Florida knocks off Arkansas in elimination game despite late scare
Florida stayed alive in the SEC Tournament on Friday with a 7-5 win over Arkansas as the water-logged tournament continued in Hoover, Alabama.
While the teams combined for 6 home runs, Florida got the upper hand, and held on.
Jac Caglianone was 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs, including a 435-foot blast as the Gators had a 3-run 5th inning and 2-run 6th to pour on the scoring. Florida will meet the winner of Vanderbilt-Kentucky, which is set to begin later Friday, on Saturday.
Nick Pogue got the start for Florida and went 5 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks. Along with Caglianone, Jud Fabian scored 2 runs and collected 2 hits, including a double and a home run.
For Arkansas, Connor Noland started and went 4 2/3 innings and gave up 5 runs, walked 1 and struck out 5 batters.
Arkansas came into the 9th inning 0-for-14 with runners on base, but Jalen Battles reached and later scored from third base on a passed ball. Then Florida reliever Ryan Slater ran into trouble later in the 9th as he gave up another walk, and then a 2-run home run to Braydon Webb, who launched a big fly to left-center field.
435-foot blast by @jac_caglianone!#GoGators // https://t.co/azTnPN2HGY pic.twitter.com/HtYmRsEMwj
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 27, 2022
⚖️#GoGators // https://t.co/azTnPN2HGY pic.twitter.com/fUzIheccCZ
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 27, 2022
.@cayden_wallace going yard pic.twitter.com/fSYDuElnqh
— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) May 27, 2022