Gators beat Arkansas once, but they should have gotten a sweep

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

Simply calling winning one of three games at Arkansas “a frustrating weekend” was probably diplomatic on the part of Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan. He knew the Gators should have departed Fayetteville with a sweep but in games one and two they shot themselves in the foot, both times turning perfectly winnable games into one-run losses.

“We continue to talk about the same things over and over and they continue to happen... ,” O’Sullivan said Saturday after the Gators lost game one to Arkansas, 6-5, thanks in large part to a baserunning blunder, then won game two when Jac Caglianone’s 26th homer of the season, a fifth-inning grand slam, led UF to a 9-5 win.

For a change, the Gators (22-21, 9-12 SEC) couldn’t really blame a 1-2 weekend on the pitching. The Gators got excellent starts from Pierce Coppola on an extended pitch count Friday and 5-1/3 innings of 3-hit pitching from Brandon Neely in the first game of the Saturday doubleheader. Fisher Jameson continued to throw well out of the bullpen, allowing just two hits in 4-1/3 innings over two appearances.

The pitching was fine. If only the Gators could have pitched like that in some of their previous weekend series. The problem was execution at the plate and on the basepaths. The Gators lost game one 2-1. On a night when each team managed only three hits, the Gators couldn’t move runners over when it counted. The Gators lost the first game Saturday when they turned an easy game-tying sacrifice fly into a game-saving double play.

Florida won game three largely because Arkansas was forced to pitch to Caglianone. Intentionally walked three times previously and once in game one, Cag came to the plate in the fifth inning with the bases loaded. Given a chance to hit with runners in scoring position, he delivered a grand slam on a 1-2 pitch. An inning later, Ty Evans hit a 2-run homer for insurance.

While happy to escape with one win, O’Sullivan could only shake his head in frustration about the weekend as a whole.

“I mean, we're doing things that aren't conducive to winning games,” he said. “Shoulda, coulda, woulda. We should have won this one. We could have won that one. The bottom line is we didn't. But we did battle today and we're walking out of here with at least one." 

With three SEC weekends remaining and a pair of non-conference games to go, every game is must win for UF. Five SEC wins (14 in the regular season) will pretty much assure the Gators of making the NCAA Tournament, but the next two weekends are formidable with Tennessee (33-7, 15-6 SEC) coming in Thursday and SEC East leader Kentucky (33-9, 16-5 SEC) the following weekend. Florida will finish off its SEC schedule in Athens against Georgia.

SEC baseball standings

East: 1. Kentucky (33-9, 16-5 SEC); 2. Tennessee (37-7, 15-6 SEC); 3. (TIE) Vanderbilt (31-13, 11-10 SEC) and South Carolina (29-14, 11-10 SEC); 5. Georgia (31-12, 10-11 SEC); 6. FLORIDA (22-21, 9-12 SEC); 7. Missouri (19-26, 6-15 SEC)

West: 1. Arkansas (37-7, 16-5 SEC); 2. Texas A&M (38-6, 15-6 SEC); 3. Mississippi State (29-15, 12-9 SEC); 4. Alabama (28-16, 9-12 SEC); 5. (TIE) LSU (28-17, 7-14 SEC) and Ole Miss (23-20, 7-14 SEC); 7. Auburn (21-22, 3-18 SEC)

UF SOFTBALL: Falby ignites game-winning rally against Georgia

With the Gators trailing 4-3 to Georgia in the top of the seventh Sunday, Kendra Falby gambled that she could outrun the softball and it paid off with a little help from the replay people in Birmingham. On second due to a throwing error on a potential game-ending double play ball, pulled off a daring delayed steal of third with the ball still in the hands of Georgia pitcher Shelby Walters. Walters made the throw to Sara Mosely in plenty of time to nail Falby, but instead of a swipe tag, Mosely reached high to tag Falby’s left leg.

Sliding into third, Falby gave the safe sign, but umpire James Colzie called her out. Florida coach Tim Walton asked for a replay and the folks in Birmingham saw clearly that Falby’s right leg was on third ahead of the tag on her left. Korbe Otis moved to second on the play. One out later, Jocelyn Erickson hammered a low, inside pitch over the right field fence to give the Gators a 6-4 lead. Reagan Walsh followed with her 16th homer of the season to dead center and later in the inning Katie Kistler delivered a 3-run triple.

Georgia did score three in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too late as the Gators left Athens with a 10-7 Sunday win and two wins to take the series.

In winning two against the 11th-ranked Bulldogs (37-13, 11-10 SEC), 12th-ranked Florida (39-13, 14-7 SEC) remained two games behind SEC leader Tennessee (36-9, 16-5 SEC). The Gators will host Texas A&M (39-9, 15-6 SEC) next weekend. If the Gators can beat the Aggies two out of three, they will tie for second but the Gators would be the No. 2 seed for winning the head-to-head series.

