The Florida baseball team aimed for the coveted 2-0 record in regional play to solidify a spot in the championship game.
Junior starting pitcher Jac Caglianone sent a solo home run over the fence in center field but it was far too late as the Cowboys had already cruised to an overwhelming lead.
Oklahoma State put together a dominant five home-run performance as junior starting pitcher Brian Holiday shoved a complete game two-hit performance and nearly blanked the Gators offensively.
Florida (29-28, 13-17 SEC) was outplayed from start to finish by Oklahoma State (41-17, 19-9 Big 12) and fell to the Cowboys 7-1 in its second game of the Stillwater Regional.
Caglianone got off to a slow start in the first inning and never quite seemed to get in a rhythm. The junior gave up back-to-back home runs in the top of the first and junior infielder Aidan Meola nearly made three homers in a row until fan interference forced a ground rule double.
Meola’s near home run allowed the Gators to get out of the first frame trailing 2-0 but Holiday took the mound with a purpose Saturday and it was clear early on
Senior left fielder Tyler Shelnut struck a double down the left-field line for Florida in the top of the second but that would be the last hit Florida would record until the final inning of play.
Holiday was nearly untouchable against the Gators. He threw nine complete innings and held UF to just two hits and one earned run while striking out 10 hitters on 131 total pitches.
The Cowboys carried their offensive firepower into the top of the third when Oklahoma State launched back-to-back home runs for the second time in just three innings to break the game open 4-0.
Florida was able to keep OSU scoreless over the next three frames until the Cowboys’ bats once again exploded in the top of the seventh.
Sophomore utility asset Nolan Schubart provided a leadoff walk and set the scene for Neola’s second home run of the game to increase Oklahoma State’s lead to 6-0.
OSU tacked on another insurance run later in the same frame when freshman infielder Avery Ortiz sent an RBI single to left field.
Florida had its backs against the wall. Caglianone seemed to be the only one up to the task in the bottom of the ninth with his solo homer, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the lofty lead the Cowboys held.
The Gators will be back Sunday in an elimination game against Nebraska starting at 2 p.m. in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Contact Max Tucker at mtucker@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Max_Tuckr1.
Max Tucker is a junior transfer student at UF. After obtaining his A.A. in Journalism from Santa Fe College in 2023, he chose further his education at Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. Max is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a specialization in sports and media. He enjoys golfing and going to the beach with his friends in his free time.
