Sports

Welcome to Sunday’s matchup between the #17 Gators of Florida and the #6 Georgia Bulldogs.  Today’s meeting is the third and final meeting between these two rivals.  Florida took both games played in the series so far with a 10-9 win in a continuation game from Friday night’s rained delayed game and a 7-6 win on Saturday.  Both teams show an explosive offenses, but weakened bullpens.  In the last two games played, Florida has used 11 pitchers, some pitchers twice, and Georgia has used 10 pitchers, some pitchers twice.  Both games in this series has experienced a rain delay and it is a possibility we might see a rain delay again today.  The Bulldogs are looking to avoid a sweep by the Gators and falling farther down in the rankings.  Taking the mound for the Bulldogs is #40 RHP Justin Grimm who is 2-3 with a 4.42 ERA.  Taking the mound for the Gators is #24 LHP Alex Panteliodis who is 4-5 with a 3.78 ERA.  Updates with come ever half inning and the starting lineups are below. Enjoy the game. -Dave Tarter

Florida Gators

1. #1 LF Avery Barnes

2. #18 DH Tyler Thompson

3. #25 1B Preston Tucker

4. #2 2B Josh Adams

5. #17 CF Matt den Dekker

6. #3 3B Brandom McArthur

7. #9 RF Jonathan Pigott

8. #4 C Buddy Munroe

9. #5 SS Mike Mooney

Pitching #24 LHP Alex Panteliodis

Georgia Bulldogs

1. #10 CF Matt Cerione

2. #25 3B Colby May

3. #33 1B Rich Poythress

4. #29 DH Bryce Massanari

5. #23 C Joey Lewis

6. #11 LF Lyle Allen

7. #16 RF Peter Verdin

8. #3 SS Levi Hyams

9. #15 2B Michael Demperio

Pitching #40 RHP Justin Grimm

Bottom 9th UF 10 UGA 7: Georgia looks to strike a comeback here in the 9th.  Every time the Gators have put runs on the board today, the Bulldogs have answered back.  Joey Lewis leads off the inning against #44 RHP Billy Bullock, who got the save yesterday for the Gators and has 9 on the season.  Lewis drives the ball deep to right field but the catch is made at the warning track for out 1.  Lyle Allen takes his turn, looking to get some sort of offense in Georgia’s last chance and he hits a solo homerun to right field just past the score board to cut the lead to 2.  Johnathan Taylor sets in to pinch hit for Peter Verdin who went 2-3 with a walk and a run.  Taylor hits a grounder to short, fielded just before the outfield grass, and the throw is just in time to get the runner out.  Levi Hyams now up with 2 outs, hoping to start a rally.  Levi Hyams goes down looking on a high third strike to end the game.  The win goes to Keating (3-3) and  the loss goes to Cecil Tanner (3-1) and Billy Bullock picks up his 10th save.  The Florida Gators move to 34-14 (16-8 SEC) and the Bulldogs go to 33-15 (14-10 SEC).  The Bulldogs could not avoid the sweep by the Gators who win on 9th inning heroics by Preston Tucker and a 3-run homerun.  The Dawgs will have to bounce back when they face Vanderbilt next weekend in a battle for 2nd place in the SEC East.  Final Score UF 10 UGA 8

Top 9th UF 4 UGA 7: Munroe leads off the top of the 9th for the Gators.  The Gators need to get something going now because they are down by 3.  Munroe goes down on strikes, and the Bulldogs are 2 more outs closer to grabbing a 34th win.  Mooney has a long at bat against Walters and hits a hard grounder to first that Poythress can’t field and Mooney is safe at first with a hit.  Coach Perno calls for a pitching change and #28 RHP Cecil Tanner is called in to close the game. Tanner is now facing lead-off man Avery Barnes who is 0-4 today.  Tanner is bringing the heat, clocking in at 97 mph.  Barnes bloops in a single to left field and the Gators now have men on 1st and 2nd with one out and pinch hitter #50 Teddy Foster, who had a homerun in yesterday’s game.  The count is 2-2 and the crowd is pleading for a called 3rd strike, but count moves to full. Foster forces a walk and now the bases are loaded with the go-ahead  run at the plate.  A pinch runner is in for Foster at first, #7 Clayton Pisani.  A wild pitch off the catcher’s glove and the runner from third scores and the runners all advance.  Runners on 2nd and 3rd, and Tucker digs in and hits shot to deep center, that ball is to the fence, Cerione jumps up and the ball clears the yellow line and its 3-run homerun for the Gators and they have just taken the lead 8-7 in the top of the 9th.  Josh Adams is up and forces a walk and Coach Perno is out on the mound to call another pitching change.  #20 RHP Steve Esmonde to relieve Cecil Tanner who gave up 4 runs in the top of the 9th to give up the lead. den Dekker comes the plate and ropes a double into right-center and men are in scoring position.  Here comes a hitting clinic by the Gators now.  Weitzel is now in for McArthur and hit rips a single into center and both runs scored from 2nd and 3rd.  Pigott is now up and Weitzel takes off stealing and is in at 2nd safely.  Pigott grounds out to third base for the second out, but Weitzel advances to 3rd.  Munroe is up again and he lead off the inning and ropes it to 3rd, but Colby May makes a great catch to send the Dawgs to the dugout and get a chance at winning this game. UF 10 UGA 7

