KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7 Florida led for multiple frames in the middle innings but ultimately came up short against No. 2 Tennessee, falling by a final score of 7-4 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
 
For the third time in the series, the early innings of game three featured a pitchers’ duel as the Gators (16-5) and Volunteers (20-0) traded scoreless frames until the third. Brendan Lawson singled to right and stole second base in the second, but was left stranded. UF starter Jake Clemente faced the minimum through two, striking out a pair and using a double play to eliminate the lone baserunner in the second.
 
In the home half of the third, Tennessee opened the scoring to take a 1-0 edge. After reaching on a one-out single, Jay Abernathy came home on an RBI groundout to third base by Dean Curley.
 
The Florida bats awakened in the fourth, responding with a four-spot to take its first lead of the game at 4-1. With the bases loaded and one out, Ty Evans delivered with a two-run double down the left-field line to put the Gators in front. Luke Heyman then reached on a fielder’s choice on a liner to right field to plate Lawson while Evans raced home safely before Heyman was caught attempting to steal second base.
 
Tennessee put the first two men on in the bottom of the fourth via a hit-by-pitch and walk, prompting the Gators to turn to right-hander Billy Barlow out of the bullpen. The Volunteers got one run in the inning on a bases-loaded walk of Reese Chapman to force in Hunter Ensley, but Barlow utilized a 5-2 groundout and 6-3 double play to escape the frame without further damage.
 
The Gators stranded a Bobby Boser single in the fifth, allowing Tennessee to creep within one run in the bottom half. With two men down, Gavin Kilen swatted a solo homer to right field to make it 4-3.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Florida got two quick outs but ran into trouble from there. Two-out walks of Manny Marin and Abernathy set the table, with Cannon Peebles hitting a go-ahead, two-run double to right field for a 5-4 Tennessee lead.
 
Closer Alex Philpott recorded the last out of the sixth via a strikeout of Curley, then worked a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to hold the score.
 
Tennessee added an insurance shot in the eighth, as Reese Chapman swatted a two-run homer to center to push the score to its final tally of 7-4.
 
Volunteers reliever Dylan Loy (3-0) registered the victory behind three shutout frames. He surrendered one hit and struck out five.
 
Barlow (1-1) was handed the loss, giving up three earned runs over 2 2/3 innings pitched. He finished with two hits allowed, four walks and one strikeout.
 
Clemente received a no-decision after pithing three-plus innings and allowing two earned runs on two hits, one walk and one hit batter. He struck out three.
 
Tennessee starter Tegan Kuhns also did not factor into the decision, lasting 2 2/3 scoreless frames. The right-hander surrendered one hit and fanned three batters.
 
NOTABLES

• Evans temporarily gave the Gators the lead with a two-run double in the fourth inning.
• Colby Shelton has reached base safely in all 21 games this season after going 1-for-4 with one run scored in the finale.
• Florida pitchers have recorded a 237-to-64 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 21 games.
• The Gators were swept on SEC Opening Weekend for the first time since 2017.
• Florida is now 157-100 all-time vs. Tennessee, including 69-52 in Knoxville.

  • The Gators are 27-26 overall and 14-13 on the road in the series under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan.

• Sunday’s official attendance was 5,579.

FROM HEAD COACH KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
On the outcome of the back-and-forth finale…
“I think this game just boils down to a couple things. Scored four in the fourth and turned around and hit the leadoff man with a breaking ball to leadoff the inning, backup breaking ball. And then we compound the problem; we walk the next guy. We’ve talked about it. Credit Tennessee’s pitchers, they did a great job all weekend. They obviously have got good arms, but they didn’t walk anybody. I think we walked six today. They walked two. And we had a tough weekend, offensively. I think we scored, one time in the last 19 innings. Obviously, that’s not going to get it done…”

On the message to the team and what’s ahead…

“I just told the players, bottom line, welcome to the SEC. This is what it’s all about. Wherever we go, there’s going to be a lot of people in the stands and it’s going to be competitive, and that’s just the way it is. We’re going to have to learn in a hurry what this thing’s all about. It’s not like we haven’t been here before. It’s the first of 10 series. We’ve got nine left. We’re going to go back home against Georgia. We should be motivated enough when we play Georgia anywhere, but we have them at home. And we started 2017, 0-3 when we lost three to Auburn. So, at least we’ve got some experience where we’ve been there, and gotten through this before. But the bottom line is, it was a disappointing weekend…”

UP NEXT

Florida hosts a pair of midweek contests on Tuesday vs. Jacksonville and Wednesday against Florida A&M. Both matchups are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.