NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A solo home run in the ninth proved to be the difference on Sunday afternoon, as Florida claimed a 4-3 win over Vanderbilt in a 10-inning affair at Hawkins Field. With the loss, the Commodores move to 25-10 on the season, including a 7-8 mark in SEC play.
The Vanderbilt offense was held to one run through the first eight innings and entered the ninth facing a 3-1 deficit. Down to its final out, Spencer Jones kept the game alive with a single through the left side to bring Jack Bulger to the plate, representing the tying run.
After falling to an 0-2 count, Bulger connected on the third pitch of the at-bat with a deep drive to left field to tie the game, marking his third homer on the season.
Florida answered back with a solo home run in the top of the 10th to set the score at 4-3, the eventual final.
The Gators struck first for the third consecutive game and built a 3-0 lead across the first three innings. Florida scored two runs on four hits and an error in the top of the first before tacking on a run with a solo home run in the top of the third.
Parker Noland put the Dores in the scoring column in the bottom of the fifth. The junior from Knoxville, Tennessee launched his third home run on the season to left field to trim Florida’s lead to 3-1.
The Commodores battled back to tie things in the ninth and send the game to extras, but Florida would score the go-ahead run in the 10th to avoid the sweep.
Making his second start on the season, Bryce Cunningham notched his first career quality start. The freshman right-hander pitched 6.0 strong innings, holding Florida to two earned runs. Cunningham worked around seven hits and recorded three strikeouts.
Christian Little (0-1) was hit with the loss. Little threw the final three innings for the Commodores with the solo homer in the 10th being the only hit allowed.
Vanderbilt hosts Tennessee Tech at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday with the action airing on SEC Network+.
