Skip to main content
florida logo

How it Happened: BT Riopelle powers Florida Gators past Vanderbilt

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•05/25/23•

delatorre

florida-gators-josh-rivera
Photo courtesy of UAA Communications

HOOVER, Ala. — The Florida Gators advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinal with a 6-3 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores on Thursday.

[Join Gators Online today for just $29.99!]

Join the conversation on the Gators Online message board

FINAL: Florida 6 Vanderbilt 3

9th inning

Abner to p for Slater.

Bradfield struck out looking (3-2 BFBKBK).

Diaz struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (1-2 KBFS).

8th inning

LaNeve struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (0-2 FKS).

Polk grounded out to 2b (3-2 FKBFBBF).

Vastine homered to left center, RBI (0-0).

Austin grounded out to 2b (0-1 K).

VU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Heyman struck out swinging (1-2 KSBFS).

Thomas struck out looking (0-2 KKK).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

7th inning

Fisher to p for Sproat.

Bradfield singled up the middle (1-1 KB).

Diaz flied out to rf (1-0 B).

Schreck reached on a fielder’s choice (2-1 KBB); Bradfield out at second 1b to ss.

Noland doubled down the lf line (2-1 BBK); Schreck advanced to third.

Slater to p for Fisher.

Bulger struck out looking (0-2 SKFK).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

Schiekofer pinch hit for Evans.

Schiekofer out at first 1b to p (0-1 K).

Kurland walked (3-1 BSBBB).

Langford struck out swinging (1-2 BSSS).

Caglianone hit by pitch (0-0); Kurland advanced to second.

Riopelle homered to left center, 4 RBI (0-1 K); J. Rivera scored; Caglianone scored; Kurland scored.

Shelnut grounded out to 3b (2-2 BFKB).

UF Inning Summary: 4 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

6th inning

Noland grounded out to p (1-2 SKBF).

Bulger reached on a fielding error by ss (1-0 B).

LaNeve struck out swinging (2-2 SBKBS).

Polk singled to third base (0-0); Bulger advanced to second.

Vastine walked (3-0 BBBB); Polk advanced to second; Bulger advanced to third.

Austin grounded out to p (1-2 BKK).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 3 LOB

Shelnut struck out looking (1-2 KFFBK).

Heyman struck out swinging (1-2 BKFS).

Thomas struck out swinging (1-2 KSBS).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

5th inning

Vastine singled up the middle (0-1 K).

Austin grounded out to ss (1-0 B); Vastine advanced to second.

Bradfield grounded out to 2b (2-1 BSB); Vastine advanced to third.

Diaz singled through the left side, RBI (2-2 BBKK); Vastine scored.

Schreck struck out swinging (2-2 SBSBS).

VU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

Kurland hit by pitch (2-1 BBF).

Langford flied out to cf (1-1 BK).

Caglianone flied out to cf (1-0 B).

Kurland stole second.

Rivera walked (3-2 BSBFBB).

Cunningham to p for Horn.

Riopelle struck out looking (2-2 SFBFBK).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

4th inning

Noland singled through the left side (3-2 SBBFFBF).

Bulger flied out to lf (0-0).

LaNeve flied out to cf (1-0 B).

Polk struck out swinging (3-2 BBBKSFS).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

Horn to p for Owen.

Riopelle homered to right field, RBI (2-1 BBF).

Shelnut struck out looking (1-2 SBSK).

Heyman struck out swinging (2-2 KBSBS).

Thomas walked (3-1 BFBBB).

Evans fielder’s choice (0-0); Thomas out at second ss to 2b.

UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

3rd inning

Vastine out at first 1b to p (2-0 BB).

Austin singled up the middle (0-0).

Bradfield struck out looking (1-2 BFKFK).

Diaz singled to right field (1-2 KBK); Austin advanced to third.

Schreck grounded out to 3b (0-0).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

Langford popped up to 1b (0-1 F).

Caglianone struck out swinging (0-2 KFS).

Rivera out at first 1b to p (0-1 K).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

2nd inning

Bulger struck out swinging (3-2 KBSBBS).

LaNeve struck out swinging (1-2 SKBS).

Polk grounded out to 3b (2-2 KBBKF).

VU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Heyman homered to center field, RBI (1-1 KB).

Thomas struck out looking (1-2 BKFK).

Evans struck out swinging (0-2 FFS).

Kurland struck out swinging (2-2 BBFSFS).

UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

1st inning

Bradfield tripled to left field (0-0).

Diaz grounded out to 3b, RBI (2-1 BBK); Bradfield scored.

Schreck flied out to cf (2-1 SBB).

Noland grounded out to 2b (1-0 B).

VU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Kurland flied out to rf (1-1 BK).

Langford doubled to left field (0-0).

Caglianone grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-0); Langford advanced to third.

Rivera walked (3-0 BBBB).

Shelnut struck out swinging (2-2 BSSFBS).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB

Lineups

Florida

2B Cade Kurland

CF Wyatt Langford

1B Jac Caglianone

SS Josh Rivera

C BT Riopelle

LF Tyler Shelnut

DH Luke Heyman

3B Dale Thomas

RF Ty Evans

SP: Brandon Sproat

Vanderbilt

CF Enrique Bradfield Jr

3B Davis Diaz

RF RJ Schreck

1B Parker Noland

C Jack Bulger

DH Troy LaNeve

LF Matthew Polk

SS Jonathan Vastine

2B RJ Austin

SP: Hunter Owen

Notes

  • Florida improved to 76-68 all-time in the SEC Tournament.
    • The Gators are 8-3 across the last three seasons in Hoover.
    • Florida is one of two schools to reach the SEC Tournament Semifinals in each of the last two seasons (the other being Tennessee).
    • The Gators have won seven SEC Tournament Titles, with the most recent coming in 2015.
  • Wednesday marked the Gators’ first extra-inning game of the season.
    • Florida has opened SEC Tournament play with an extra-inning win in each of the last two seasons.
  • Riopelle hit a walk-off, three-run home run in the bottom of the 11th inning for his 11th long ball of the season.
    • The homer marked Florida’s third walk-off victory of the season (not counting run-rule victories).
    • Florida notched its first walk-off homer since Sterlin Thompson accomplished the feat vs. Florida State on May 17, 2022.
  • Rivera hit his 15th home run of the season in the first inning, tying him with Brady McConnell (2018) for the most homers hit in a single season by a UF shortstop.
    • Rivera, McConnell, and Cade Kurland are both tied for the most home runs hit my a Gators middle infielder in a single season with 15.
  • Waldrep struck out seven batters in 5 2/3 innings, moving his season total to 117.
    • Waldrep is two strikeouts from moving into a tie for the 10th-most all-time in a single season at Florida alongside Marc Valdes (119 in 1993).
  • Florida has struck out 574 batters in 479 innings – translating to 10.8 per nine innings, which would mark a new program record.
  • The Gators have 564 hits through 56 games (10.1 hits/game).
  • The Gators have scored in 45.2% of batted innings (205 of 454).
  • Florida is now 70-59 all-time vs. Alabama including 10-9 in neutral-site games.
    • The Gators are 29-7 in the series under O’Sullivan featuring a 5-1 mark in Hoover.
    • Florida has won 16 of the last 18 meetings against Alabama.

You may also like