Friday, May 1
Norman, Okla.
7:30 PM
Florida Gators
29-17, 0
3
at
4
Oklahoma
30-14, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 4 | 6 | 2 |
No. 15/25 Gators Upended Late by No. 12/15 Sooners
Friday, May 1, 2026 | Baseball
Reigning National Pitcher of the Month Aidan King struck out a career-high 10 batters over seven innings of one-run ball.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – UF starting pitcher Aidan King was magnificent once again across seven innings of one-run ball, but No. 12/15 Oklahoma scored three runs in the eighth to hand No. 15/25 Florida a 4-3 loss in game one at Kimrey Family Stadium on Friday night.
Registering his fifth-straight quality start, King struck out a career-high 10 batters over his seven frames of work while giving up just six baserunners on four hits and two walks. Blake Cyr (1-for-3) stayed searing hot at the plate, driving in two of Florida's three runs on a sacrifice fly and his 11th home run of the season – his seventh in the last eight games.
The Gators (29-17, 11-11 SEC) and Sooners (30-14, 12-10 SEC) exchanged zeros in the first inning, with King striking out one batter en route to retiring the OU side in order on just nine pitches.
In the top of the second, the first three Gators to the plate – Ethan Surowiec, Karson Bowen and Cade Kurland – all reached on singles to load the bases with nobody out. Oklahoma found a way to work out of the inning unscathed, as Caden McDonald appeared to drive in the game's first run on a fielder's choice to second base, but interference was called on Kurland to erase the run for a double play. A subsequent groundout to third base stranded a pair for the Orange & Blue.
King rolled through the second, chucking another clean frame while fanning Deitan LaChance for his second strikeout. The Gators again created traffic in the top of the third, as Hayden Yost reached on a muffed throw at first base followed by a base hit to center from Kyle Jones. After a fielder's choice at second that put runners at the corners with one down, Cyr put the Gators on the board with a deep sacrifice fly down the left-field line to plate Yost.
Working with a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the third, King surrendered his first baserunner via a leadoff single. Although the Sooners juiced the bases on a subsequent walk and infield hit, King stranded them loaded by inducing an inning-ending groundout back to himself.
Chucking his third clean inning in the fourth, King fanned two more Sooners to reach five strikeouts on the night. Oklahoma manufactured a run to break through against King and tie the score at 1-1 in the home half of the fifth. Connor Larkin opened the frame with a double to right, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI groundout to second base off the bat of Jason Walk.
Playing in a brand-new ballgame, Florida went quietly in the sixth before King logged his sixth and seventh strikeouts en route to stranding a pair of Sooners for a zero in the bottom half.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Gators pushed a second run across to retake the lead at 2-1. Beginning with two outs, McDonald drew a walk and moved to second on a single through the right side by Colton Schwarz. From there, Yost reached on a fielding error at third to load the bases and Jones walked on four pitches to force home McDonald for the go-ahead run.
Working with the lead again, King struck out the side in order in the seventh to eclipse a career-high 10 strikeouts. Giving the Gators a major boost, Cyr led off the top of the eighth with a solo homer to left field to extend the UF advantage to 3-1.
Upon King's removal in the top of the eighth, Oklahoma surged in front with three runs to take a 4-3 lead. Jaxon Willits hit a two-run double off the right-center field wall to tie the tally, followed by a go-ahead RBI single up the middle from Dasan Harris.
Sooners reliever Jason Bodin (4-1) picked up the victory behind one scoreless frame. UF closer Joshua Whritenour (2-3) received the loss after allowing two earned runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Jackson Cleveland was credited with his seventh save after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
King was left with a no-decision despite throwing his fifth-straight quality start. The UF ace fired seven spectacular innings of one-run ball, scattering four hits while striking out 10 batters against two walks.
Oklahoma starter Kadyn Leon did not factor in the decision either. He pitched two scoreless innings with three hits allowed and one strikeout.
NOTABLES
On the outcome of the game
"It started back with bases loaded, nobody out in the second and then didn't slide straight into second, slid inside the line to avoid the infielder and I've seen it happen. We've talked about it, but that was a big moment in the game. That cost us at least one run, if not more, and then we had first and second with nobody out and only managed one run the following inning. LJ Mercurius came in and threw four inning and just gave up one unearned run. Obviously, Aidan King was unbelievable again tonight. Seven innings, four hits, one run, 10 strikeouts. We had it all lined up. We scored a run in the seventh, scored a run in the eighth to go up two and then we had one out, nobody on and we walked a guy. And then we go to our closer and we just couldn't throw strikes. Between Ernie and Josh, I think they threw 27 pitches combined and threw 12 strikes. Fell behind in the count and they come up with a big hit, I think it was a 3-1 count to Willits and ball was hit in right-center gap, and then they squeezed one through there in the hole and took the lead. A lot of it was self-inflicting."
On King's pitching performance…
"He's a bulldog. He's a true Friday night starter. A lot of the stuff was self-inflicted today."
ON DECK
The Gators and Sooners meet again in game two on Saturday, schedule for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Registering his fifth-straight quality start, King struck out a career-high 10 batters over his seven frames of work while giving up just six baserunners on four hits and two walks. Blake Cyr (1-for-3) stayed searing hot at the plate, driving in two of Florida's three runs on a sacrifice fly and his 11th home run of the season – his seventh in the last eight games.
The Gators (29-17, 11-11 SEC) and Sooners (30-14, 12-10 SEC) exchanged zeros in the first inning, with King striking out one batter en route to retiring the OU side in order on just nine pitches.
