Gators Edge Hatters In First Game Of NCAA Coral Gables Regional
May 25, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. – Florida senior first baseman Jason Dill went 4-for-5 at the plate, scoring twice and driving in two runs to lead the Gators (41-16) over the Stetson Hatters (35-25), 10-9, in the first game of the NCAA Coral Gables Regional at Mark Light Stadium. Florida, which has scored 10 or more runs in 18 games this season, will face the winner of Friday night’s second game between the Bucknell Bison and the Miami Hurricanes tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.
Jay Belflower picked up his fifth win of the season improving his record to 5-3, while Jack Collins (10-3) took the loss.The Gators opened the scoring in the bottom of the first scoring one run on one hit. With one out, Mark Kiger drew a walk but was out at second on Matt Goss’s fielder’s choice. Jason Dill followed with an RBI double to right center, scoring Goss from first.The Hatters tied the game, 1-1, in the second scoring the run on a fielding error by Dill allowing Andy Wilson to score. Wilson singled to second base with one out, went to second on Ian Church’s single to left field, and moved to third on Lee Bagley’s pop out to right field.After Stetson took the lead, 2-1, in the third on Brian Snyder’s homer to right field, Florida regained the lead, 4-2, in the bottom of the inning by scoring three runs on two hits. Matt Goss led off the inning with a walk, stole second base and scored on Dill’s RBI single to center field. Dill then stole second base. Nystrom followed with an RBI double to center field and moved to third on a throwing error by second baseman Andy Wilson, which allowed Dill to score. Nystrom then scored the final run of the inning on a fielding error by shortstop Rusty Beale.
Through four innings the Gators built a 5-2 lead until the Hatters tied the game, 5-5, in the fifth scoring three runs on four hits. Frank Corr had a one-out single to right field and scored on Bryan Zenchyk’s two-run homer to left field. Snyder reached first when he was hit by a pitch, moved to third on a single to left center by Wilson, and scored on a base hit to center field by Church.
The Gators took the lead for good in the sixth, 10-5, scoring four runs on five hits. Goss led off the inning with a double down the left field line, moved to third on Dill’s single to center field and scored on Nystrom’s RBI sacrifice fly to center field. Dill moved to second on a throwing error by the pitcher Jack Collins. Pat Osborn then reached first on a hit by pitch and moved to third on Sobieraj’s RBI single to left field, which scored Dill. Osborn then scored on Brian Rose’s RBI double to left field, which allowed Sobieraj to move to third. Sobieraj scored the final run for the Gators on a single by Kevin Estrada.The Hatters mounted an eighth inning comeback, scoring four runs on one hit. Frank Corr highlighted the inning with a three-run homer deep to left field, recording his 17th of the season and 52ndt career home run, capturing the school and Trans America Athletic Conference career home run record.
