Sports

Welcome to today’s matchup between the Gators of Florida and the Georgia Bulldogs.  Today’s 1:00 p.m. start is the second game in the three game series.  Stick around after the conclusion of today’s game to catch the end of yesterday night’s game that was postponed due to rain.  The Georgia Bulldogs pulled a “New York Yankees” last night by scoring 6 runs in the first and then taking a 8-0 lead.  But blowing the lead and ending the 9th inning 9-9.  However, today is a new day and taking the mound for the #17 Gators is RHP Anthony DeSclafani (4-1) with a 3.02 era and 36 strikeouts.  And on the other side is LHP Alex McRee (4-0) with a 3.07 era and 39 strikeouts.  Today’s matchup is looking to be a pitching duel with both pitchers who are very good and both keep opponents batting averages below .250.  -Dave Tarter

Today’s Lineups

Florida Gators

1. #1 LF Avery Barnes

2. #9 RF Jonathan Pigottt

3. #25 1B Preston Tucker

4. #2 2B Josh Adams

5. #17 CF Matt den Dekker

6. #3 3B Brandon McArthur

7. #50 DH Teddy Foster

8. #4 C Buddy Munroe

9. #5 SS Mike Mooney

Pitching: #16 RHP Anthony DeSclafani

Georgia Bulldogs

1. #10 CF Matt Cerione

2. # 25 3b Colby May

3. #33 1B Rich Poythress

4. #29 C Bryce Massanari

5. #23 DH Joey Lewis

6. #11 LF Lyle Allen

7. #16 RF Peter Verdin

8. #3 SS Levi Hyams

9. #7 2B David Thoms

Pitching: #32 LHP Alex McRee

Bottom 9th UF 7 UGA 6:  Here comes the Bulldog’s last chance to win the game.  No bigger stage than the bottom of the 9th against one of college’s greatest rivalries: the Florida Gators and the Georgia Bulldogs.  Levi Hyams digs to lead off the inning and get something start.  Hyams quickly falls behind 0-2 in the count.  Hyams fouls it to the third base side and the third baseball makes the catch against the wall for the first out.  Michael Demperio now steps up to bat.  He hits a long fly ball to center but the ball is a can of corn and caught for the next out.  2 outs now, and lead off man Matt Cerione is at the plate.  He is 0-4 today, but hopefully he can turn things around right here.  Cerione strikes out on a nasty curveball to end the game and Florida takes the second game of this series.  Today’s game was an exciting game, it started as a pitcher’s duel, then turned into a hitting clinic, and also show cased a lot of poor baseball as well with 2 errors by the Bulldogs.  The winning pitcher for today’s game is Anthony DeSclafani who now moves to 5-1 and the losing pitcher is Alex McRee who gets his first loss of the season and is 4-1.  The save goes to Billy Bullock, his 9th save.  Stick around for the conclusion of last night’s game also.  FINAL SCORE UF 7 UGA 6

Top 9th UF 7 UGA 6: So here comes the last inning of play, and the Bulldogs could not capitalize off the lead off walk.  Will Harvil looks to make this a quick 3 up 3 down inning and get his offense a chance to tie or even win the game in the bottom of the 9th.  Clean up hitter Josh Adams leads off the inning for the Gators.  Adams ropes it too left field and starts off the inning with a single.  #18 Justin Earls LHP is now into pitch for Will Harvil.  Coach Perno is looking to end this inning quickly and possibly get den Dekker to ground into a double play.  Dekker flies out to left field and now Weitzel who replaced Brandon McArthur  is now up again.  Weitzel is looking to bunt to advance the runner, but now with 2 strikes Weitzel has to swing the bat.  Weitzel goes down on strikes and now the DH Teddy Foster steps back up to the plate.  Coach Perno is now calling for right hander #28 Cecil Tanner.  Coach Perno is looking to put his righty against Teddy Foster who bats righty.  Florida decides to use pinch hitter Tyler Thompson for Teddy.  Tyler Thompson is a lefty and has a .257 batting average.  The strategy did not work so well for the Gators as Tanner strikes out Thompson on 3 straight pitches.  UF 7 UGA 6

