Sunday, May 3
Norman, Okla.
3 PM
Florida Gators
31-17, 0
13
at
2
Oklahoma
30-16, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
UAA Communications photo by Chad Hamilton
No. 15/25 Gators Bash Season-High Seven Homers in Run-Rule Rout of No. 12/15 Sooners
Sunday, May 3, 2026 | Baseball
Five Gators combined for seven home runs highlighted by four in an eight-run fifth inning to win the series.
NORMAN, Okla. – No. 15/25 Florida clubbed 13 hits highlighted by a season-high seven home runs en route to a 13-2 drubbing of No. 12/15 Oklahoma to secure the series victory in an eight-inning affair at Kimrey Family Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Eight of Florida's 13 runs came in a four-homer fifth inning, as the Gators (31-17, 13-11 SEC) plated all but two of their runs via the long ball to roar back for a series win after a game one loss to the Sooners (30-16, 12-12 SEC). Setting the program mark for home runs in an SEC contest, Karson Bowen (3-for-5) and Hayden Yost (2-for-4) both turned in multi-homer games with three RBI and two runs apiece. The additional UF big flies came from Kyle Jones (2-for-4), Ethan Surowiec (2-for-4) and Landon Stripling (1-for-2), with Surowiec driving in a team-high four runs on a pair of extra-base hits.
Not to be lost amidst the offensive explosion was the performance of starting pitcher Russell Sandefer, who twirled seven innings of two-run ball (one earned) on six hits, one walk and seven strikeouts to earn the victory. Retiring the final 11 batters he faced, Sandefer did not allow a single baserunner after Florida's eight-run fifth. His performance helped move the Gators into a tie for sixth place in the SEC standings while rising to a nation-best 14-6 against ranked opponents on top of the most Quad I wins in the country (15). Florida has yet to drop a ranked series all season, going 10-2 in top-25 away contests.
After trading zeros in the first inning, Florida opened the scoring in the top of the second to take a 1-0 edge. With two outs, Bowen drove an 0-2 pitch the other way over the right-field wall for a solo home run off Oklahoma starter Cord Rager. Sandefer held the momentum by retiring the side in order on 10 pitches to complete two scoreless innings.
The two teams exchanged jabs in the third, as the Gators went up 2-0 on a solo homer to left off the bat of Jones with one man down. The Sooners cut the UF lead in half at 2-1 with an unearned run due to a fielding error at shortstop in the home half, as Brendan Brock capitalized with an RBI single to right field before Sandefer retired the next two batters to limit the damage.
Oklahoma drew even in the bottom of the fourth, as Deitan LaChance swatted a leadoff home run to left field to create a brand-new ballgame at 2-2. Sandefer buckled down with runners on the corners and one out later in the inning, fanning Nolan Stevens and getting a groundout to second base.
The tie was short-lived as the Gators brought the fireworks to the top of the fifth with eight runs on four homers to surge comfortably ahead at 9-2. The slugfest began with Yost, who walloped a moonshot over the right-field foul poll for a go-ahead homer to lead off. Jones and Blake Cyr were then plunked to put a pair of Gators on base with one man down. Surowiec cashed in on the traffic, powering an opposite-field blast into the right-field bullpen for a three-run tank. After a Caden McDonald single, Bowen connected for his second long ball of the day to left field for two more runs. Stripling made it back-to-back jacks, sending a solo homer to right field for UF's sixth big fly of the game.
Wildness ensued on the mound following Florida's quartet of homers, as a walk, two hit batters and series of wild pitches allowed Cade Kurland to scamper home safely for the Gators' eighth run of the inning. That prompted Oklahoma's fourth pitching change of the frame before a 10-2 ballgame advanced into the bottom of the fifth.
Wielding a commanding lead, Sandefer retired the side in order in the home half to keep the Orange & Blue rolling. He worked another clean frame in the sixth, allowing Surowiec to extend the edge to 11-2 in the top of the seventh on an RBI double off the left-center field wall. Sandefer continued mowing down the OU order in bottom-seven to reach 11-straight batters retired.
Florida added on again in the eighth, putting the run rule in effect with two more runs to bring the score to its final tally of 13-2. Leaving the yard for the second time of the day, Yost uncorked a two-run shot to left-center field.
Called on to close it out, right-hander Ricky Reeth threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning to secure the run-rule victory. He gave up one hit and struck out one.
Sandefer (3-2) was credited with the series-deciding victory as well as a quality start. He limited Oklahoma to two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while fanning seven over seven strong frames.
Rager (3-3) was saddled with loss, surrendering four earned runs on four hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. The southpaw struck out seven.
