Sunday, November 8
Gainesville, Fla.
11 AM
Florida Gators
15
vs
1
Air Force
Jackson Barberi delivers a pitch during Sunday's 15-1 victory over Air Force. / UAA Communications photo by Cassie Baker
Sunday, November 8, 2026 | Baseball
Eight Florida relievers teamed up for 10.0 shutout, three-hit innings while striking out 11 batters.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida took advantage of 17 hits and 10.0 scoreless innings from the bullpen to cruise past Air Force, 15-1, in 12 innings of exhibition play at Condron Family Ballpark on Sunday afternoon.
Finishing with a perfect 5-0 record in exhibition games this fall, the Gators trailed early by one run for one half inning against the Falcons but took the lead in the third and never looked back to the tune of 15 unanswered runs. Florida effectively put the game away with a three-run fifth, which featured the first of two home runs from fall breakout slugger Nic Partridge (3-for-5). Partridge led the Gators with five RBI and three hits while scoring twice.
Partridge was one of four Gators to collect multiple knocks alongside Kyle McDaniel (2-for-4), Jon Embury (2-for-3) and Landon Stripling (2-for-3). McDaniel scored a team-high three runs on top of two RBI while Embury scored two runs and Stripling drove in a pair.
Florida's pitching staff received more than enough run support, as eight UF relievers teamed up for 10.0 shutout, three-hit innings while striking out 11 Falcons. Southpaw Trey Morris (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K) retired all nine batters he faced in order. Right-hander Jackson Barberi (2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K) was the only other Gator to provide multiple scoreless frames. Collectively, Morris and Barberi have combined for 15.0 shutout, three-hit innings with 21 strikeouts across their last three appearances of fall ball.
The fall finale began with UF ace Aidan King firing a one-two-three top half of the first. The junior right-hander struck out two batters in the second, but Air Force scratched the first run across on a two-out, RBI double to left-center off the bat of Dawson Thrush. Florida answered in the bottom of the frame to tie the tally at 1-1, as Embury swatted a two-out double to center and scored on a single to center by Stripling.
King was relieved by Schuyler Sandford in the third, who chucked a clean inning beginning with a strikeout of Alex Adams. In the home half, Jaden Bastian led off by reaching on a fielding error at third base and Braylen Montgomery singled to left, advancing Bastian to third. McDaniel cashed in, sending a sacrifice fly to right-center field to give the Gators a 2-1 lead after three frames.
Morris entered on the hill and retired the side in order in the fourth on nine pitches, finishing with a four-pitch strikeout of Luke Elmore. Morris needed just 11 pitches in the fourth, striking out two more batters to complete two perfect innings.
In the home half of the fifth, the UF offense exploded for six two-out runs on five hits to extend the advantage to 8-1. Caden McDonald opened the scoring with an RBI single to center field to score McDaniel (single). With two men on, Partridge stepped up to the plate and drilled a three-run, opposite field shot over the left-field wall to bust the game open. Two batters later, Stripling doubled home Embury followed by an RBI single to left from Brady Harris to plate Stripling.
Pitching with a seven-run lead, Morris again blanked Air Force in the sixth by striking out two more to make it nine up and nine down for the left-hander. The Gators did not let up in the half inning to follow, pushing the score to 11-1 with three more runs beginning with an RBI single to center by McDaniel to score Montgomery. Brendan Lawson then doubled to put two in scoring position, allowing Ethan Surowiec and McDonald to drive in two more runs on groundouts to third and second base, respectively.
At the onset of the seventh, Barberi assumed pitching duties and churned out a zero to take the Orange & Blue to stretch time. The junior hurler fanned two batters in the eighth to hold the Falcons scoreless.
Florida created more separation in the bottom of the eighth, as McDaniel walked to lead off, advanced to second on a wild pitch and reached third on a fielding error at shortstop. Tyler Ellis made it a 12-1 ballgame despite hitting into a 4-6-3 double play.
Righty Zach Edwards was called on to pitch the ninth and navigated around a pair of walks while fanning Elmore to hold the score. Florida followed with three one-out singles from Caden Davidson, AJ Malzone and Drew Dickerson in bottom-nine, loading the bags for Luke Labbe. The true freshman reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, bringing in Davidson for a 13-1 ballgame through nine.
