FSU’s rally falls short as Gators win in Tallahassee to sweep series
No. 5 Florida State played host to Florida for the third and final matchup of the 2026 season, with the Seminoles looking to avoid a sweep after dropping games in Gainesville and Jacksonville. The game was tied after three innings before a big fifth gave Florida a 4-1 lead.
A late rally in the eighth pulled Florida State within one, but the Seminoles fell 4-3. Cooper Whited took the mound and worked a 1-2-3 first inning. Brayden Dowd had Florida State’s only hit in the bottom half, and Florida pitcher Cooper Walls struck out the first two batters of the second before retiring the side on weak contact.
The scoreless game ended with two outs in the top of the third on a Hayden Yost home run to deep right field, giving the Gators a 1-0 lead. John Stuetzer led off the bottom of the inning with a hit by pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Chase Williams followed with a bunt that advanced Stuetzer to third while reaching safely, and Dowd tied the game with an RBI single.
Whited retired the side in order in the fourth. With one out in the Florida State half, Caden McDonald replaced Cooper Walls. A long drive to left-center was caught, and Kelvyn Paulino Jr.
was doubled off first base. Florida opened the fifth with a Cole Stanford home run to left field to make it 2-1. Gabe Nard entered in relief with two outs.