No. 2 Florida baseball fell flat for the first eight innings of its Southeastern Conference opener against Tennessee on Friday.
After going without a hit through 24 outs, the Gators stitched together a small rally in the ninth before falling to the Volunteers 6-3 at McKethan Stadium.
Florida (16-3, 0-1 SEC), winners of their last six heading into the game against the Volunteers (8-6, 1-0 SEC), found themselves at the mercy of Tennessee’s ace Bret Marks.
The senior right-handed pitcher tossed eight hitless innings, setting up the possibility to become the first to throw a no-hitter against Florida since 1963.
“He was really good and he sunk the ball,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “His numbers were really good coming in, and he did exactly what he intends to do, and that’s to throw sinkers down in the zone.”
Florida broke it up in the ninth, when leadoff hitter Dalton Guthrie sent the first pitch his way to through the left side for a single.
Richie Martin drew a five-pitch walk one at-bat later and Harrison Bader singled through the right side before Josh Tobias plated a two-RBI fielder’s choice. He advanced to second base on a throwing error from Tennessee’s Nick Senzel.
Florida tacked on one more run after Buddy Reed hit an RBI single to center field after fighting through a 12-pitch at-bat.
“We fought until the end. That’s one of our mottos; that’s the way we play.
UF starter Logan Shore earned his first loss of the season after giving up six hits and five runs — all off four home runs — in five innings of work.
The sophomore righty gave up three home runs in the first inning alone, which ended his scoreless streak dating back to last season at 23.2 innings.
“That’s unacceptable on my part,” Shore said. “I put that on myself tonight for the loss. It’s unacceptable to come out there with everything I’ve gone through last year and not go out there and compete.”
Game 2 of the series begins Saturday at 7 p.m.
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
Josh Tobias bats during Florida’s 3-1 win against Florida State on March 18.