Bottom 8th UF 7 UGA 6:  Bryce Massanari leads off the inning and is looking to tie this game up himself or just put his team in a position to do that.  Massanari reaches base with a walk.  It’s never good to start a inning with a lead off walk, that is usually bad news for pitchers.  Joey Lewis steps up and he is 1-2 with a homerun and a walk.  #44 Billy Bullock RHP is now replacing Nick Maronde.  This is Florida’s fifth pitcher used today, but Florida might want to save some pitcher’s for today’s second game and Sunday’s game.  Joey Lewis steps up and flies out to short and then Lyle Allen tries his chances against the hard throwing Bullock and flies out to center.  Peter Verdin ends his at bat with a ground out to short and the fielder’s choice is made at 2nd to end the inning.  UF 7 UGA 6

Top 8th UF 7 UGA 6: The shortstop Mike Mooney takes his turn to lead off this inning and maybe create a bigger Florida lead.  Colby May makes the out on a pop foul to third base.  Harvil forces Barnes to pop out right in front of the mound and Colby May calls the pitcher off and makes the catch for the second out.  Pigott forces a walk to be the first man to reach base this inning.  Harvil retires Tucker with a great off speed pitch for a strike out.  UF 7 UGA 6

Bottom 7th UF 7 UGA 5: Peter Verdin leads off this inning and he gets a big cheer from the crowd from his catch to end the top of the 7th.  Verdin hits a shallow blooper to center to fall in for a single to start off the Bulldogs offense.  Levi Hyams takes pitch way inside and gets hit in on the forearm.  Michael Demperio takes his turn to get a chance to hit with men on 1st and 2nd.  The Gators pull Tony Davis and replace him with sidearm slinger #37 Greg Larson RHP.  Demperio squares to bunt and puts a hard one down the third base line, but Demperio forces a quick throw and the cover man at first cannot hold onto the throw and the bases are loaded for leadoff man Matt Cerione with 0 outs.  A quick outing for Greg Larson who is quickly replaced by #26 lefty Nick Maronde.  The crowd is on their feet for Cerione.  A lefty versus lefty matchup.  The tying run at 2nd and the go ahead run at 1st.  Coach Perno calls over to Cerione to give him a little strategy, and let’s see what happens. Perno’s advice did little because Cerione struck out swinging for the first out of the inning.  Colby May digs in now.  Colby May is making this at bat worth while, fouling off several pitches and eventually flies to right and the run from third tags home to score, cutting the lead to 1.  Now with 2 outs, Rich Poythress steps up to hit.  He had a single last inning.  Florida just barely gets out the inning and forces Poythress to pop up to 2nd.  The Bulldogs strand 2 this inning but score 1.  UF 7 UGA 6

Top 7th UF 7 UGA 5:  Matt den Dekker will lead off for Florida in the top of the 7th and hits a liner just foul that could have been real trouble for the Bulldogs.  The long strike doesn’t bother the pitcher because he comes back and strikes out Dekker.  McArthur steps to the dish, he is 1-1 with a walk and draws another walk here on 4 pitches.  Pinch running for McArthur is #12 Jerico Weitzel.  Palazzone is going to keep the runner close here.  Teddy Foster is up again, he hasn’t done much since his homerun in the 2nd.  Weitzel takes off stealing and Massanari can not hang out to the pitch and the base is stolen easily.  Foster strikes out for a third time today and the 2nd out.  Perno calls time out and changes out Palazzone for #35 Will Harvil RHP for relief.  Will Harvil is 4-1 with a 2.02 ERA and 33 strikeouts.  Buddy Munroe steps to the plate and the ump gets hit in the face with a pitch, but seems to be okay. Munroe fouls it off to right field and Peter Verdin makes an unbelievable sliding catch in foul territory to get the last out of the inning.  UF 7 UGA 5