NOTABLES
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
On finishing the series with a dominant win…
"Yeah, I am really pleased in how we bounced back from a tough Friday night. Offensively, it was one of our best, if not our best, offensive performances all year long with seven home runs and two more doubles to add to that. I think five guys had multi-hit games and it was a really good offensive day. We took advantage of the wind and that was the best start that [junior right-handed pitcher Russell Sandefer] has had. [He] went seven strong for us."
On Sandefer's pitching performance…
"It was a difficult lineup to navigate through because they have five left-handers and one switchie. He had a couple situations where [there were runners on] second and third with two outs and made some really big pitches at crucial times early in the game to keep it to where it was. He got some ground balls to the right side. He was outstanding today."
On Florida's ability to win ranked SEC road games…
"I don't have anything to put my finger on, it just seems we play well on the road, especially against ranked teams. Oklahoma [has] a really good club. It is a really hard team to defend because they have a lot of speed up and down the lineup. That's the thing, if you walk them, it turns into a double. We only had one walk today. We did the same thing on Friday night. We managed the leadoff hitter for the most part and controlled the running game. We got exposed to [the running game] a bit yesterday, but our guys did a nice job today."
ON DECK
The Gators return to Condron Family Ballpark for a four-game homestand, beginning on Tuesday night against North Florida at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network.
Eight of Florida's 13 runs came in a four-homer fifth inning, as the Gators (31-17, 13-11 SEC) plated all but two of their runs via the long ball to roar back for a series win after a game one loss to the Sooners (30-16, 12-12 SEC). Setting the program mark for home runs in an SEC contest, Karson Bowen (3-for-5) and Hayden Yost (2-for-4) both turned in multi-homer games with three RBI and two runs apiece. The additional UF big flies came from Kyle Jones (2-for-4), Ethan Surowiec (2-for-4) and Landon Stripling (1-for-2), with Surowiec driving in a team-high four runs on a pair of extra-base hits.
Not to be lost amidst the offensive explosion was the performance of starting pitcher Russell Sandefer, who twirled seven innings of two-run ball (one earned) on six hits, one walk and seven strikeouts to earn the victory. Retiring the final 11 batters he faced, Sandefer did not allow a single baserunner after Florida's eight-run fifth. His performance helped move the Gators into a tie for sixth place in the SEC standings while rising to a nation-best 14-6 against ranked opponents on top of the most Quad I wins in the country (15). Florida has yet to drop a ranked series all season, going 10-2 in top-25 away contests.
After trading zeros in the first inning, Florida opened the scoring in the top of the second to take a 1-0 edge. With two outs, Bowen drove an 0-2 pitch the other way over the right-field wall for a solo home run off Oklahoma starter Cord Rager. Sandefer held the momentum by retiring the side in order on 10 pitches to complete two scoreless innings.
The two teams exchanged jabs in the third, as the Gators went up 2-0 on a solo homer to left off the bat of Jones with one man down. The Sooners cut the UF lead in half at 2-1 with an unearned run due to a fielding error at shortstop in the home half, as Brendan Brock capitalized with an RBI single to right field before Sandefer retired the next two batters to limit the damage.
Oklahoma drew even in the bottom of the fourth, as Deitan LaChance swatted a leadoff home run to left field to create a brand-new ballgame at 2-2. Sandefer buckled down with runners on the corners and one out later in the inning, fanning Nolan Stevens and getting a groundout to second base.
The tie was short-lived as the Gators brought the fireworks to the top of the fifth with eight runs on four homers to surge comfortably ahead at 9-2. The slugfest began with Yost, who walloped a moonshot over the right-field foul poll for a go-ahead homer to lead off. Jones and Blake Cyr were then plunked to put a pair of Gators on base with one man down. Surowiec cashed in on the traffic, powering an opposite-field blast into the right-field bullpen for a three-run tank. After a Caden McDonald single, Bowen connected for his second long ball of the day to left field for two more runs. Stripling made it back-to-back jacks, sending a solo homer to right field for UF's sixth big fly of the game.
Wildness ensued on the mound following Florida's quartet of homers, as a walk, two hit batters and series of wild pitches allowed Cade Kurland to scamper home safely for the Gators' eighth run of the inning. That prompted Oklahoma's fourth pitching change of the frame before a 10-2 ballgame advanced into the bottom of the fifth.
Wielding a commanding lead, Sandefer retired the side in order in the home half to keep the Orange & Blue rolling. He worked another clean frame in the sixth, allowing Surowiec to extend the edge to 11-2 in the top of the seventh on an RBI double off the left-center field wall. Sandefer continued mowing down the OU order in bottom-seven to reach 11-straight batters retired.
Florida added on again in the eighth, putting the run rule in effect with two more runs to bring the score to its final tally of 13-2. Leaving the yard for the second time of the day, Yost uncorked a two-run shot to left-center field.
