Tuesday, February 24
Gainesville, Fla.
6:30 PM
Florida Gators
8-1
17
vs
11
FIU
6-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
FIU
2
0
0
2
0
4
0
0
3
11
16
0
Florida
0
0
2
7
7
0
1
0
X
17
15
1
Landon Stripling (left) and Cade Kurland (right) greet at home plate during Florida's 17-11 win over FIU on Tuesday night. / UAA Communications photo by Amelia Martinez
Two-Out Hitting Powers No. 12 Gators Over FIU
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | Baseball
Florida plated a season-high 17 runs from nine different Gators to win its eighth in a row.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 10 Florida plated 14 two-out runs to slug past FIU in a 17-11 marathon matchup at Condron Family Ballpark on Tuesday night.
On a night with 31 combined hits and 28 total runs, the Gators (8-1) used a season-high 17 runs to win their eighth-consecutive game. The onslaught came courtesy of 14 runs with two outs – two which came in the third, seven in the fourth and five in the fifth.
Shockingly, Florida delivered yet another dominant offensive performance without hitting a home run. The Gators have now gone 23.0 offensive innings over three-plus games without leaving the yard, but have still managed to light up the scoreboard to the tune of 40 runs on 41 hits.
Ethan Surowiec (2-for-5) and Brendan Lawson (2-for-3) did the heavy lifting, driving in four runs apiece. Surowiec produced his third four-RBI contest in the last four games thanks to a bases-clearing double in the fifth while Lawson contributed one double and two runs scored. Kyle Jones (1-for-4) drove in three and scored twice in addition to a standout night from Blake Cyr (2-for-2), who had a team-high three runs on top of one RBI and two walks. Cade Kurland (3-for-4) barreled a team-best three hits and finished with one double, two RBI and two runs.
The Panthers (6-3) opened a 2-0 lead in the top of the first after the first three batters of the inning reached safely. With one out, Aidan Cohall produced an RBI groundout to first base to plate Cooper Rasmussen while Samuel Fischer scored from second due to a UF throwing error from first base to home.
In the second, right-handed reliever Ricky Reeth entered with two outs and two runners on and worked the Orange & Blue out of the jam to hold the score. Reeth struck out the first two batters of the third en route to a clean frame.
Florida found the scoring column in bottom-three for two runs to tie the ballgame up at 2-2. Cyr and Jacob Kendall set the table with a leadoff hit-by-pitch and single, respectively. Back-to-back strikeouts nearly erased the frame for the Gators, but Lawson came through with a two-out, two-run double down the right field line for a brand-new ballgame.
FIU got the runs right back in the following half inning, as Rasmussen drove in Hector Candelas on a sacrifice fly to center. Fischer then ripped an RBI double off the right-field wall to give the Panthers a 4-2 edge.
In the home half of the fourth, Florida erupted for a seven-run frame to take a commanding, 9-4 lead. Cyr got it going with an RBI single to left to plate Kurland, followed by a pinch-hit, game-tying single to right-center off the bat of Landon Stripling. Jones gave UF separation, tripling home two runs with a drive into left-center field. Jones later raced home on a single to right by Lawson, followed by an RBI single to right by Cash Strayer and run-scoring knock to second base from Surowiec.
Ahead by five runs, Reeth ran into some trouble in the fifth but stranded a pair of Panthers to produce a zero. That opened the door for Florida to add on, which the Gators did in the form of another seven-run outburst.
In bottom-five, singles by Kurland and Cyr followed by a Stripling walk loaded the bases with one out. Jones then drew a walk to force in Kurland, followed by a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch of Lawson to bring in Cyr. With the bags still juiced, Surowiec cleared the bases with a three-run double to right field. Kurland capped off the frame with an RBI single to center, extending the UF advantage to 16-4.
The Panthers responded with four runs in the sixth to cut the Florida lead to 16-8, beginning with a two-run double to left-center by Andrew Ildefonso. Boston Doeschot plated two more with a pinch-hit single to right.
Making his collegiate debut, rookie southpaw Eli Blair utilized a double play and strikeout to churn out a scoreless top half of the seventh inning. In bottom-seven, the Gators tacked on a lone run. Kurland drove home Strayer with a sacrifice fly to deep left-center field, pushing the tally to 17-8 in favor of Florida.
Blair was relieved by right-hander Caden McDonald on the heels of a leadoff single in the eighth. McDonald retired three-straight batters headlined by two strikeouts to hold the score.
Making things interesting in the ninth, FIU rallied for three runs before McDonald notched the third and final out of the frame. Caden Sammler knocked a two-run double into the left-field corner while Enrique Alvarez Jr. hit an RBI single to center to make it 17-11. The threat was quickly thwarted, as McDonald induced a 6-4-3 twin killing of Tracen Cameron to secure the win.
Reeth (1-0) recorded his first victory in Orange & Blue, providing 3 1/3 relief frames with two earned runs allowed on five hits. He did not issue a walk and fanned six Panthers.
