Top-Ranked Texas Baseball Team Drops Hard-Fought Series Finale Against Florida Gators in 4-1 Loss at UFCU Disch-Falk Field
The University of Texas baseball team, ranked No. 1 in the nation, saw its bid for a series sweep fall short on Sunday afternoon, dropping the finale to the Florida Gators by a final score of 4-1 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. After taking the first two games in thrilling fashion, the Longhorns were unable to produce enough offense in the finale, falling victim to a disciplined Florida pitching staff and a few missed opportunities that tilted the momentum away from the home team.
This marked only the fifth loss of the season for Texas, which had previously won eight straight games and showed its championship-caliber depth across the board during much of the weekend. Florida, entering Sunday’s contest determined to salvage the finale, executed its game plan with precision, relying on a combination of timely hitting, tight defense, and a commanding performance on the mound to silence a crowd of over 6,000 fans and deny Texas its second SEC sweep of the year.
Florida struck first, putting pressure on Texas starter Marcus Torres early. After Torres retired the first two hitters of the game with relative ease, Florida cleanup hitter Wyatt Langford worked a full count before lacing a double down the left field line. A passed ball advanced him to third, and a bloop single by freshman Cade Kurland brought him home, giving the Gators a 1-0 lead and setting the tone for a game in which every run was going to count.
Texas had its chances to respond in the bottom of the first and second innings, putting runners on base in both frames, but the clutch hit never came. Florida starter Pierce Coppola, who came into the game with a 4.21 ERA but electric strikeout stuff, settled in quickly after issuing a walk to begin the second. He retired six straight hitters and allowed only one run on four hits over 6.1 innings, tying a season-high with seven strikeouts while walking just one.
The Longhorns’ lone run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Dylan Campbell reached on an infield single, he advanced to second on a fielder’s choice and scored on a two-out RBI double from third baseman Peyton Powell, who remained one of the team’s most consistent hitters throughout the series. The hit brought the home crowd to life and tied the game at 1-1, but it would be the last time Texas found the scoreboard.
Florida responded immediately in the top of the fifth. With two outs and a runner on second, Langford once again played the role of momentum-shifter, blasting a line drive over the center fielder’s head to reclaim the lead, 2-1. Texas coach David Pierce made a mound visit to calm Torres and chose to leave him in, but the next batter, Kurland, delivered again with a double off the right-field wall to stretch the Gators’ lead to 3-1.
That was all Florida needed. Their bullpen—led by Brandon Neely and closer Blake Purnell—shut the door on any Texas hopes of a late rally. Neely entered in the seventh after Coppola surrendered a leadoff single and promptly retired three straight hitters. Purnell came on in the ninth with a two-run cushion and recorded the final three outs to pick up his fifth save of the season, capping off a well-earned win for the Gators.
Texas had a chance in the bottom of the eighth after Mitchell Daly walked and Campbell followed with a sharp single to right. With runners at the corners and only one out, Florida made a defensive switch and brought in their top reliever. The move paid off immediately as Powell grounded into an inning-ending double play, a crushing blow to the Longhorns’ comeback hopes.
Pitching-wise, Torres took the loss for Texas despite a mostly solid outing. He allowed three runs on six hits across 5.2 innings, striking out five and walking two. It was the first time this season he didn’t receive run support from the potent Texas lineup, which entered the day averaging nearly seven runs per game. Reliever Charlie Hurley pitched 2.1 innings in relief, giving up a solo home run to Ty Evans in the top of the ninth that provided the final margin.
Texas’ offensive struggles were uncharacteristic. The Longhorns managed just six hits on the day, only one of which came with a runner in scoring position. They left seven men on base and grounded into two double plays, including one that ended a promising sixth-inning rally. After combining for 17 runs in the first two games of the series, the Longhorns simply couldn’t figure out Florida’s pitching approach in the finale.
Coach Pierce credited Florida’s effort and acknowledged his team’s missed opportunities. “You have to give them credit,” he said postgame. “They came in here knowing they didn’t want to get swept, and they played a clean game. We had our chances, and we didn’t cash in. That’s baseball, and that’s why you have to stay sharp for all nine innings.”
Despite the loss, the series win keeps Texas firmly in control of its postseason destiny. With a record of 35-5, the Longhorns remain on track for a top national seed in the NCAA Tournament and have shown remarkable consistency throughout the season. The team is still unbeaten in midweek games and boasts a 12-3 record in SEC play. The loss to Florida, while disappointing, served as a reminder of the narrow margin for error at the top level of college baseball.
One of the few bright spots for Texas in the loss was Campbell, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored and made a diving catch in the sixth inning to prevent an extra-base hit. The junior outfielder has quietly raised his batting average to .319 and continues to be one of the team’s most reliable players on both sides of the ball.
Looking ahead, the Longhorns will regroup quickly with a Tuesday night game against in-state rival UTSA, followed by a crucial weekend series at No. 7 Arkansas. The Razorbacks have been dominant at Baum-Walker Stadium and will pose another stiff test for Texas, particularly after a series that revealed cracks in what has been an otherwise dominant team performance this season.
When asked what the team needs to take from the loss, Powell was quick to respond: “We’ve got to be better with two strikes and runners on. You don’t win in the postseason leaving that many guys out there. We’re close, but we’ve got to sharpen up. Every team we play from here on out is going to bring it.”
The crowd at UFCU Disch-Falk Field gave the team a warm ovation despite the loss, appreciative of a series win over a quality SEC opponent and a season that continues to inspire confidence. The Longhorns remain atop most major polls and have positioned themselves as one of the favorites to reach Omaha this June. With strong pitching, elite defense, and a lineup that’s shown flashes of brilliance, Texas has the ingredients necessary for a deep postseason run.
Still, as Sunday’s finale showed, there’s work to be done. The margins get thinner in May and June, and teams like Florida—talented, opportunistic, and hungry—won’t back down. For the Longhorns, the mission continues: one pitch, one game, one series at a time.