Bottom 6th UF 7 UGA 3:  Colby May starts off the bottom of the 6th, and he is 1-2 with a single and a run.  He tries to fight off an 0-2 count but grounds out to short. Rich Poythress, the heart to the Georgia Bulldogs offense steps up and hits a single to the gap in right-center.  Bryce Massanari takes his turn to hit.  He had a 2-run homerun earlier to cut the lead to 1.  He looks to do something here to cut the lead down again.  Massanari’s attempt to take something happen is unsuccessful as he strikes out.  Desclafani’s has recorded only 3 Ks today.  Joey Lewis is now up to bat and he wants to capitalize on Poythress’s single.  Lewis has a 3-2 count and Poythress is running on the pitch.  Lewis hits a long fly ball to left-center, the LF jumps up and the ball is out of here for a 2-run shot to cut the lead from 4 to 2.  Coach Kevin O’Sullivan does not wait to pull his pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, and replaces him with #20 Tony Davis LHP.  DeSclafani pitched 5.2 innings gave up 5 runs on 5 hits and recorded 4 strikeouts.  Lyle Allen hits a shot to left field and Avery Barnes makes a great diving catch over his head to get the thrid out.  UF 7 UGA 5

Top 6th UF 5 UGA 3: Buddy Munroe leads off the inning for the Gators.  Palazzone gets his 2nd stirkeout today after taking down Munroe on strikes.  Mooney steps up to the dish, he is 0-2 today and hasn’t much, but draws a walk here with one out.  Avery Barnes digs in and he is 1-3 with a run and stolen base.  He gets into a quick hole in a 0-2 count.  Runner takes off, but Avery rips it foul and Florida will try again to advance the runner.  Barnes finally gets a pitch he can hit and he rips down the first base line, scoring the runner on first and getting into 3rd with a stand up triple.  Palazzone comes back after giving up the triple and strikes out Pigott for the 2nd out.  Tucker takes his turn to bat and hits tough grounder to second that cannot be fielded by Michael Demperio who is replacing David Thoms at second and the run from third scores.  Adams sets up to bat and Tucker steals 2nd on the third pitch of the at bat.  Adams flies out to right field to end the inning though.  Florida leaves a man on in scoring position, but scores two.  UF 7 UGA 3

Bottom 5th UF 5 UGA 3: Levi Hyams starts off the inning with shot to short center but the center fielder makes the catch on the run. Robbie O’Bryan is now pinch hitting for David Thoms.  O’Bryan has a .200 batting average that drops now after striking out here for the 2nd out.  Matt Cerione, the lead off man is back up to the plate. He is 0-2 today and working the count against DeSclafani.  Cerione fouls out to left field to end the inning.  UF 5 UGA 3  