The Gators will be at Florida State Wednesday in their final regular season non-conference game.

SEC softball standings: 1. Tennessee (36-9, 16-5 SEC); 2. Texas A&M (39-9, 15-6 SEC); 3. FLORIDA (39-12, 14-7 SEC); 4. Arkansas (34-13, 13-8 SEC); 5. Georgia (37-13, 11-10 SEC); 6. LSU (36-13, 12-12 SEC); 7. Mississippi State (30-14, 9-9 SEC); 8. Missouri (35-13, 8-10 SEC); 9. Alabama (32-14, 9-12 SEC); 10. South Carolina (32-18, 8-13 SEC); 11. Kentucky (30-18, 8-13 SEC); 12. Auburn (25-17-1, 7-14 SEC); 13. Ole Miss (28-23, 5-16 SEC)

SEC FOOTBALL: The latest from the portal

Alabama

Outgoing: PK Reed Harradine (6-3, 185, FR); WR Andre Craig (6-0, 180, SO); DL Khurtiss Perry (6-2, 265, FR); C James Brockermeyer (6-3, 285, SO) to TCU

Incoming: OT Kadyn Proctor (6-7, 360, FR) from Iowa; PK Graham Nicholson (6-0, 185, JR) from Miami (OH)

Arkansas

Outgoing: TE Francis Sherman (6-3, 237, SR); RB Isaiah Augustave (6-2, 208, RFR); OT Andrew Chamblee (6-6, 304, FR); QB Jacolby Criswell (6-1, 230, JR); EDGE Jashaud Stewart (6-2, 257, SR); P Max Fletcher (6-5, 174, SO) to Cincinnati; CB Snaxx Johnson (6-0, 193, JR) to Baylor

Incoming: RB Rodney Hill (5-10, 186, SO) from Florida A&M; LB Larry Worth III (6-4, 220, SO) from Jacksonville State; EDGE Keyron Crawford (6-4, 243, SO) from Arkansas State

Auburn

Outgoing: DL Brenton Williams (6-3, 262, FR) to Liberty; CB J.D. Rhym (6-1, 178, SO); LS Kyle Vaccarella (6-3, 229, SO); WR Ja’Varrius Johnson (5-10, 167, SR); WR Jay Fair (5-10, 186, SO) to Southern California; LB Wesley Steiner (6-0, 245, SR); CB Tyler Scott (6-1, 193, FR); CB Colton Hood (5-11, 183, FR) to Colorado; OL Garner Langlo (6-6, 297, SO)

Incoming: DL Philip Blidi (6-3, 295, SR) from Indiana; DL Isaiah Rakes (6-2, 320, JR) from Southern California; LB Jaylin Alderman (6-1, 230, JR) from Louisville; WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (6-1, 185, JR) from Penn State

FLORIDA

Outgoing: LB Mannie Nunnery (6-2, 227, RSR); CB Ethan Pouncey (6-0, 169, RJR)

Georgia

Outgoing: RB Andrew Paul (5-11, 218, FR); OT Chad Lindberg (6-6, 325, JR) to Rice; WR Tyler Williams (6-3, 205, RFR) to Minnesota; DL Christen Miller (6-4, 305, FR)

Incoming: QB Jaden Rashada (from Arizona State

Kentucky

Outgoing: RB LaVell Wright (5-11, 202, JR); WR Darius Cannon (5-9, 175, FR); WR Raymond Cottrell (6-3, 210, RFR); QB Shane Hamm (5-11, 209, SO); WR Shamar Porter (6-3, 205, FR); PK Jackson Smith (5-11, 204, FR); WR Ardell Banks (6-3, 187, FR); CB Jaramiah Anglin Jr. (6-1, 180, FR); CB Jordan Robinson (6-4, 208, SO)

Incoming: DB DJ Waller Jr. (6-3, 205, FR) from Michigan

LSU

Outgoing: EDGE Jaxon Howard (6-4, 240, FR) to Minnesota; WR Khai Prean (6-0, 202, FR) to Tulane; CB Ryan Robinson Jr. (5-11, 180, FR); TE Connor Gilbreath (6-5, 272, SO); DL Bryce Langston (6-3, 300, SO) to Florida Atlantic; CB Jeremiah Hughes (6-0, 187, FR); LB Christian Brathwaite (6-1, 217, FR); S Ryan Yaites (6-1, 203, FR); RB John Emery (6-0, 224, SR); OG Joseph Cryer (6-3, 300, FR)

