Florida baseball hosts the Jacksonville Dolphins on Tuesday night as the Gators look to even up the season series.
Florida lost to Jacksonville, 4-3, on March 31 after blowing a two-run lead in the top of the eighth. It was a bullpen implosion last time around. Billy Barlow and Cooper Walls combined to hit two batters, give up a walk and two hits as the Dolphins scored three late in the game. Walls will get the start this time, looking for some redemption on multiple levels. He gave up three runs and failed to record an out last week against Bethune-Cookman, too.
The Gators are also likely to use Barlow again in a long-relief role. Left-handed freshmen Eli Blair and Jackson Hoyt are available, as are Caden McDonald and Schuyler Sandford. If Kevin O'Sullivan sees the game is close, he could use one of his top relief arms. Hopefully, the offense scores more than four runs this time, so the Gators don't have to do that, though.
NOTES: Cooper Walls has it rough since being removed from Florida's weekend rotation. He's given up seven runs and failed to record an out over his last two appearances against Georgia and Bethune-Cookman. The latter outing is more concerning. Bethune-Cookman has put together a solid lineup, but there's zero reason for a former SEC starter to struggle so badly. Walls hit a batter and gave up two hits for four runs, three of which were earned. Time for the Hawaii transfer to bounce back.
Ben Baker-Livingston has appeared in 12 games this season for Jacksonville, throwing 21 2/3 innings. In the first meeting with Florida, Baker-Livingston worked three innings but gave up all three runs the Gators scored. Cole Stanford took him deep, and Brendan Lawson and Ethan Surowiec drove in runs.
Jacksonville has two hitters with an OPS above .900 — centerfielder Jonah Shields (.953) and freshman right fielder Cade Walter (.914); however, Shields has only played in 14 games. Walter is tied for the team lead with junior designated hitter Derek Bermudez (.84 OPS); each has seven home runs. They are second and third on the team in RBIs as well. The leaderboard goes second baseman Roger Vergara (34), Bermudez (33) and Walter (28).
Notes: Florida has won 14 of the last 18 vs. JU despite dropping the first meeting of the season against the Dolphins on March 31, 4-3.
Jeff Cardozo and Nick Belmonte will call the game for television, and Steve Russell & Eric Castaldo are on the radio.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida baseball vs. Jacksonville Dolphins game preview