Top 5th UF 3 UGA 3:  The Bulldogs record all three of their hits last inning and tie the game up.  McFee must be excited to get a little offense behind all of his strikeouts.  Avery Barnes lays down a bunt to the 3rd base side and McRee picks it up and wings to first resulting ina wild throw and Barnes reaches first on an infield single.  The scorer’s mark the play a single, but it looked more like an error.  With a man on first, Pigott and Tucker both fly out to deep left field to record the first and second out respectively.  The catcher calls a quick meeting with the pitcher while Josh Adams steps to the plate.  Adams is 0-2 with two Ks.  Barnes steals 2nd base and Massanari makes no contest to throw him out with no one covering the bag.  Another wild pitch and lets Barnes move over to third.  The rain begins to come again in the middle of the inning and fans are funneling out of the seats looking for cover.  We have a rain delay now, for the second game in a row.  The ump is going to send the teams into the dugouts with the rain pouring here.  We will wait for the game to resume with Adams up with 2 outs and a 3-2 count.  RAIN DELAY IS OVER.  So we are back now and the rain has ended and the sun is out.  The teams have taken the field and Josh Adams is back to finish his AB with a 3-2 count and 2 outs and a man on third.  The first pitch is a ball and a wild pitch that allows the runner from third to score.  A wild throw to the play at home lets Josh Adams advance from first to second.  Den Dekker takes his turn at the plate and another wild pitch lets Adams move from second to third.  Den Dekker lays down a hard bunt that makes it to the second baseman and the runner from third scores and den Dekker slides into first safely just beating the throw.  The crowd is upset and booing and yelling at the ump protesting the call at first.  The crowd wants a third out at 1st to void the run that scored from third.  David Perno, Bulldogs head coach, calls a meeting with blue to debate the call because the 1st base umpire was falling down as the play was going which could have distracted the ump from making the correct call.  The crowd continues to boo as the umpires let the play stand and Perno calls a meeting with the whole infield at the mound.  #44 Michael Palazzone  RHP comes in to relieve Alex McRee who pitchs 4.2 innings and gives up 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, and 8 strikeouts.  Brandon McArthur steps to the plate.  All runs today have been scored with 2 outs, a bad sign for the Bulldogs.  Palazzone tries to pick off the runner and the ball goes off the runner’s back, an error on the pitcher, and den Dekker advances to 2nd.  McArthur check swings on the 3-2 count and draws the walk.  Massanari checks with the umpire but confirms the walk.  Teddy Foster steps up with men on 1st and 2nd.  The runner at 2nd takes off but Palazzone gets Teddy Foster to go down on strikes.  Florida leaves 2 men on but scores 2 on 2 errors.  UF 5 UGA 3

Bottom 4th UF 3 UGA 0: Matt Cerione leads off the bottom of the fourth.  He grounded out to short in his first AB.  Cerione hits a fly to right and the right fielder slips but still makes the out.  Not a very good day for baseball.  The lights are already turned on today because the clouds are covering up the sun.  May approaches the plate looking to get something started.  On the 3-2 count Colby May fouls the ball on his foot and looks to be in pain, but it is only temporary.  May’s work pays off and singles to right field.  The Bulldogs get their first hit today and the crowd gives May a big applause. Poythress swings at the first pitch and lines it to right field but the catch is made for a second out.  Massanari steps to the plate.  He has a .346 batting average and 15 homeruns and adds a 16th homerun to cut the lead to one making the score 3-2.  Massanari hit a high fly ball and it looked like a deep out, but the ball just carried out to right field and ends up behind the scoreboard and the crowd gets back into the game.  Lyle Allen takes his turn at the plate and draws a walk.  Desclafani seems a little flustered and angry at himself with Lyle Allen at the plate. Allen rips the ball and hits a double out in left center and Joey Lewis comes all the way from first to score and tie the game.  The ball beat Joey Lewis to home but the catcher pulled his head up a little too soon and dropped the ball and Lewis slid right around Buddy Munroe to score.  The pitching coach calls a meeting with the pitcher and the crowd boos asking the ump to speed the game up.  Peter Verdin’s turn at the plate with a man in scoring position.  Verdin works a full count and puts some pressure on the pitcher, but DeSclafani records a strike out to end the inning.  So the Bulldogs show some life here in the bottom of the 4th and make this game a little more interesting.  UF 3 UGA 3

Top 4th UF 1 UGA 0: The start of the 4th inning begins with Matt den Dekker hitting a shot to left-center but Cerione makes a great catch on the run to record the out.  McArthur takes his second at-bat.  He struck out in the 2nd inning.  McArthur hits a liner to first and Poythress makes a diving attempt, but could not hang on to it.  McArthur is safe at first after thinking about going for two bags, but stays at first.  Teddy Foster steps to the plate.  He had a solo shot earlier to take the lead.  He hit his homerun on an 0-2 count, but on this 0-2 count he strikes out on an off speed pitch.  McRee has 8 strikeouts today through 4 innings but gives up a 2-run blast to Buddy Munroe to give UF a 3-0 lead. The clouds are coming in right now and rain can come down at anytime really.  McRee has given up all three runs so far on 2 outs and he just needs to get out of this inning without giving up any more damage. He gets Mooney to hit a chopper to short and the first baseman makes the stretch to record the out.  UF 3 UGA 0

