Updated Feb. 24, 2026, 10:05 p.m. ET
Florida baseball erupted for 17 runs across two explosive innings to secure a 17-11 home victory against FIU on Tuesday.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first, Florida responded with relentless offensive pressure, scoring in four different innings and piling up 14 hits. The fourth and fifth innings flipped the game, as the Gators combined for 14 runs and turned a tight contest into a track meet.
FIU never stopped swinging though, as they collected 16 hits and plated three in the ninth. But Florida’s lead was too much to handle.
The victory extends Florida’s win streak up to eight games. Take a look at how the game took its shape.
Florida exploded for 17 runs, including back-to-back seven-run innings in the fourth and fifth, and held off the Panthers to secure a 17-11 win at Condron Family Ballpark.
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The Gators finished with 14 hits and drove in 13 two-out RBI, repeatedly capitalizing when it mattered most. Ethan Surowiec led the charge with four RBI, while Cade Kurland, Brendan Lawson and Cash Strayer all delivered key swings during the game.
FIU put together 16 hits and scored in three different innings late, but the deficit proved too large to overcome as the Gators closed it out in the end.
Game flips to the ninth (E8: UF 17, FIU 8)
Florida couldn’t add on in the eighth. The Gators head to the ninth three outs away from closing this one out.
McDonald slams door (M8: UF 17, FIU 8)
Caden McDonald made quick work of FIU in the eighth. He got Andrew Ildefonso to line out for the first out. Then, dialed it up and struck out Kyle Koehler and finished the inning with another punchout of Preston Leon.
Three straight outs after the leadoff single, and the Gators head to the bottom of the eighth with a nine-run lead.
UF makes pitching change in the eighth (T8: UF 17, FIU 8)
FIU started the eighth with a single to put a runner aboard with no outs. That prompted a pitching change for the Gators, as right-hander Caden McDonald replaced Blair. The Gators will look for McDonald to shut the door early in the inning.
Kurland adds another run (E7: UF 17, FIU 8)
Florida kept the line moving in the seventh.
Cade Kurland hit a fly ball for a sacrifice fly, bringing Cash Strayer home and pushing the lead to 17-8. Blake Cyr followed with a walk, and FIU made a pitching change. Jacob Kendall grounded out to second to end the inning, but Florida put on another run heading into the eighth.
Gators don’t take damage in the seventh (M7: UF 16, FIU 8)
FIU opened the seventh with a single, but Florida’s defense shut the door. Vicente Feliciano grounded into a double play, wiping out the leadoff baserunner. Enrique Alvarez then struck out swinging to end the frame.
A clean, efficient inning for Floria as they head back to the plate.
Former Gator takes mound (E6: UF 16, FIU 8)
FIU brought in right-hander Rene Lastres to pitch the sixth, who played for the Gators in 2022 and 2023 as a catcher.
Florida recorded two quick outs and then sent Kolt Myers to pinch hit for Brendan Lawson. Myers hit a double for his first extra-base hit as a Gator. Karson Bowen then grounded out to second to end the inning.
FIU scores four in the sixth (M6: UF 16. FIU 8)
With runners on second and third and no outs, Boston Doeschot shot a single through to bring in two more runs and cut into Florida’s lead.
The Gators recorded outs from there. Adonys Velez flied out to center, and Hector Candelas grounded out to third to help settle things down. Florida is still comfortably in front, but FIU has shown they aren’t going to just go away.
FIU still trying to score (T6: UF 16, FIU 6)
Florida turned to freshman left-hander Jackson Hoyt to begin the sixth, but FIU quickly put pressure on.
Vicente Feliciano worked a walk to start the inning, and Enrique Alvarez delivered with a single. A hit-by-pitch then loaded the bases and Andrew Ildefonso drove a double to bring home two runs.
With runners still on second and third with no outs, Florida switches pitchers. Left-hander Eli Blair is on the mound.
Kurland adds another as Gators keep pouring it on (E5: UF 16, FIU 4)
With two outs, Cade Kurland lined a single to center field to bring home a run and stretch the lead even further. Jacob Kendall hit a fly ball to right field for the final out, but the Orange and Blue tack on another as the game heads to the sixth inning.
Surowiec blows it open (B5: UF 15, FIU 4)
Florida turned a comfortable lead into a rout in the fifth.
With traffic already building, Kyle Jones worked a bases-loaded walk to force in a run and make it 10-4. Brendan Lawson was then hit by a pitch with the bases full, bringing home another.
Cash Strayer drew a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 12-4, setting the stage for Ethan Surowiec.
Suroweic delivered the biggest swing of the inning, drilling a double that cleared the bases and extending Florida’s lead to 15-4. It’s Surowiec’s fourth RBI of the night.
With two outs in the inning, FIU makes another pitching change. They bring in righty Brennan Confreda to try and record the third out.
Gators load up the bases (B5: UF 9, FIU 4)
Cade Kurland started the inning with a single, and Blake Cyr followed with a base hit to left to put two aboard. Jacob Kendall fouled out to the catcher, but a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position with one out.
