GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Missouri baseball team rallied from a five-run deficit but were unable to erase it completely Sunday, falling 7-5 to No. 1 Florida and dropping a three-game sweep to the Gators.
Florida jumped out to a 6-5 lead before Missouri scored the next four runs.
"It's a microcosm of the season," Missouri coach Tim Jamieson said. "The first half of the game, we were not dialed-in as well as we are capable of being. We struggled and looked bad.
"Then the second half of the game when we were dialed-in, we can compete with any team in the country. We outplayed Florida in the second half of the game. We just spotted them too many runs early."
Brian Sharp and Brett Bond led the Tigers with two hits apiece. Sharp had an RBI and Connor Brumfield, Jake Ring and Zach Lavy each had a hit and an RBI.
Brumfield drove in Missouri's first run with a third-inning single to plate Bond. Ring began the rally in the sixth, doubling in Ian Nelson. Trey Harris then plated Ryan Howard with a groundout to second, and Lavy doubled to score Ring. Sharp's RBI came in the sixth as well on a single to score Lavy.
The five runs allowed by Florida starter Alex Faedo are the most in his career. Faedo got the win, though, throwing 52/3 innings and striking out nine on six hits.
Austin Tribby took the loss for Missouri, allowing five earned runs on five hits in three innings. Cole Bartlett pitched 22/3 innings of relief, giving up four hits and a run. Liam Carter pitched two innings of two-hit ball, striking out two and allowing one unearned run. Sharp recorded a groundout for the final out for Florida (21-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference).
Missouri falls to 14-9 overall and 0-3 in the SEC. The Tigers begin a three-game home series against No. 2 Vanderbilt on Friday.