Bottom 3rd UF 1 UGA 0: DeSclanfani has seen 6 batters so far and has retired all 6 today.  Let’s see if he can continue to sit down batters and hold on the this 1-0 lead.  Peter Verdin steps to plate.  He has a .312 batting average but on 64 at-bats.  Verdin works the count to 2-2 before grounding out to the pitcher.  Levi Hyams draws a walk to end DeSclanfani’s attempt at being perfect.  Hyams is the Bulldogs first man on baseball and the Florida coach comes to meet the pitcher and catcher at the mound for a quick meeting.  David Thoms is at the plate.  He is in for Michael Demperio and Miles Starr who usually split time, but he grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.  UF 1 UGA 0

Top 3rd UF 1 UGA 0: Time for the third inning question. I ask it you discuss it.  Bigger waste of money: C.C. Sabathia or the bailout plan?  The leadoff man steps to the plate and Avery Barnes takes a long about fouling off several pitches.  Barnes grounds to second and almost makes it safe, but the throw is just in time.  Pigott takes his turn to bat and the first pitch goes bouncing all the way to the backstop for ball 1.  Pigott has a .348 batting average and 7 walks draws his 8th walk right here with 1 out.  Tucker digs in with a man on and a wild pitch runs its self to the top of the backstop and Pigott takes 2nd base easily.  McRee finally records the out with another strike out on Tucker, his second K today.  Josh Adam returns to the plate.  In his first at-bat his struck out looking.  Adams also strikes out for the second time today and to end the inning.  UF 1 UGA 0

Bottom 2nd UF 1 UGA 0: Bryce Massanari, a fellow Las Vegan like yours truly, grounds out to short to start the inning.  Joey Lewis’ turn at the dish and starts his count a 0-2.  Lewis can’t do much and goes down swing.  Lyle Allen flies out to left field to end the inning.  UF 1 UGA 0

Top 2nd UF 0 UGA 0: The shower quickly disappears with the beginning of the 2nd inning.  Matt den Dekker takes his turn at the dish and looks to bunt, but pulls back.  McRee records another strikeout and the 1st out of the inning.  McArthur now batting and the fans seem to be heckling the photographers.  McRee takes down another on strikes for the 2nd out and the fifth K of the game.  Teddy Foster digs in a starts off with a 0-2 count.  But Foster comes back with a solo shot to right field.  Buddy Munroe takes his turn and singles up the middle on the first pitch.  Mooney is up to the plate and McRee battles back to a 3-2 after starting 3-0.  Mooney flies out to right field and Florida scores one and strands one. UF 1 UGA 0

Bottom 1st UF 0 UGA 0: Matt Cerione leads off for the Bulldogs and fouls off the first pitch.  Cerione works a full count and hits a slow roller to short.  Cerione dives into 1st but the ball just beats him to the ball and he is the first out.  May hits a shot to center but the centerfielder gets under the ball and makes the catch.  Poythress fouls a ball off his shin and walks it off.  The rain starts to come down and people are looking for cover.  Poythress grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.  UF 0 UGA 0

Top 1st UF 0 UGA 0: The teams are set and the game is ready to get under way.  Avery Barnes steps up to the plate and the first pitch of the game is a strike.  Not a full house for today’s game, only 3373 in attendance and a small showing from Florida fans. McRee records the first out of the game and the first strike out on Barnes.  He catches Barnes on a high fastball.  Pigott takes his turn at bat and smokes it up the middle for a one base hit.  Tucker now batting with a man on first and on a 2-2 count the Gators try for a hit and run but the ball is fouled back.  McRee tries a pickoff attempt that almost goes sailing over the first baseman’s head.  McRee is keeping the runner close.  McRee’s work pays off and gets Tucker on strikes.  The umps call a meeting to discuss the strikeout, but the out stands.  Second baseman Josh Adams heads to the plate and Pigott steals 2nd on the first pitch and is in there safely.  McRee retires Adams with a third strikeout to end the inning.  UF 0 UGA 0