Post by hifigator on Mar 29, 2009 1:14:24 GMT -5
I'll preface this by saying that, "yes, I know this is about the Gators, and I will therefore, likely catch some flack from some of you."
That being said, any real baseball fan has to recognize that a 7 run bottom of the ninth doesn't come around very often.
The only part that I really regret was leaving the game early. My son and I left heding to the 8th. It was 7-0 Bama, and a wicked storm was blowing in. The weather held off just long enough, however and I was sitting on my couch watching the UConn-Mizzou game when my phone rang and my good friend asked me if I could believe "it?" Not knowing what he was talking about, I was at a loss. He said, "Oh my God, you're not watching? We just tied the game!" It only took a second to realize that he wasn't kidding around. I clicked over to SunSports/FSN and sure enough, it was 8-8 and we had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs in the ninth. The only pitch I saw that inning was the game winning bunt down the third base line. What a comeback.
For anyone who might be interested, here is the press release:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COMMUNICATIONS
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2009
Seven-Run Ninth Carries No. 23 Florida Over Alabama, 9-8
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida freshman Daniel Pigott’s (Ormond Beach,
Fla.) drag bunt single with two down in the bottom of the ninth scored
classmate Jerico Weitzel (Ridgway, Pa.) from third base with the winning
run as the No. 23 Gators (17-8/5-3 SEC) capped off a remarkable comeback
to post an 9-8 triumph over Alabama (16-9/3-5 SEC) on Saturday afternoon
at McKethan Stadium in front of 3,173 stunned fans. After trailing 7-0
in the seventh and 8-2 entering the final frame, UF sent 11 batters to
the plate and scored five runs with two outs to clinch the series
victory in dramatic fashion. Florida tallied seven runs on five hits and
capitalized on three Tide errors in the decisive stanza.
“I’m proud of the way that our guys kept battling until the end,” head
coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Even the freshmen were producing down the
stretch. Games like that don’t come around too often. What will be
overlooked in tonight’s win is that we didn’t commit an error the entire
game. Our defense is much improved from where we were earlier in the
year.
“If the bunt works, then we look good and if it doesn’t, then it is a
huge coaching mistake. It worked out for us tonight and Coach (Craig)
Bell deserves the credit for suggesting it. What was important is that
we also didn’t have any base-running mistakes. We ran intelligently and
didn’t do anything that would prevent our comeback. Like I always tell
our players, ‘It’s not over until the last out.’ We didn’t give up and
it shows our team that there is always the chance to come back.”
“When I first saw the sign (for the bunt), I wasn’t expecting it, but it
was the perfect call,” Pigott said. “I just put the bunt down and ran as
hard as I could. It was really fun and I am proud to be part of a
comeback like that.”
With the Gators down to their last three outs against freshman starter
Adam Morgan, freshman Preston Tucker (Tampa, Fla.) (3-for-5, three RBI)
led off with a wind-blown triple to straightaway center field. Freshman
pinch hitter Ben McMahan (Windermere, Fla.) drew a one-out walk and
junior Matt den Dekker’s (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) fly ball into left field
was dropped by freshman Taylor Dugas, scoring Tucker. A walk to junior
Jonathan Pigott (Ormond Beach, Fla.) loaded the bases and sophomore Josh
Adams (Jacksonville, Fla.) (2-for-5) came through with an infield single
to close the gap to 8-4. Alabama then replaced Morgan (8.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R,
2 ER) on the mound with sophomore Jimmy Nelson (1-3).
The righty had senior Teddy Foster (Jacksonville, Fla.) line out to left
field for the second out and the Tide committed its fifth error of the
game on senior Avery Barnes’ (High Springs, Fla.) potential game-ending
grounder, with den Dekker coming home to reduce the deficit to 8-5.
Weitzel had a seeing-eye single through the right side to drive in the
elder Pigott and Tucker evened the game with a two-run single up the
middle. Tucker took second on a fielding miscue by senior center fielder
Alex Kubal on the play and Weitzel occupied third, setting the stage for
the younger Pigott. The rookie executed a bunt up the third-base line on
a 1-1 offering to bring home Weitzel and trigger a massive celebration
from the Gators who came piling out of the dugout.
Alabama erupted for three hits and four runs off freshman Nick Maronde
(Lexington, Ky.) in the third to begin the scoring, as sophomore Josh
Rutledge (3-for-5, three RBI) roped a two-run single and sophomore Ross
Wilson clubbed a two-run shot. Junior Cody Trotter was hit by a pitch to
open the inning and raced over to third base on a one-out double by
Dugas that extended the rookie’s hitting streak to 15 games. Rutledge
drove in both of his teammates with a single into left field and Wilson
followed with his fifth dinger into the left-field bleachers.