Called on to close it out, right-hander Ricky Reeth threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning to secure the run-rule victory. He gave up one hit and struck out one.
Sandefer (3-2) was credited with the series-deciding victory as well as a quality start. He limited Oklahoma to two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while fanning seven over seven strong frames.
Rager (3-3) was saddled with loss, surrendering four earned runs on four hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. The southpaw struck out seven.
NOTABLES
- Florida hit a season-high seven home runs (team record in SEC play) highlighted by four homers in an eight-run fifth inning.
- The Gators last hit seven home runs in a game on April 23, 2024 vs. Stetson.
- Florida's eight-run fifth inning represents its second-highest scoring frame of the season.
- The Gators have yet to drop a ranked road series this season, going 10-2 in top-25 true away contests.
- Florida is 11-2 playing ranked teams away from home (away or neutral).
- The Gators are 11-5 in road games this season overall.
- Florida is a now a nation-best 14-6 against ranked opponents this season highlighted by the most Quad 1 wins in the country (15).
- Florida has won 10 of its last 14 SEC series dating back to last season, going 27-15 across 42 SEC contests in that span.
- The Gators tied their season high for runs scored in SEC play (13).
- Bowen recorded the first multi-homer game of his four-year career spanning 194 games played.
- Bowen finished 3-for-5 with two homers and three RBI.
- Bowen launched his fourth homer of the season in the second inning.
- Jones connected for his fifth home run of the campaign in the third frame.
- Yost hit his fourth homer of the season to lead off the fifth.
- Surowiec hammered his eighth home run of the campaign in the fifth.
- Bowen and Stripling mashed back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning for their fifth and third big flies of the season.
- Yost mashed his fifth big fly of the campaign in the eighth for his second-career, multi-homer game.
- McDonald went 2-for-5 one game after finishing 4-for-5 at the plate with two homers, two doubles, six RBI and three runs while pitching 3.0 shutout, one-hit innings of relief to earn the win.
- Sandefer retired 11-straight Sooners from the bottom of the fourth through the seventh inning, as he did not allow a baserunner after Florida's eight-run fifth inning.
- Florida has won 48 of its last 70 regular-season games dating back to last season.
- Florida is now 3-3 all-time and 2-1 in Norman against Oklahoma.
- Sunday's official attendance was 3,651.
FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
On finishing the series with a dominant win…
"Yeah, I am really pleased in how we bounced back from a tough Friday night. Offensively, it was one of our best, if not our best, offensive performances all year long with seven home runs and two more doubles to add to that. I think five guys had multi-hit games and it was a really good offensive day. We took advantage of the wind and that was the best start that [junior right-handed pitcher Russell Sandefer] has had. [He] went seven strong for us."
On Sandefer's pitching performance…
"It was a difficult lineup to navigate through because they have five left-handers and one switchie. He had a couple situations where [there were runners on] second and third with two outs and made some really big pitches at crucial times early in the game to keep it to where it was. He got some ground balls to the right side. He was outstanding today."
On Florida's ability to win ranked SEC road games…
"I don't have anything to put my finger on, it just seems we play well on the road, especially against ranked teams. Oklahoma [has] a really good club. It is a really hard team to defend because they have a lot of speed up and down the lineup. That's the thing, if you walk them, it turns into a double. We only had one walk today. We did the same thing on Friday night. We managed the leadoff hitter for the most part and controlled the running game. We got exposed to [the running game] a bit yesterday, but our guys did a nice job today."
ON DECK
The Gators return to Condron Family Ballpark for a four-game homestand, beginning on Tuesday night against North Florida at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sandefer, Russell (3-2)
L: Rager, Cord (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Jones, Kyle 1 ; Surowiec, Ethan 1
HR: Jones, Kyle 1 ; Surowiec, Ethan 1 ; Bowen, Karson 2 ; Stripling, Landon 1 ; Yost, Hayden 2
RBI: Jones, Kyle 1 ; Surowiec, Ethan 4 ; Bowen, Karson 3 ; Stripling, Landon 1 ; Yost, Hayden 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Kyle 2 ; Cyr, Blake 2 ; Surowiec, Ethan 1 ; McDonald, Caden 1 ; Bowen, Karson 2 ; Stripling, Landon 2 ; Kurland, Cade 1 ; Yost, Hayden 2
HBP: Jones, Kyle 2 ; Lawson, Brendan 1 ; Cyr, Blake 1 ; Yost, Hayden 1
Batting:
2B: Willits, Jaxon 1
HR: LaChance, Deiten 1
RBI: Brock, Brendan 1 ; LaChance, Deiten 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LaChance, Deiten 1 ; Branch, Kyle 1
SB: Branch, Kyle 1
PO: Johnson, Camden 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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OF
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