error. Josh Rivera singled and BT Riopelle wore a fastball to load the bases. Tyler Shelnut drove in two with a single to re-take the lead. Colby Halter plated Riopelle with a double to left field. Shelnut scored on a Matt Prevesk groundout, and Halter came around on Michael Robertson’s single. When the dust settled, Florida had hung five runs on four hits and led the game 7-3.

Waldrep wouldn’t need that many runs. The righty settled in after the third inning. He struck out two in the fourth and the side in the fifth and sixth innings to finish his outing with 10 punchouts.

“To see how Hurston settled in in the fourth, fifth, and sixth, that’s probably the best he’s looked in weeks,” O’Sullivan said. “The tempo was outstanding.”

The Gators went on to score insurance runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, pushing the final score to 12-5.

Florida and Auburn will meet for a rubber match at 1:00 pm on Sunday.

Gators Notes

• Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan won his 650th career game on Saturday, moving to 650-307 all-time.
• Florida’s season-high 19 hits are the team’s most since March 2, 2022 vs. Florida A&M (W, 17-0).
• Neely improved to 6-for-6 in save chances, tying last year’s team high with six saves (Ryan Slater)
• Caglianone hit his nation-leading 18th home run of the season in the first inning.
  • Caglianone went 3-for-5 and finished a triple shy of the cycle with one home run, one triple, four RBI and two runs scored.
• Waldrep picked up his third quality start while striking out double-digit batters for the third time this season.
  • Waldrep struck out the side in order in the fifth inning – the third time he has done so this season.
  • His last eight outs were recorded via the strikeout and he struck out six-straight batters from the fourth into sixth.
• Robertson extended his team-leading on-base streak to 25 games.
• Florida has struck out double-digit batters in 20 of 28 games.
• Florida has struck out 307 batters in 232 innings – translating to 11.9 per nine innings.
• Through 28 games, Florida has a run differential of plus-132.
  • The Gators have scored in 115 of 222 batted innings this season (51.8%).
• The Gators have 313 hits through 28 games (11.2 hits/game).
• Florida improved to 120-135-2 all-time against Auburn including 65-45 at home.