WATCH: National seed Florida’s season ends vs. South Alabama, worst loss in 20 years

The Florida Gators’ baseball season did not just come to an unceremonious conclusion against South Alabama, it collapsed in a heap of humiliation, frustration and bewilderment. Everything unraveled Saturday at Florida Ballpark, including coach Kevin O’Sullivan, during a historic 19-1 loss to the Jaguars.

Florida entered Day 2 of the NCAA Tournament in a must-win situation following a stunning 5-3 loss Friday to USF during the double-elimination Gainesville Regional. But the Gators did not even put up a fight against South Alabama, suffering the program’s most one-sided defeat during postseason play.

The nationally 15th-seeded Gators (38-22) had high hopes entering the postseason despite some uncharacteristic season-long inconsistency by one of the nation’s steadiest programs. A year that began with UF ranked No. 1 ended at the program’s lowest point of 2021 — and perhaps during O’Sullivan’s 14 seasons in Gainesville.

A 24-2 loss to Clemson in 1974 is the only Florida loss more lopsided than Saturday’s defeat. (UF lost 20-2 in 2000 at Mississippi State) Gators head baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan and an emotional sophomore outfielder Jacob Young tried to explain the loss in the postgame media session. Video is courtesy of the SEC.