Bottom 8th UF 4 UGA 7: Demperio starts off the inning with a single past the second baseman’s glove for a single.  Cerione moves over the runner with a bunt to the pitcher, but Cerione is thrown out at first.  Here comes a 6th pitching change and #27 RHP Patrick Keating to relieve Tony Davis.  Florida does not seem to worry to much about their bullpen because they have used 17 pitchers in this series.  I can’t seem to understand Coach O’Sullivan’s theory behind using all his pitchers when he has already taken 2 games from the Dawgs.  May grounds to McArthur at third and he is unsure of what he wants to do.  The little hestitation cost the Gators a 2nd out.  Poythress drives a ball to the warning track in right-center, but the center fielder jumps up snags the ball right at the wall.  That ball may have possibly been a homerun but the center fielder makes a great catching, timing the jump just right, but Poythress still moves the runner from 2nd to 3rd.  Massanari digs in now with men on the corners and 2 outs.  Massanari strikes out a 4th time today and he receives the “Golden Sombrero.” UF 4 UGA 7

Top 8th UF 3 UGA 7: Preston Tucker again leading off for the Gators and he singles into right field to start the inning.  Here comes a pitching change for the Dawgs and #43 RHP Jeff Walters in for Justin Earls who seemed to be losing some gas.  Adams grounds into a fielder’s choice and the play is made at first by short and the runner safely advances to second.  den Dekker singles up the middle and Tucker scores from second to make the lead 3.  McArthur steps up to bat with 1 out and 1 on.  McArthur strikes out but the runner from first advances to second. J. Pigott is up now with a man on 2nd and 2 outs.  Pigott pops up foul to the first baseman to end the Gator attack. UF 4 UGA 7

Bottom 7th UF 3 UGA 5: Matt Cerione leading off the inning for the Bulldogs.  Matt Cerione feels it necessary to extend the lead and hits a solo shot to the right field, his his second homerun of the day, third run and second RBI.  Matt Cerione is having a heck of a day today, sparking the Bulldogs offense a few times today, and with that homerun the Gators call for a pitching change.  #37 RHP Greg Larson will finish up for Jeff Barfield who gave up a two run homerun earlier to Poythress in the 5th.  Barfield pitched 2 innings and gave up 3 runs on 4 hits and recorded 2 Ks.  Colby May faces Larson and grounds out to short.  Poythress gets on base here with a bloop single over the shortstops head. Massanari digs in and looks to get his first hit of the game here today. Massanari can’t get it done and strikes out for a third time.  Joey Lewis steps up and a wild pitch turns into a free base for Poythress as he advances to second.  Man on second and 2 outs for Joey Lewis, as he thought he got a free walk but umpire calls a late strike.  After getting to 3-2, Lewis draws the walk and now its Lyle Allen’s turn with 2 outs and a man on 1st and 2nd.  Here come’s another Florida pitching change and #26 LHP Nick Maronde is coming in to face Lyle Allen.  Larson pitched .2 innings and recorded 1 hit, 1 K, and 1 BB.  Lyle Allen hit a deep fly ball to left field and the left fielder drops the ball and the runner from seconds comes around to score and runners are now on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs.  Here comes the 4th pitching change of the day and #21 RHP Justin Poovey comes into the game for Maronde who faces one batter and gives up 1 run on an error.  Verdin walks on 4 straight pitches and the catcher goes to talk to the pitcher.  The bases are now loaded for Levi Hyams who is 2-3 today and the crowd is booing the Gators who bringing in another pitching change.  #20 Tony Davis LHP is facing Levi Hyams who is also a lefty.  After the third pitching change this inning, the Gators are finally ready to play baseball.  Levi Hyams grounds down the first baseline, but since Bill Buckner doesn’t play for the Gators the first baseman makes the play and ends the inning.  UF 3 UGA 7

