Top-Seed Florida Downs No. 2-Seed Miami, 8-2
May 30, 2009
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida lefty Stephen Locke limited second-seeded Miami to two runs in 7 1/3 innings as the top-seeded Gators (41-20) defeated the third-seeded Hurricanes, 8-2, Saturday night in the winner’s bracket of the NCAA Gainesville Regional at McKethan Stadium. The Hurricanes (37-21) will now face Jacksonville (37-21) in an elimination game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Chris Herrmann led the Hurricanes at the plate going 2-for-4. UM starter Chris Hernandez (7-5) took the loss as he allowed six earned runs on seven hits and struck out four. Rene Guerra and Daniel Miranda combined to toss the final 2 2/3 innings. Guerra struck out three and allowed one run and one hit.
Locke (5-2) allowed just six hits and the two runs were unearned. He walked one and struck out three. Jonathan Pigott, Preston Tucker and Brandon McArthur each had two hits for the Gators.
Miami led 2-0 going into the bottom of the third, but Florida erased the deficit with four runs in the bottom of the inning to go ahead, 4-2. After back-to-back walks by Teddy Foster and Mike Mooney put runners in scoring position, UF then loaded the bases on a fielder’s choice. With the bases full, back-to-back RBI singles tied the game before the Gators took the lead for good on a ground out and an infield single.
Brandon McArthur’s run-scoring double in the bottom of sixth put the Gators ahead, 5-2. Foster then drove in McArthur with a long single to right to make it, 6-2.
Pigott led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to left center, extending Florida’s lead to 7-2. Avery Barnes had an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to give the Gators a six-run lead.
Miami capitalized on a Florida miscue to take an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Ted Blackman was hit by a pitch and advanced to second when Nathan Melendres reached on a fielding error. After Scott Lawson’s sacrifice bunt put runners in scoring position, Ryan Jackson delivered a sacrifice fly putting Miami ahead, 1-0. Jason Hagerty’s RBI single made it 2-0.
If Miami defeats Jacksonville in the first game Sunday, the Hurricanes will play Florida at 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening.
Game Notes
– Chris Herrmann extended his team-best hitting streak to eight games.
– With the loss, Miami falls to 3-1 against Florida this season.
– Chris Hernandez has lasted at least five innings in all 15 of his starts this season.
– With a 1-for-3 performance Saturday night, Ryan Jackson has now hit safely in nine of his last 10 games and 12 of his last 14.
