The atmosphere in Gainesville was electric as the Florida Gators took on Rider in a winner‑takes‑all NCAA Baseball Regional showdown.
Florida struck first, with Kyle Jones launching a leadoff homer and later adding an RBI single in the fifth, while Landon Jones contributed a sacrifice fly that pushed the lead to 4‑0.
Russell Sandefer’s five‑plus innings of shutout pitching kept Rider at bay, striking out five and allowing just one hit before the Gators’ bullpen took over.
Rider’s comeback attempt
In the eighth inning, Anthony Paskell’s grand slam ignited a rally, and Nick Shuhet followed with a two‑run homer that put the visitors ahead 6‑4.
The Gators answered back with long balls from Caden McDonald and Cade Kurland, swinging the score to 7‑6, only for Matt Leahy to knot the game again with his own homer.
With the game tied at 7‑7 heading into the bottom of the ninth, all eyes turned to the plate where Brendan Lawson waited.
Lawson’s swing sent the ball soaring, delivering a walk‑off home run that secured an 8‑7 victory and marked Florida’s first tournament walk‑off since 2018.
What it means for the Gators
The win propels the Gators into a Saturday night matchup against the survivor of the Troy‑Miami clash, scheduled for 6 p.m., as they chase a deeper tournament run.
Coach Kevin O’Sullivan praised the team’s resilience, noting that the depth of the lineup and the bullpen’s composure under pressure will be crucial as the Gators move forward.