Top 7th UF 3 UGA 5: Coming into the game to relieve Justin Grimm is #18LHP Justin Earls.  Grimm pitched 6 solid innings, gave up 3 runs on 7 hits and fanned 4 batters.  Earl has pitched in every game this series but has only faced 3 batters, striking out one of them.  Mike Mooney leads off and hits a hard one at Colby May at third.  He bobbles the ball and Mooney is safe at first.  The score keeper marks it E-5 although it was a tough play to field.  Barnes steps up next and grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.  #8 Daniel Pigott pinch hitting for Tyler Thompson, who has struck out 3 times today (3 of Grimm’s 4 strikeouts).  Pigott continues the slump for the 2nd batting slot in the order and strikes out to end the inning.  Too bad Thompson didn’t strike out for a fourth time because he would have been award the “Golden Sombero” for striking out 4 times in one game. UF 3 UGA 5

Bottom 6th UF 3 UGA 5: Lyle Allen leads off the bottom of the 6th for the Dawgs.  He is 0-2 today but 3-9 in the previous 2 games against Florida.  Barfield amuses the crowd with a way high and outside pitch, sailing to the backstop.  Allen grounds out to second for the first out.  Peter Verdin digs in and he is 2-2 with one run, but he pops out foul to the second baseman.  Levi Hyams refuses to end the inning and singles to centerfield.  Barfield is lulling th crowd to sleep with his pickoff attempts, and eventually forces Demperio to pop out to short to end the inning. UF 3 UGA 5

Top 6th UF 2 UGA 5:  The first batter of the inning is Preston Tucker, his second time leading off today and the best he can do it fly out to shallow left, a play made by the shortstop.  Adams hits a grounder to the hole in between short and third and neither fielder can make the stop, and Adams is successful in 2 out of 3 ABs today.  Den Dekker grounds to second and the out at 2nd is made, but the throw to first is not in time.  Grimms deals and Joey Lewis cannot hang on to the pitch and den Dekker advances to second with 2 outs.  McArthur is at the plate and forces a 2 out walk.  The pitching coach goes out to greet the pitcher and catch and calm Grimm down and try help him get out of the inning with no damage.  Pigott singles to left and den Dekker scores from second to cut the lead to 2.  Munroe steps to the plate with 2 on and 2 out.  Munroe pops it up behind the plate and Bulldogs get out of the inning with only 1 run scored. UF 3 UGA 5

Bottom 5th UF 2 UGA 2: Demperio steps into bat.  He is 1-1 with a triple and RBI today.  Demperio is unable to get another hit  and strikes out.  Cerione comes up to hit again today and looking to get something started.  Cerione hits a long drive to left field and Cerione knows it is out of here.  Cerione does the “Sammy Sosa” hop step and the ball ends up in the trees in left field and just like that the Bulldogs retake the lead.  Colby May now batting and lets see if he can get something going here.  May slaps it down the first baseball line for a single and he is now 2-3 with 2 singles.  Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan goes out to meet with the pitcher and it looks like #28 Jeff Barfield RHP to relieve Panteliodis who has pitcher 4.1 innings and given up 3 runs on 8 hits and 4 Ks.  Rich Poythress comes to bat and maybe he can keep the inning going well with another hit.  We have an equipment timeout on the field to fix the pitcher’s glove, but the game is now returning.  Barfield is keeing the runner close at first.  Poythress gets a hold of one and sends it flying into the parking lot.  Poythress’s 2-run homerun is his 21st homerun of the season and his 75 RBI.  He has 3 RBIs today now and Georgia now leads 5-2.  The single season record for RBIs by a Bulldog is 77 held by SS Gordon Beckham in 2008.  Massanari steps up and strikes out swing, his second strikeout today and Joey Lewis grounds to third to end the inning.  UF 2 UGA 5

Top 5th UF 1 UGA 2: Pigott now batting for the Gators, and he bloops one into left field for a single.  That single just was out of the reach of the fielders to make a play.  Buddy Munroe digs in and the catcher tries to get the runner at first base on a pickoff attempt, but he slides back safely.  It looks like the hit-and-run is on for the Gator, Pigott tried taking off but the ball was fouled back.  Munroe is able to slap the ball to right field and now there are runners on the corners for the SS Mike Mooney and no outs.  Coach Perno is calling timeout now to set up a play for the infield.  They can either choose to give up the tying run at third and go for a double play, or get attempt to throw the runner out at home.  Neither of those two scenarios turned out to be a possibility because Mooney flies to center and the runner from third tags to score and the game is tied at 2. Barnes steps up for his third at bat today, but fouls out to left field and now there are 2 outs and a man on first.  Munroe steals second and the throw is low and bounces of the second base bag, but luckily stays in the infield and Munroe holds at second.  The steal does nothing though because Thompson strikes out for his third time today.  UF 2 UGA 2