Landon Stripling then worked a walk to load the bases, prompting yet another pitching change. FIU goes back to the bullpen, bringing in left-hander Tyler Mecchella as the Gators look to extend the lead.
Reeth works around baserunners in the fifth (M5: UF 9, FIU 4)
Ricky Reeth kept FIU off the board, striking out Luca Reyes to get things started. Aidan Cohall was hit by a pitch to give the Panthers a baserunner, and Mario Trivella followed with a double that moved Cohall to third.
Reeth responded with a strikeout and groundout to end the threat of a score. Florida maintains their five-run cushion heading back to the plate.
Florida erupts for seven in fourth (E4: UF 9, FIU 4)
Florida blew the game open in the fourth and took full advantage of FIU’s mistakes. With Kyle Jones on third and two outs, left-hander Cooper Foster entered for the Panthers.
Brendan Lawson reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing Jones to score and giving Florida a 7-4 lead on an unearned run. Karson Bowen followed with a four-pitch walk, and Cash Strayer lined a single to right to bring in another run as Lawson crossed the plate.
A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, and Ethan Surowiec singled to drive in another.
Gators take the lead, FIU goes back to bullpen (B4: UF 6, FIU 4)
Florida answered immediately in the bottom half.
Cade Kurland ripped a double down the left-field line, and Blake Cyr followed with an RBI single to left to bring him home and cut the deficit in half.
Cyr then stole second, and Jacob Kendall worked a walk to keep the pressure on. With two aboard, left-hander Landon Stripling pinch hit for Sam Miller and delivered, lining a single to center field to score Cyr and tie the game.
Kyle Jones then came through with a standup RBI-triple to give the Gators a 6-4 lead and prompt an FIU pitching change.
FIU back in front (M4: FIU 4, UF 2)
FIU answered right back in the fourth. Hector Candelas opened the inning with a single to left, and after a strikeout, Vicente Feliciano lined a single to center to put runners on the corners. Cooper Rasmussen lifted a fly ball to center for a sacrifice fly, bringing Candela s home to give the Panthers the lead again.
Samuel Fischer followed with a double, driving in Feliciano to extend the lead to 4-2.
Gators get on the board (E3: UF 2, FIU 2)
Florida has its answer. After FIU went to the bullpen, Kyle Jones struck out swinging, but Brendan Lawson came through in a big way. Lawson cashed in with a two-run double down the right-field line, driving in Blake Cyr and Jacob Kendall to tie the game at two apiece.
FIU makes pitching change with Gators threatening (B3: FIU 2, UF 0)
Florida has something brewing in the third. Blake Cyr was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and Jacob Kendall followed with a single to center that popped out of the glove of the center fielder.
With runners on first and second and one out, FIU is making a pitching change as right-hander Enrique Sierra enters.
Reeth punches out two in clean third (M3: FIU 2, UF 0)
Reeth delivered a much-needed shutdown inning in the third. Luca Reyes went down swinging and Cohall followed with another strikeout. Mario Trivella popped up to second base to end the inning.
A crisp 1-2-3 frame for Reeth, and Florida will head back to the plate still trailing by two.
Controversial call ends Gators’ second (E2: FIU 2, UF 0)
Cash Strayer went down looking to open the inning, Surowiec followed with a fly ball to right field for the second out as FIU’s starter continued to work efficiently.
The inning ended in frustration. Cade Kurland was hit on the elbow with two strikes and immediately took his base, but umpires ruled he leaned into the pitch. After a review, the call stood and Kurland was ruled out on the strikeout.
Associate head coach Tom Slater made his displeasure known, gave the umpiring crew an earful and was ejected from the game.
Reeth limits damage after early traffic (M2: FIU 2, UF 0)
Florida brought in Reeth for McNeillie and the first batter he faced, Samuel Fischer, had an infield single up the middle. But fortunately, there was no damage that ensued as Andrew Ildefonso lifted a fly ball to left field to end the inning.
Reeth stranded the runners and kept the deficit at two as Florida heads back to the plate looking for its first spark offensively.
Florida makes early pitching change (T2: FIU 2, UF 0)
Florida is going to the bullpen early. Right-hander Ricky Reeth takes over for McNeillie in the top of the second with runners on first and second with two outs.
FIU is again creating traffic, and Reeth will try to stop the bleeding.
Gators go quietly in the first (E1: FIU 2, UF 0)
Florida couldn’t answer in the bottom half of the opening inning. Kyle Jones flied out to center field for the first out. Brendan Lawson then went down looking on strike three and Karson Bowen grounded out to third to end the inning.
A quick 1-2-3 bottom half for FIU starter Quin McManmon as Florida comes up empty in its first trip to the plate.
FIU cashes in on Florida miscue (M1: FIU 2, UF 0)
FIU didn’t waste time applying pressure in the opening frame. FIU designated hitter Aidan Cohall grounded out to first, but a throwing error by first baseman Ethan Surowiec allowed the Panthers to gain an early 2-0 advantage.
FIU forced Luke McNeillie to navigate traffic early. The Gators will look to respond quickly.
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The Florida at FIU game starts at 6:30 p.m. ET from Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida.
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