The Tide tacked on another run in the fourth courtesy of a suicide
squeeze by Kubal that brought in junior Jake Smith. Smith had led off
with an infield hit and junior Clay Jones executed a hit-and-run to give
the Crimson Tide runners on the corners with none out. With Smith on his
way home with one down, Kubal placed a bunt up the first-base line for a
5-0 margin.
Back-to-back two-out RBI singles by junior Brandon May and Smith in the
fifth resulted in a 7-0 lead for the visitors. Rutledge started the
frame with a base-hit into left and moved over on senior Kent Matthes’
grounder. May poked Maronde’s next pitch into left field to score
Rutledge and prompt a pitching change. The southpaw allowed seven hits
and seven runs, with a career-high seven strikeouts, over 4.2 innings.
May advanced to second on balk by freshman Alex Panteliodis (Tampa,
Fla.) and Smith delivered a single that plated UA’s seventh run.
Tucker put the Gators on the board in the seventh with an RBI single up
the middle. Barnes opened the stanza with a walk and senior Brandon
McArthur’s (Seffner, Fla.) grounder was misplayed by Rutledge for two
men aboard. Soon after, Tucker drove in Barnes with his fourth hit of
the series for a 7-1 count.
An Alabama fielding error by Smith in the eighth resulted in a 7-2
score. Jonathan Pigott began the inning with a single and advanced on a
one-out single by junior Hampton Tignor (Sarasota, Fla.). Barnes’
grounder eluded Smith to bring across Pigott but then McArthur lined
into an inning-ending double play.
The Crimson Tide countered with a run in the ninth to build an 8-2 lead.
Kubal doubled down the left-field line and took third on a wild pitch.
After Dugas walked, Rutledge sliced a single into left field that ended
the day for Panteliodis. The southpaw was effective over 3.1 innings,
scattering five hits and allowing just one run, with three strikeouts.
Wilson welcomed freshman Greg Larson (Longwood, Fla.) with a sac bunt
for two runners in scoring position and the righty retired Matthes and
May to give Florida momentum entering the home part of the ninth. Larson
wound up earning the decision to improve to 2-1.
Each team totaled 12 hits, while Alabama committed six errors and the
Gators were perfect in the field for the second-straight day. Gator
senior right-hander Patrick Keating (Harrisburg, Ill.) (2-3, 4.68) will
face Alabama junior lefty Del Howell (2-0, 0.00) in tomorrow’s series
finale at 1 p.m.
-UF-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. I still want to thank Tiger for sending us O'Sullivan!
That being said, any real baseball fan has to recognize that a 7 run bottom of the ninth doesn't come around very often.
The only part that I really regret was leaving the game early. My son and I left heding to the 8th. It was 7-0 Bama, and a wicked storm was blowing in. The weather held off just long enough, however and I was sitting on my couch watching the UConn-Mizzou game when my phone rang and my good friend asked me if I could believe "it?" Not knowing what he was talking about, I was at a loss. He said, "Oh my God, you're not watching? We just tied the game!" It only took a second to realize that he wasn't kidding around. I clicked over to SunSports/FSN and sure enough, it was 8-8 and we had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs in the ninth. The only pitch I saw that inning was the game winning bunt down the third base line. What a comeback.
For anyone who might be interested, here is the press release:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COMMUNICATIONS
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2009
Seven-Run Ninth Carries No. 23 Florida Over Alabama, 9-8
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida freshman Daniel Pigott’s (Ormond Beach,
Fla.) drag bunt single with two down in the bottom of the ninth scored
classmate Jerico Weitzel (Ridgway, Pa.) from third base with the winning
run as the No. 23 Gators (17-8/5-3 SEC) capped off a remarkable comeback
to post an 9-8 triumph over Alabama (16-9/3-5 SEC) on Saturday afternoon
at McKethan Stadium in front of 3,173 stunned fans. After trailing 7-0
in the seventh and 8-2 entering the final frame, UF sent 11 batters to
the plate and scored five runs with two outs to clinch the series
victory in dramatic fashion. Florida tallied seven runs on five hits and
capitalized on three Tide errors in the decisive stanza.
“I’m proud of the way that our guys kept battling until the end,” head
coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Even the freshmen were producing down the
stretch. Games like that don’t come around too often. What will be
overlooked in tonight’s win is that we didn’t commit an error the entire
game. Our defense is much improved from where we were earlier in the
year.
“If the bunt works, then we look good and if it doesn’t, then it is a
huge coaching mistake. It worked out for us tonight and Coach (Craig)
Bell deserves the credit for suggesting it. What was important is that
we also didn’t have any base-running mistakes. We ran intelligently and
didn’t do anything that would prevent our comeback. Like I always tell
our players, ‘It’s not over until the last out.’ We didn’t give up and
it shows our team that there is always the chance to come back.”
