Quote:UF  040 032 000  9  12  0
FSU 000 001 100  2  13  1

W - Locke (4-0)  L - Jones (4-1)

Gators pound the Noles
by Drew Hankin

The Florida Gators defeated the Florida State Seminoles 9-2 on Wednesday, for their first win in Dick Howser Stadium since 2001.  An announced crowd of 6,393 fans watched as UF dismantled Seminole starter Hunter Jones for seven runs in his five innings on the mound.

Jones wound up giving up six earned runs on nine hits in 5.0 innings, while Trent Jarvis gave up two runs (only one earned due to a passed ball by catcher Aaron Cheesman), on three hits, without getting an out in the sixth frame.  Mark Sauls, Brian Chambers, and Matt DiBlasi pitched the final four innings of the game without allowing a baserunner.

"Just a couple of misplaced pitches here and there. I hit a guy on the foot on an 0-2 pitch. My curveball got away from me a little bit. Little things like that. It seems like they don’t happen on a good night, but on a bad night the other team capitalizes on it," Jones said.

FSU's offense was slow to start, managing only two hits in the first three innings of the game.  One of those hits belonged to centerfielder Shane Robinson, who extended his hitting streak to thirty-eight games with a single in the third inning.  Robinson went on to finish with three hits in the game, an infield single in the seventh, and a double in the ninth.

Florida State finally scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when designated hitter Brant Peacher singled to right, went to second on a base hit by third baseman Ryne Malone, third on a single to left by right fielder Jack Rye, and scored on a balk.  Malone and Rye were stranded on the bases when shortstop Ryne Jernigan grounded out to end the inning.

The other Seminole run in the game came in the bottom of the seventh inning when second baseman Tony Thomas hit his team-leading fifth triple of the season, and scored on Robinson's infield single.

FSU wound up outhitting Florida 13-12, but the Seminoles stranded twelve baserunners, while the Gators left only five on base.

Seminole head coach Mike Martin was very complimentary of the UF team, "This is one of those where you have to tip your cap to the other club.  They got it done. They did a good job." 

He went on to say, "I think tonight we just ran into a very good Gator team that just beat South Carolina two out of three. They came in with a lot of momentum and did a great job. You just really and truly have to take your hat off to the other team. They beat us."

Florida State now has a day off before hosting the Clemson Tigers for a three-game series this weekend.  Game times are 7:00 on Friday and Saturday, and 1:00 on Sunday.

Section B Online Player of the Game:
Shane Robinson (3-5, 1 RBI2B)