Bottom 4th UF 1 UGA 2:  Joey Lewis takes his turn at the dish and takes it to the warning track but the catch is made in right field for out number 1.  Allen grounds it over to first, but the pitch covers the bag just in time for the second out.  Peter Verdin lays down a bunt on the third base line.  Brandon McArthur playing very far back, and Verdin reaches safe on an infield single.  Hyams grounds out into a fielder’s choice at second base to end the inning.  UF 1 UGA 2

Top 4th UF 1 UGA 2: Preston Tucker bats now and hits a single to right field.  He is 4-11 in the series with 2 RBIs.  Josh Adams can’t move the runner over and strikes out swinging.  Den Dekker takes his turn to bat and he the runner tries going but the pitch is fouled back.  The hit and run is on again, but den Dekker flies out to right and Tucker returns to first.  McArthur grounds out to third and the Gators strand a runner.  UF 1 UGA 2

Bottom 3rd UF 1 UGA 2: Colby May to lead off the inning for the Bulldogs.  He singled in the 1st in his first AB.  He can only ground out to the third baseman this inning though.  Rich Poythress follows Colby May with another ground out to third.  Bryce Massanari steps to the plate.  He is 2-8 this series with 6 RBIs but he strikes out looking here to end the inning.  UF 1 UGA 2

Top 3rd UF 1 UGA 2: Mike Mooney to lead off for the Gators in the top of the 3rd.  Mooney hits a long foul ball out into the grassless knoll out in right, a scary strike.  Mooney hits a fly ball to left field but Lyle Allen makes the out.  The leadoff man, Avery Barnes digs in and he grounds out to first baseball for the second out.  Thompson ends the inning with a strike, Grimm’s third on the day. UF 1 UGA 2

Bottom 2nd UF 1 UGA 1: Lyle Allen leads off the inning for the Bulldogs, but his AB is quickly over after he pops up in front of the plate.  Peter Verdin is at bat and he rips it up the middle just past the second baseball’s glove for a single.  The game has been delayed because an umpire has a cramp in his leg, but the game will resume quickly because the injured umpire is back on the field and ready to do his job.  Levi Hyams takes his turn to bat and he rips the ball up the middle for a single and Verdin advances all the way to third, but Hyams is thrown out at second trying to take an extra bag.  Its 2 outs and a man on third for Michael Demperio and he triples down the left field line and the runner from third scores.  That was Georgia’s first triple all year in an SEC matchup.  Matt Cerione is going to try to extend the lead here with 2 outs and another man on 3rd.  Cerione can’t do much and strikes out swing on an off speed pitch.  UF 1 UGA 2

Top 2nd UF 0 UGA 1: Josh Adams wastes no time tying the game up and hits a solo shot to right field. den Dekker sets up to the plate but strikes out on a nasty off speed pitch.  McArthur is up next and hits a weak grounder to the pitcher and he is thrown out at first for the second out.  Pigott hits a chopper to short and Hyams makes a great scoop and the ump calls the runner safe at first.  Coach Perno goes to the first base ump to give him a little piece of his mind and he is on the verge of spending the rest of the game in the locker room.  Munroe takes his at bat and ends the inning with a groundout to short. UF 1 UGA 1

Bottom 1st UF 0 UGA 0: Matt Cerione leads off for the Bulldogs today, and he gets hold of one and it falls just short of a homerun.  The ball comes off the wall for a standup double.  Colby May is at bat now with a man on second.  Colby May battles with the pitcher on a 2-2 count and eventually singles to right field and the runner on from second is held at third.  Poythress is now at bat with men on the corners.  Panteliodis is keeping May close at first, but he has a very weak pickoff move, not fooling May at all.  Poythress finally gets a pitch to hit and takes it to center field.  The out is made but the runner from third tags up to score and give the Bulldogs and early lead.  Bryce Massanari steps up and he lines to short and the shortstop makes a great diving catch for the out.  May gets back to first just in time to avoid the double play.  Joey Lewis goes down on strikes to leave one man on base, but the Bulldogs still get one on the board.  UF 0 UGA 1

Top 1st UF 0 UGA 0:  The Bulldogs take the field here on this gloomy day in Athens in a semi-crowded stadium.  The Bulldogs are looking to get a win today after dropping two close games to the Gators.  The first batter of the game is Avery Barnes and he hits a grounder to short and the first makes a great scoop and just beats the runner to the bag, 1 down now.  The DH, Tyler Thompson’s turn now and he goes down swinging.  Tucker hits hard grounder to second, but the play is made at first for a quick inning.UF 0 UGA 0