Incoming: DL Gio Paez (6-3, 310, SR) from Wisconsin

Mississippi State

Outgoing: S Trent Singleton (6-0, 195, FR); CB Luke Evans (6-2, 180, FR); P Keelan Cummings (6-3, 215, FR) to Purdue; WR Justin Robinson (6-4, 220, JR); OT Zay Alexander (6-7, 340, FR); OT Jayden Hobson (6-5, 295, FR); LB Avery Sledge (6-3, 220, FR); LB Khalid Moore (6-2, 250, FR)

Incoming:

Missouri

Outgoing: WR Dannis Jackson (5-11, 171, JR); DL Serigne Tounkara (6-2, 235, FR); TE Ryan Hoerstkamp (6-2, 240, SO)

Incoming: QB Drew Pyne (6-0, 190, SO) from Arizona State; OT Marcus Bryant (6-8, 318, SR) from SMU

Oklahoma

Outgoing: QB Jacob Switzer (6-2, 192, SO); Shane Whitter (6-0, 226, JR); CB Justin Harrington (6-3, 215, SR); CB Jasiah Wagner (5-11, 172, FR)

Incoming: C Branson Hickman (6-4, 297, JR) from SMU; DL Jermaine Lole (6-3, 310, SR) from Louisville

Ole Miss

Outgoing: DL Joshua Harris (6-4, 325, SR) to North Carolina; QB Deljay Bailey (6-1, 200, FR); DT Demarcus Smith (6-3, 295, SO); CB Amorion Walker (6-3, 180, SO)

Incoming: RB Jacory Merritt (5-11, 204 SR) from New Mexico; RB Henry Parrish (5-10, 190, JR) from Miami  

South Carolina

Outgoing: OL Jaxon Hughes (6-6, 297, SR); EDGE Terrell Dawkins (6-4, 251, SR); WR Kelton Henderson (6-0, 165, FR); OT Sidney Fugar (6-5, 327, SO); S Keenan Nelson Jr. (6-1, 195, FR)

Tennessee

Outgoing: LB Elijah Herring (6-3, 238, SO)

Texas

Outgoing: LB S’maje Burrell (6-0, 219, FR); EDGE Billy Walton III (6-3, 225, FR); OL Payton Kirkland (6-6, 350, FR) to Colorado; EDGE J’mond Tapp (6-3, 266, FR) to Arizona State; DL Zach Swanson (6-4, 270, FR); RB Ky Woods (5-9, 175, SO); CB Terrance Brooks (6-0, 200, SO); DB Austin Jordan (6-0, 198, SO); RB Savion Red (5-10, 214, SO); S Austin Jordan (6-0, 198, SO)

Incoming: DL Bill Norton (6-6, 325, SR) from Arizona

Texas A&M

Outgoing: S Sam McCall (6-1, 185, FR); LB Alex Howard (6-2, 230, SR); S Jacoby Matthews (6-2, 215, SO); EDGE Fadil Diggs (6-5, 260, JR) to Syracuse; OL Derrick Graham (6-4, 314, SO); PK Ethan Moczulski (5-11, 200, FR); OL Bryce Foster (6-5, 330, SO); OL Colton Thomasson (6-8, 320, FR); RB Jerry Johnson (6-1, 235, GR)

Incoming: EDGE Josh Celiscar (6-4, 265, SR) from UCF; C Koli Faaiu (6-3, 326, SO) from Utah; LB Solomon DeShields (6-3, 225, JR) from Pittsburgh

Vanderbilt

Outgoing: LB Dante Kelly (6-3, 201, FR); S John Howse IV (6-1, 195, JR); TE Josh Palmer (6-4, 192, FR); OT Leyton Nelson (6-6, 308, SO) to Wisconsin; CB Jameson Wharton (6-1, 170, SO); DB Quantaves Gaskins (6-1, 190, SO); RB Deago Benson (5-11, 204, FR)

Incoming: Cade McConnell (6-5, 310, FR) from Minnesota; OL Steven Hubbard (6-3, 314, SR) from UTEP

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Kingsley Eguakun, who started 26 consecutive games at center for the Gators in 2021-22 only to spend most of the 2023 season dealing with injuries, signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Detroit Lions Sunday. Detroit has an established starter at center in Frank Ragnow, and backup Michael Niese spent most of 2023 on Detroit’s practice squad although he was active two other games. In addition to Eguakun, the Lions are bringing in undrafted free agent centers Duke Clemens (UCLA) and Bryan Hudson (Louisville).

That Ricky Pearsall was the only Gator taken in the draft (San Francisco, 1st round) and Eguakun is the only undrafted Gator to sign a free agent contract, is just further proof of how far the Florida football program backslid in the years following Urban Meyer walking away after the 2010 season.