“When I first saw the sign (for the bunt), I wasn’t expecting it, but it
was the perfect call,” Pigott said. “I just put the bunt down and ran as
hard as I could. It was really fun and I am proud to be part of a
comeback like that.”
With the Gators down to their last three outs against freshman starter
Adam Morgan, freshman Preston Tucker (Tampa, Fla.) (3-for-5, three RBI)
led off with a wind-blown triple to straightaway center field. Freshman
pinch hitter Ben McMahan (Windermere, Fla.) drew a one-out walk and
junior Matt den Dekker’s (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) fly ball into left field
was dropped by freshman Taylor Dugas, scoring Tucker. A walk to junior
Jonathan Pigott (Ormond Beach, Fla.) loaded the bases and sophomore Josh
Adams (Jacksonville, Fla.) (2-for-5) came through with an infield single
to close the gap to 8-4. Alabama then replaced Morgan (8.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R,
2 ER) on the mound with sophomore Jimmy Nelson (1-3).
The righty had senior Teddy Foster (Jacksonville, Fla.) line out to left
field for the second out and the Tide committed its fifth error of the
game on senior Avery Barnes’ (High Springs, Fla.) potential game-ending
grounder, with den Dekker coming home to reduce the deficit to 8-5.
Weitzel had a seeing-eye single through the right side to drive in the
elder Pigott and Tucker evened the game with a two-run single up the
middle. Tucker took second on a fielding miscue by senior center fielder
Alex Kubal on the play and Weitzel occupied third, setting the stage for
the younger Pigott. The rookie executed a bunt up the third-base line on
a 1-1 offering to bring home Weitzel and trigger a massive celebration
from the Gators who came piling out of the dugout.
Alabama erupted for three hits and four runs off freshman Nick Maronde
(Lexington, Ky.) in the third to begin the scoring, as sophomore Josh
Rutledge (3-for-5, three RBI) roped a two-run single and sophomore Ross
Wilson clubbed a two-run shot. Junior Cody Trotter was hit by a pitch to
open the inning and raced over to third base on a one-out double by
Dugas that extended the rookie’s hitting streak to 15 games. Rutledge
drove in both of his teammates with a single into left field and Wilson
followed with his fifth dinger into the left-field bleachers.
The Tide tacked on another run in the fourth courtesy of a suicide
squeeze by Kubal that brought in junior Jake Smith. Smith had led off
with an infield hit and junior Clay Jones executed a hit-and-run to give
the Crimson Tide runners on the corners with none out. With Smith on his
way home with one down, Kubal placed a bunt up the first-base line for a
5-0 margin.
Back-to-back two-out RBI singles by junior Brandon May and Smith in the
fifth resulted in a 7-0 lead for the visitors. Rutledge started the
frame with a base-hit into left and moved over on senior Kent Matthes’
grounder. May poked Maronde’s next pitch into left field to score
Rutledge and prompt a pitching change. The southpaw allowed seven hits
and seven runs, with a career-high seven strikeouts, over 4.2 innings.
May advanced to second on balk by freshman Alex Panteliodis (Tampa,
Fla.) and Smith delivered a single that plated UA’s seventh run.
Tucker put the Gators on the board in the seventh with an RBI single up
the middle. Barnes opened the stanza with a walk and senior Brandon
McArthur’s (Seffner, Fla.) grounder was misplayed by Rutledge for two
men aboard. Soon after, Tucker drove in Barnes with his fourth hit of
the series for a 7-1 count.
An Alabama fielding error by Smith in the eighth resulted in a 7-2
score. Jonathan Pigott began the inning with a single and advanced on a
one-out single by junior Hampton Tignor (Sarasota, Fla.). Barnes’
grounder eluded Smith to bring across Pigott but then McArthur lined
into an inning-ending double play.
The Crimson Tide countered with a run in the ninth to build an 8-2 lead.
Kubal doubled down the left-field line and took third on a wild pitch.
After Dugas walked, Rutledge sliced a single into left field that ended
the day for Panteliodis. The southpaw was effective over 3.1 innings,
scattering five hits and allowing just one run, with three strikeouts.
Wilson welcomed freshman Greg Larson (Longwood, Fla.) with a sac bunt
for two runners in scoring position and the righty retired Matthes and
May to give Florida momentum entering the home part of the ninth. Larson
wound up earning the decision to improve to 2-1.
Each team totaled 12 hits, while Alabama committed six errors and the
Gators were perfect in the field for the second-straight day. Gator
senior right-hander Patrick Keating (Harrisburg, Ill.) (2-3, 4.68) will
face Alabama junior lefty Del Howell (2-0, 0.00) in tomorrow’s series
finale at 1 p.m.
-UF-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. I still want to thank Tiger for sending us O'Sullivan!
