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Scoreboard

Tre Morris
Sam Levanthal
7
Missouri MIZ 24-18, 5-15 SEC
11
Winner Florida UF 34-10, 13-7 SEC
Missouri MIZ
24-18, 5-15 SEC
7
Final
11
Florida UF
34-10, 13-7 SEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Missouri MIZ 2 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 7 10 2
Florida UF 0 0 4 0 0 5 2 0 X 11 11 0

W: Ryan Slater (6-0) L: Franklin, Zach (6-3) S: Brandon Neely (8)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Five-Run Sixth Lifts Florida to Series-Clinching Win Over Baseball

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Despite facing an early four-run deficit, No. 4 Florida rallied for its second-consecutive victory over Missouri, scoring five times in the sixth inning en route to an 11-7 win Saturday afternoon at Condron Ballpark.

Wyatt Langford and Tyler Shelnut combined to drive in six runs for the Gators, who claimed their 14th Southeastern Conference series in their last 15 conference weekends.

Mizzou (24-18, 5-15 SEC) enjoyed one of its best offensive performances of the conference season, matching a 2023 single-game high in SEC play with three home runs, as well as its first double-digit hit total since the opening weekend of league play.

But it wasn't enough to even the series with Florida, as Langford singled home a run as part of the Gators' four-run third, then plated two more to cap UF's decisive five-run rally in the sixth. Shelnut contributed his second multi-hit effort in as many games against Mizzou, finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

After being held to a season-low two hits in Friday's series opener, the Tigers went to work at the plate immediately in game two. Ross Lovich worked a leadoff walk from UF starter Hurston Waldrep, before Trevor Austin laid into a 1-1 offering and drove a two-run homer over the wall in left for a 2-0 Mizzou advantage.

Mizzou starting pitcher Javyn Pimental matched the effort of his offense, striking out three of the first five hitters he faced while setting down the first six Florida hitters of the game.

The Tigers doubled their lead in the third cashing in on Hank Zeisler's two-out single when Dalton Bargo blasted another two-run shot to make it a 4-0 contest.

But the Gators (34-10, 13-7 SEC) found their offense in the home half of the third, scoring four times while batting around to level the score. Run-scoring singles by Langford and Josh Rivera highlighted the rally, starting what would end up a three-hit afternoon for Langford.

Mizzou reliever Zach Franklin (6-3) held the Gators in check for two innings, dispatching the first eight UF hitters he faced after taking over with one out in the third inning.

Once again Florida kicked its offense into gear, using back-to-back walks and a Luke Heyman single to open the sixth to turn the momentum in the direction of the home club. Colby Halter's sacrifice fly easily scored Rivera with the go-ahead run, before Shelnut brought home the second run of the inning with his second hit of the day.

A bunt single and a Tiger error produced a third run, and Langford's base hit to right put a bow on the rally by bringing in two more runs for a 9-4 UF lead.

The Tigers responded in the seventh thanks to their third home run of the contest and a two-out triple by Tre Morris. After a Lovich single to start the inning, Zeisler drove an opposite-field homer to draw Mizzou to within three. A hit batsman kept the rally alive before Morris lined a three-bagger to right to chase home the third run of the inning.

A two-run Shelnut single in the bottom of the seventh answered the Mizzou rally and accounted for the final margin. The relief duo of Ryan Slater (6-0) and Brandon Neely finished off the victory, combining on 4.1 innings and six of UF's 10 strikeouts as a staff.

TIGER NOTEBOOK

  • Mizzou matched its 2023 single-game high in SEC play with three home runs (March 24 at South Carolina and April 15 at Texas A&M)
  • Zeisler's 12th home run of the season matched Luke Mann's season total for the team lead; it also marked the 43rd of Zeisler's collegiate career
  • Mizzou dropped to 5-30 all-time vs. Florida and 1-19 against the Gators in Gainesville
  • The Tigers' 10 hits marked their best single-game output in SEC play since their conference opener vs. Tennessee on March 17 when they totaled 11 hits
  • Zeisler logged his team-leading 11th multi-RBI effort, while Austin notched his sixth such performance of the season
  • Morris matched his season high with two hits, marking his fourth multi-hit game of the year
  • Bargo registered his fourth homer as a Tiger and his second in SEC play
  • Austin's first-inning homer was his first since March 10, as well as his first in SEC play this season
  • Franklin struck out six Gators in his 3.0 innings, marking his best single-game total since March 19 vs. Tennessee
  • Franklin, who ranked sixth among all active Division I pitchers in career strikeouts entering the weekend, ran his career strikeout total to 266

UP NEXT

Mizzou will conclude its stay in Gainesville with the third game of its series against the Gators, slated for Sunday (April 30) at 11 a.m. (CDT).

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