Florida's Joshua Whritenour twirled a clean 10th inning highlighted by two strikeouts. The redshirt sophomore ceded cuties to rookies Cameron Hanes and Colin White in the 11th, who teamed up to blank the Falcons by stranding a pair.
The two-way playing McDonald was tasked with closing out the game in the 12th and final frame. Following a leadoff double, McDonald registered three-straight outs to secure the victory for the Gators.
Sandford picked up the win, pitching one inning of relief and retiring all three batters he faced including one strikeout.
Air Force starting hurler Gaines Estridge was dealt the loss. The senior righty worked three innings with two runs allowed (one earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out one.
King was handed a no-decision, tossing two innings of one-run ball on two hits while fanning two Falcons.
NOTABLES
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
On Partridge's emergence this fall…
"I've been pretty vocal about how good he's been swinging the bat this fall. He could play middle infield, he could play third, we played him at first, we played him in the outfield, he could play anywhere. I don't know if he hits in the middle of the lineup, I don't know if he leads off for us, but certainly we're going to find a place for him to play."
On the strong defense and flow of the game…
"We only had one mound visit. The play Lawson made up the middle was an outstanding play defensively; one he may not have made last year. He's improved so much defensively. The play in center field where (Drew) Dickerson relayed the ball in and we got the out at first base was a really neat play. One error in five fall games. That one error was a tough play too, but I'm really pleased with the defense."
ON DECK
Florida's matchup vs. Air Force marked the Gators' final exhibition of the fall. Florida opens the 2027 regular season at home on Friday, Feb. 19 with the first installment of a three-game series against Queens.
Finishing with a perfect 5-0 record in exhibition games this fall, the Gators trailed early by one run for one half inning against the Falcons but took the lead in the third and never looked back to the tune of 15 unanswered runs. Florida effectively put the game away with a three-run fifth, which featured the first of two home runs from fall breakout slugger Nic Partridge (3-for-5). Partridge led the Gators with five RBI and three hits while scoring twice.
Partridge was one of four Gators to collect multiple knocks alongside Kyle McDaniel (2-for-4), Jon Embury (2-for-3) and Landon Stripling (2-for-3). McDaniel scored a team-high three runs on top of two RBI while Embury scored two runs and Stripling drove in a pair.
Florida's pitching staff received more than enough run support, as eight UF relievers teamed up for 10.0 shutout, three-hit innings while striking out 11 Falcons. Southpaw Trey Morris (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K) retired all nine batters he faced in order. Right-hander Jackson Barberi (2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K) was the only other Gator to provide multiple scoreless frames. Collectively, Morris and Barberi have combined for 15.0 shutout, three-hit innings with 21 strikeouts across their last three appearances of fall ball.
The fall finale began with UF ace Aidan King firing a one-two-three top half of the first. The junior right-hander struck out two batters in the second, but Air Force scratched the first run across on a two-out, RBI double to left-center off the bat of Dawson Thrush. Florida answered in the bottom of the frame to tie the tally at 1-1, as Embury swatted a two-out double to center and scored on a single to center by Stripling.
King was relieved by Schuyler Sandford in the third, who chucked a clean inning beginning with a strikeout of Alex Adams. In the home half, Jaden Bastian led off by reaching on a fielding error at third base and Braylen Montgomery singled to left, advancing Bastian to third. McDaniel cashed in, sending a sacrifice fly to right-center field to give the Gators a 2-1 lead after three frames.
Morris entered on the hill and retired the side in order in the fourth on nine pitches, finishing with a four-pitch strikeout of Luke Elmore. Morris needed just 11 pitches in the fourth, striking out two more batters to complete two perfect innings.
In the home half of the fifth, the UF offense exploded for six two-out runs on five hits to extend the advantage to 8-1. Caden McDonald opened the scoring with an RBI single to center field to score McDaniel (single). With two men on, Partridge stepped up to the plate and drilled a three-run, opposite field shot over the left-field wall to bust the game open. Two batters later, Stripling doubled home Embury followed by an RBI single to left from Brady Harris to plate Stripling.
