GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — Ty Brachbill and Tyler Shafer combined on a six-hit shutout for 8 2/3 innings, and the High Point Panthers capitalized on a critical Florida error to score five unearned runs in the third inning, securing a 6-2 victory over the No. 6-ranked Florida Gators on Saturday evening at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.

The Panthers (9-6) clinched the weekend series after winning the opener 7-2 on Friday, handing the Gators (13-3) consecutive losses for the first time this season. The result defied pregame projections, as Interstat’s game simulator had forecast a 7-5 Florida win, giving the Gators an 81.4% probability of victory.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the top of the third inning with High Point already leading 1-0. With two outs and runners at first and third, Jake McCarter hit a routine grounder to shortstop, but Florida’s Liam Schwarz committed a throwing error, allowing the first run to score. The Panthers then erupted. The next batter, designated hitter Jake McCarter, laced a two-run double to center field. He then scored on an RBI single by left fielder Jack Clark, who later came home on a double by first baseman Landen Johnson. All five runs in the frame were unearned, staking High Point to a 6-0 lead.

That was more than enough support for Brachbill (2-0). The Panthers’ ace was dominant, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning. He finished with a final line of 6 2/3 innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts. His no-hit bid was broken up by Florida’s Cade Miller, who doubled with one out in the seventh. Jacob Kendall followed with an RBI triple, and Kolby Jones added an RBI single, prompting Brachbill’s exit.

Reliever Tyler Shafer was electric in relief, extinguishing the threat in the seventh and then overpowering the Gators over the final 2 1/3 innings. He allowed no hits and struck out five of the eight batters he faced to earn his first save.

High Point’s offense amassed 13 hits, with McCarter going 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the seventh and Clark adding two hits and an RBI. Florida used six pitchers, with starter Aidan King (1-1) taking the loss after being charged with five unearned runs in three innings of work.

The game was interrupted by a 39-minute weather delay in the bottom of the fifth inning due to lightning in the area.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon. High Point will visit Duke on Tuesday before opening Big South play next weekend. Florida will host Florida State on Tuesday before welcoming Southeastern Conference foe South Carolina for a three-game series starting Friday.