FIU reliever Enrique Sierra (2-1) suffered his first loss of the campaign. He was charged with five earned runs on five hits, one walk and two strikeouts over 1 1/3 frames.
UF starter Luke McNeillie did not factor into the decision, pitching 1 2/3 innings with two runs allowed (one earned) on three hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Panthers starting pitcher Quin McManmon also received a no-decision as well, throwing 2 1/3 frames with two earned runs allowed on one hit. He struck out four.
NOTABLES
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
On McNeillie's midweek start…
"I think he's feeling fine. I think he's probably just a little rusty still. He probably just needs to get a couple more outings. Hopefully, he'll get sharp when we head down to Miami this weekend. I thought his stuff looked fine, but we wanted to keep him around 40 (pitches) and that's exactly where he was at."
On Stripling getting the opportunity to play and other offensive contributions…
"He had good at bats like he always does. I thought Blake Cyr continued to swing the bat really good. Ethan [Surowiec] had another really good night at the plate. Cash Strayer got a knock and [Brendan] Lawson had a big double. Kyle Jones had the double with the 3 RBIs. I think our offense was good tonight; the first couple innings were a little slow-to-go, but after that we were pretty good."
UP NEXT
No. 10 Florida hosts FIU again on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.
On a night with 31 combined hits and 28 total runs, the Gators (8-1) used a season-high 17 runs to win their eighth-consecutive game. The onslaught came courtesy of 14 runs with two outs – two which came in the third, seven in the fourth and five in the fifth.
Shockingly, Florida delivered yet another dominant offensive performance without hitting a home run. The Gators have now gone 23.0 offensive innings over three-plus games without leaving the yard, but have still managed to light up the scoreboard to the tune of 40 runs on 41 hits.
Ethan Surowiec (2-for-5) and Brendan Lawson (2-for-3) did the heavy lifting, driving in four runs apiece. Surowiec produced his third four-RBI contest in the last four games thanks to a bases-clearing double in the fifth while Lawson contributed one double and two runs scored. Kyle Jones (1-for-4) drove in three and scored twice in addition to a standout night from Blake Cyr (2-for-2), who had a team-high three runs on top of one RBI and two walks. Cade Kurland (3-for-4) barreled a team-best three hits and finished with one double, two RBI and two runs.
The Panthers (6-3) opened a 2-0 lead in the top of the first after the first three batters of the inning reached safely. With one out, Aidan Cohall produced an RBI groundout to first base to plate Cooper Rasmussen while Samuel Fischer scored from second due to a UF throwing error from first base to home.
In the second, right-handed reliever Ricky Reeth entered with two outs and two runners on and worked the Orange & Blue out of the jam to hold the score. Reeth struck out the first two batters of the third en route to a clean frame.
Florida found the scoring column in bottom-three for two runs to tie the ballgame up at 2-2. Cyr and Jacob Kendall set the table with a leadoff hit-by-pitch and single, respectively. Back-to-back strikeouts nearly erased the frame for the Gators, but Lawson came through with a two-out, two-run double down the right field line for a brand-new ballgame.
FIU got the runs right back in the following half inning, as Rasmussen drove in Hector Candelas on a sacrifice fly to center. Fischer then ripped an RBI double off the right-field wall to give the Panthers a 4-2 edge.
In the home half of the fourth, Florida erupted for a seven-run frame to take a commanding, 9-4 lead. Cyr got it going with an RBI single to left to plate Kurland, followed by a pinch-hit, game-tying single to right-center off the bat of Landon Stripling. Jones gave UF separation, tripling home two runs with a drive into left-center field. Jones later raced home on a single to right by Lawson, followed by an RBI single to right by Cash Strayer and run-scoring knock to second base from Surowiec.
Ahead by five runs, Reeth ran into some trouble in the fifth but stranded a pair of Panthers to produce a zero. That opened the door for Florida to add on, which the Gators did in the form of another seven-run outburst.
In bottom-five, singles by Kurland and Cyr followed by a Stripling walk loaded the bases with one out. Jones then drew a walk to force in Kurland, followed by a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch of Lawson to bring in Cyr. With the bags still juiced, Surowiec cleared the bases with a three-run double to right field. Kurland capped off the frame with an RBI single to center, extending the UF advantage to 16-4.
The Panthers responded with four runs in the sixth to cut the Florida lead to 16-8, beginning with a two-run double to left-center by Andrew Ildefonso. Boston Doeschot plated two more with a pinch-hit single to right.
Making his collegiate debut, rookie southpaw Eli Blair utilized a double play and strikeout to churn out a scoreless top half of the seventh inning. In bottom-seven, the Gators tacked on a lone run. Kurland drove home Strayer with a sacrifice fly to deep left-center field, pushing the tally to 17-8 in favor of Florida.
Blair was relieved by right-hander Caden McDonald on the heels of a leadoff single in the eighth. McDonald retired three-straight batters headlined by two strikeouts to hold the score.
