UF Holds Off No. 5 Hurricanes, 7-2
Feb. 16, 2007
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – – Florida’s Bryan Augenstein struck out seven in seven innings to help the Florida Gators (3-2) to a 7-2 win over No. 5 Miami (3-3) Friday night in front of 3,789 fans at McKethan Stadium. Jemile Weeks led Miami going 2-for-4 while designated hitter Dave DiNatale was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Scott Maine (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season as he allowed four runs, three earned, in 4 1/3 innings and struck out five. John Housey made his first career appearance for the Hurricanes. He pitched 1.2 innings and had two strikeouts. David Gutierrez and Anthony Nalepa each pitched one inning.
Jon Townsend finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs while Cody Neer was 2-for-5 for Florida. Bryson Barber drove in a pair of runs for the Gators.
Miami committed five errors for the first time since Mar. 25, 2006 in a 5-4 loss to Maryland. The errors against the Gators led to four unearned runs.
Florida pushed its lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the eighth when Pigott reached on a two-base error on a dropped fly ball in right field. Townsend singled to left field for his second RBI. Barber’s sacrifice fly scored another run to make it, 7-2.
DiNatale’s two-run single with two outs in the top of the seventh brought the Hurricanes within, 5-2. Miami managed to load the bases when Roger Tomas walked and Yonder Alonso reached on an error. Gus Menendez followed with a walk to load the bases before DiNatale delivered.
Florida took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Townsend led off with a solo home run to left center for the game’s first run. An infield single and two-base throwing error put Matt LaPorta at third base. Bryson Barber’s RBI single up the middle scored another run giving the Gators a two-run lead.
The Gators tacked on two more runs and took advantage of a Miami error in the bottom of the sixth. Austin Pride doubled. Jonathan Pigott was hit by a pitch and Townsend reached on a fielder’s choice when Maine opted to try to get Pride out at third. Pride ended up being safe and the bases were loaded. Cole Figueroa lined out to right field to bring in another run to put UF ahead, 3-0. A throwing error at home allowed Pigott to score safely for the 4-0 lead.
Three straight walks loaded the bases again in the bottom of the sixth for the Gators. One batter late, UF scored on a Miami error to go ahead, 5-0.
Things looked promising for the Hurricanes right off the bat. Weeks led off the game with a double off the left centerfield wall, but Florida left fielder Austin Pride threw him out at third base for the first out of the game.
Weeks put Miami in a good situation again when he led off the top of fourth with a single up the middle. Roger Tomas’ attempted bunt was popped into the air to Augenstein, who threw out Weeks at first base for the double play to end the threat.
Miami attempted to rally again in the top of the fifth when Mark Sobolewski reached on an error and Dennis Raben walked with no outs. Menendez struck out swinging after evening the count and DiNatale grounded into a double to end another UM threat.
Yonder Alonso had UM’s other hit in the game as the Gators out-hit Miami, 7-4.
Miami and Florida will continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. UM RHP Danny Gil will face UF LHP Stephen Locke.