Pitching with a seven-run lead, Morris again blanked Air Force in the sixth by striking out two more to make it nine up and nine down for the left-hander. The Gators did not let up in the half inning to follow, pushing the score to 11-1 with three more runs beginning with an RBI single to center by McDaniel to score Montgomery. Brendan Lawson then doubled to put two in scoring position, allowing Ethan Surowiec and McDonald to drive in two more runs on groundouts to third and second base, respectively.
At the onset of the seventh, Barberi assumed pitching duties and churned out a zero to take the Orange & Blue to stretch time. The junior hurler fanned two batters in the eighth to hold the Falcons scoreless.
Florida created more separation in the bottom of the eighth, as McDaniel walked to lead off, advanced to second on a wild pitch and reached third on a fielding error at shortstop. Tyler Ellis made it a 12-1 ballgame despite hitting into a 4-6-3 double play.
Righty Zach Edwards was called on to pitch the ninth and navigated around a pair of walks while fanning Elmore to hold the score. Florida followed with three one-out singles from Caden Davidson, AJ Malzone and Drew Dickerson in bottom-nine, loading the bags for Luke Labbe. The true freshman reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, bringing in Davidson for a 13-1 ballgame through nine.
Florida's Joshua Whritenour twirled a clean 10th inning highlighted by two strikeouts. The redshirt sophomore ceded cuties to rookies Cameron Hanes and Colin White in the 11th, who teamed up to blank the Falcons by stranding a pair.
The two-way playing McDonald was tasked with closing out the game in the 12th and final frame. Following a leadoff double, McDonald registered three-straight outs to secure the victory for the Gators.
Sandford picked up the win, pitching one inning of relief and retiring all three batters he faced including one strikeout.
Air Force starting hurler Gaines Estridge was dealt the loss. The senior righty worked three innings with two runs allowed (one earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out one.
King was handed a no-decision, tossing two innings of one-run ball on two hits while fanning two Falcons.
NOTABLES
- The UF bullpen teamed up for 10.0 shutout, three-hit innings while striking out 11.
- All eight UF relievers (Sandford, Morris, Barberi, Edwards, Whritenour, Hanes, White, McDonald) logged scoreless outings.
- Florida hitters drew eight walks while striking out nine times on Sunday.
- The Gators went 5-0 in exhibition games this fall, winning by a combined margin of 56-19.
- Florida homered 14 times and scored 56 runs in five fall exhibition games.
- The Gators slashed .305/.385/.531 as a team while holding opponents to a .168/.276/.277 line.
- The Falcons committed nine defensive errors on Sunday.
- Florida played 52 1/3 defensive innings with just one error in five fall games.
- The Gators plated six two-out runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth inning.
- Embury went 2-for-3 with one double, two runs and one walk.
- Partridge launched his team-leading third and fourth home runs of the fall season in the fifth and 12th innings.
- Partridge batted .381/.409/.952 this fall, pacing Florida in homers (four), RBI (11) total bases (20) and hits (eight).
- Morris retired all nine batters he faced on 32 pitches while striking out five.
- Across his last three fall outings, Morris has pitched 8.0 shutout, one-hit innings with 11 strikeouts against Troy (3.0 IP), Mercer (2.0 IP) and Air Force (3.0 IP).
- Morris (8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 11 K) and Barberi (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 10 K) have combined for 15.0 shutout, three-hit innings with 21 strikeouts across their last three appearances apiece.
- Whritenour finished the fall with 4.0 shutout, no-hit innings with eight strikeouts.
- The Gators have won 13-straight fall ball exhibitions since 2022.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
On Partridge's emergence this fall…
"I've been pretty vocal about how good he's been swinging the bat this fall. He could play middle infield, he could play third, we played him at first, we played him in the outfield, he could play anywhere. I don't know if he hits in the middle of the lineup, I don't know if he leads off for us, but certainly we're going to find a place for him to play."
On the strong defense and flow of the game…
"We only had one mound visit. The play Lawson made up the middle was an outstanding play defensively; one he may not have made last year. He's improved so much defensively. The play in center field where (Drew) Dickerson relayed the ball in and we got the out at first base was a really neat play. One error in five fall games. That one error was a tough play too, but I'm really pleased with the defense."
ON DECK
Florida's matchup vs. Air Force marked the Gators' final exhibition of the fall. Florida opens the 2027 regular season at home on Friday, Feb. 19 with the first installment of a three-game series against Queens.
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