Making things interesting in the ninth, FIU rallied for three runs before McDonald notched the third and final out of the frame. Caden Sammler knocked a two-run double into the left-field corner while Enrique Alvarez Jr. hit an RBI single to center to make it 17-11. The threat was quickly thwarted, as McDonald induced a 6-4-3 twin killing of Tracen Cameron to secure the win.
Reeth (1-0) recorded his first victory in Orange & Blue, providing 3 1/3 relief frames with two earned runs allowed on five hits. He did not issue a walk and fanned six Panthers.
FIU reliever Enrique Sierra (2-1) suffered his first loss of the campaign. He was charged with five earned runs on five hits, one walk and two strikeouts over 1 1/3 frames.
UF starter Luke McNeillie did not factor into the decision, pitching 1 2/3 innings with two runs allowed (one earned) on three hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Panthers starting pitcher Quin McManmon also received a no-decision as well, throwing 2 1/3 frames with two earned runs allowed on one hit. He struck out four.
NOTABLES
- Florida has now gone 23.0 offensive innings over three-plus games without a home run, but has scored 40 runs on 41 hits in that span for 1.74 per inning.
- The Gators scored a season-high 17 runs.
- Florida plated 14 of its 17 runs with two outs.
- Nine Gators had hits including seven UF starters.
- Nine Gators scored runs including eight UF starters.
- Seven UF players drove in runs, featuring five who plated multiple runs.
- The Gators struck out 13 Panthers against just two walks.
- Florida delivered its third come-from-behind win of the campaign.
- Florida has won eight-straight games since its Opening Night loss.
- The Gators failed to score within the first two innings for the first time this season.
- Florida plated seven runs apiece in the fourth inning and fifth innings.
- Jones hit his first triple of the season for Florida's third of the campaign.
- Reeth logged his first victory in Orange & Blue.
- Surowiec registered his third four-RBI game in the last four contests.
- Lawson drove in a season-high four runs.
- Cyr scored three runs for the second time this season.
- Blair made his collegiate pitching debut and finished with two shutout innings on three hits and two strikeouts.
- The Gators have won 25 of their last 31 regular-season games dating back to 2025.
- Florida is 30-5 in regular-season, non-conference play dating back to last season.
- Facing off for the first time in 28 years (May 5, 1998), Florida improved to 3-1 all-time against FIU including 2-0 at home.
- Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan won his first game against the Panthers in his 19-year tenure.
- Tuesday night's official attendance was 5,969.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
On McNeillie's midweek start…
"I think he's feeling fine. I think he's probably just a little rusty still. He probably just needs to get a couple more outings. Hopefully, he'll get sharp when we head down to Miami this weekend. I thought his stuff looked fine, but we wanted to keep him around 40 (pitches) and that's exactly where he was at."
On Stripling getting the opportunity to play and other offensive contributions…
"He had good at bats like he always does. I thought Blake Cyr continued to swing the bat really good. Ethan [Surowiec] had another really good night at the plate. Cash Strayer got a knock and [Brendan] Lawson had a big double. Kyle Jones had the double with the 3 RBIs. I think our offense was good tonight; the first couple innings were a little slow-to-go, but after that we were pretty good."
UP NEXT
No. 10 Florida hosts FIU again on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Reeth, Ricky (1-0)
L: Enrique Sierra (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Samuel Fischer 1 ; Andrew Ildefonso 1 ; Mario Trivella 1 ; Caden Sammler 1
RBI: Cooper Rasmussen 1 ; Enrique Alvarez Jr. 1 ; Samuel Fischer 1 ; Andrew Ildefonso 2 ; Aidan Cohall 1 ; Boston Doeschot 2 ; Caden Sammler 2
SF: Cooper Rasmussen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cooper Rasmussen 1 ; Enrique Alvarez Jr. 1 ; Samuel Fischer 1 ; Tracen Cameron 1 ; Andrew Ildefonso 1 ; Adonys Velez 1 ; Hector Candelas 2 ; Caden Sammler 1 ; Vicente Feliciano 2
HBP: Tracen Cameron 1 ; Aidan Cohall 1 ; Hector Candelas 1 ; Vicente Feliciano 1
Batting:
2B: Lawson, Brendan 1 ; Myers, Kolt 1 ; Surowiec, Ethan 1 ; Kurland, Cade 1
3B: Jones, Kyle 1
RBI: Jones, Kyle 3 ; Lawson, Brendan 4 ; Strayer, Cash 2 ; Surowiec, Ethan 4 ; Kurland, Cade 2 ; Cyr, Blake 1 ; Stripling, Landon 1
SF: Kurland, Cade 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Kyle 2 ; Lawson, Brendan 2 ; Bowen, Karson 1 ; Strayer, Cash 2 ; Surowiec, Ethan 1 ; Kurland, Cade 2 ; Cyr, Blake 3 ; Kendall, Jacob 2 ; Stripling, Landon 2
SB: Cyr, Blake 1
HBP: Lawson, Brendan 1 ; Cyr, Blake 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
ph/ss
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
1b/3b
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP/1B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
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