In the top of the second, the first three Gators to the plate – Ethan Surowiec, Karson Bowen and Cade Kurland – all reached on singles to load the bases with nobody out. Oklahoma found a way to work out of the inning unscathed, as Caden McDonald appeared to drive in the game's first run on a fielder's choice to second base, but interference was called on Kurland to erase the run for a double play. A subsequent groundout to third base stranded a pair for the Orange & Blue.
King rolled through the second, chucking another clean frame while fanning Deitan LaChance for his second strikeout. The Gators again created traffic in the top of the third, as Hayden Yost reached on a muffed throw at first base followed by a base hit to center from Kyle Jones. After a fielder's choice at second that put runners at the corners with one down, Cyr put the Gators on the board with a deep sacrifice fly down the left-field line to plate Yost.
Working with a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the third, King surrendered his first baserunner via a leadoff single. Although the Sooners juiced the bases on a subsequent walk and infield hit, King stranded them loaded by inducing an inning-ending groundout back to himself.
Chucking his third clean inning in the fourth, King fanned two more Sooners to reach five strikeouts on the night. Oklahoma manufactured a run to break through against King and tie the score at 1-1 in the home half of the fifth. Connor Larkin opened the frame with a double to right, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI groundout to second base off the bat of Jason Walk.
Playing in a brand-new ballgame, Florida went quietly in the sixth before King logged his sixth and seventh strikeouts en route to stranding a pair of Sooners for a zero in the bottom half.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Gators pushed a second run across to retake the lead at 2-1. Beginning with two outs, McDonald drew a walk and moved to second on a single through the right side by Colton Schwarz. From there, Yost reached on a fielding error at third to load the bases and Jones walked on four pitches to force home McDonald for the go-ahead run.
Working with the lead again, King struck out the side in order in the seventh to eclipse a career-high 10 strikeouts. Giving the Gators a major boost, Cyr led off the top of the eighth with a solo homer to left field to extend the UF advantage to 3-1.
Upon King's removal in the top of the eighth, Oklahoma surged in front with three runs to take a 4-3 lead. Jaxon Willits hit a two-run double off the right-center field wall to tie the tally, followed by a go-ahead RBI single up the middle from Dasan Harris.
Sooners reliever Jason Bodin (4-1) picked up the victory behind one scoreless frame. UF closer Joshua Whritenour (2-3) received the loss after allowing two earned runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Jackson Cleveland was credited with his seventh save after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
King was left with a no-decision despite throwing his fifth-straight quality start. The UF ace fired seven spectacular innings of one-run ball, scattering four hits while striking out 10 batters against two walks.
Oklahoma starter Kadyn Leon did not factor in the decision either. He pitched two scoreless innings with three hits allowed and one strikeout.
NOTABLES
- Florida is 12-6 against ranked opponents this season highlighted by 13 Quad 1 wins.
- Florida has won nine of its last 13 SEC series dating back to last season, going 25-15 across 40 SEC contests in that span.
- Making his fourth-career game one start, King struck out a career-high 10 batters on his way to seven innings of one-run ball to lower his ERA to 1.73 on the season.
- King struck out the side in order in the seventh inning to reach his career high.
- King recorded his fifth-straight quality start.
- King has thrown a team-high 13 quality starts the last two seasons.
- King has completed six innings every time out across his last five starts, going a combined 35 2/3 frames with just six runs allowed for a 1.51 ERA.
- Across his last 17 starts dating back to last season, King is 11-3 with a 1.35 ERA and 99-to-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 106 1/3 innings pitched (16 earned runs allowed).
- Cyr smacked his 11th home run of the season in the eighth inning to tie Lawson for the team lead.
- Cyr has now homered seven times in the last eight games.
- Florida has won 46 of its last 68 regular-season games dating back to last season.
- Florida is now 1-3 all-time and 0-1 in Norman against Oklahoma.
- Friday night's official attendance was 3,611
On the outcome of the game
"It started back with bases loaded, nobody out in the second and then didn't slide straight into second, slid inside the line to avoid the infielder and I've seen it happen. We've talked about it, but that was a big moment in the game. That cost us at least one run, if not more, and then we had first and second with nobody out and only managed one run the following inning. LJ Mercurius came in and threw four inning and just gave up one unearned run. Obviously, Aidan King was unbelievable again tonight. Seven innings, four hits, one run, 10 strikeouts. We had it all lined up. We scored a run in the seventh, scored a run in the eighth to go up two and then we had one out, nobody on and we walked a guy. And then we go to our closer and we just couldn't throw strikes. Between Ernie and Josh, I think they threw 27 pitches combined and threw 12 strikes. Fell behind in the count and they come up with a big hit, I think it was a 3-1 count to Willits and ball was hit in right-center gap, and then they squeezed one through there in the hole and took the lead. A lot of it was self-inflicting."
On King's pitching performance…
"He's a bulldog. He's a true Friday night starter. A lot of the stuff was self-inflicted today."
ON DECK
The Gators and Sooners meet again in game two on Saturday, schedule for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bodin, Jason (4-1)
L: Whritenour, Joshua (2-3)
S: Cleveland, Jackson (7)
Batting:
HR: Cyr, Blake 1
RBI: Jones, Kyle 1 ; Cyr, Blake 2
SF: Cyr, Blake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cyr, Blake 1 ; McDonald, Caden 1 ; Yost, Hayden 1
Batting:
2B: Larkin, Connor 1
3B: Willits, Jaxon 1
RBI: Willits, Jaxon 2 ; Harris, Dasan 1 ; Walk, Jason 1
SH: Branch, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brock, Brendan 1 ; Gambill, Trey 1 ; LaChance, Deiten 1 ; Larkin, Connor 1
SB: Harris, Dasan 1
HBP: Gambill, Trey 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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RHP
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RHP/1B
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OF
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