GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball fell behind early and dropped a Wednesday night affair to #2/1 Florida 10-3.
The Gators (19-4) hit three home runs at McKethan Stadium, and JU (13-9) finished the night 3-15 with runners in scoring position.
"We had some chances early in today's game to put some pressure on them and get out to a lead and we weren't able to get that big hit early," said Head Coach Chris Hayes.
The Dolphins threatened early on the road, putting men in scoring position each of the first three innings, but they were stranded each time. On the other side, Jacksonville starter Spencer Stockton (1-3) held the Gators to just one hit and no runs through the first three innings, and it was a good old-fashioned pitcher's duel until the fourth.
Florida started the fourth with a solo home run to left by JJ Schwarz, then singled, executed a hit and run to advance the runner to third and singled him in to make it 2-0. The Gators led off the fifth with another solo home run, tacked on another with a sacrifice fly following two singles and a first to third, then a second homer of the inning, this time a two-run shot, made it 6-0 after five.
A leadoff double, a single and an error, one of three committed by JU on the night, extended the UF advantage to 7-0 in the sixth.
The JU offense finally got something going in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Cory Garrastazu walked to lead off the inning, and went to third on Franco Guardascione's single. Ruben Someillan bounced into a fielder's choice back to the pitcher, and Garrastazu was caught in a rundown. Chris Lehane put the Dolphins on the board with a single to right, one of three hits on the night for the senior, and Angel Camacho and Sam Armstrong also drove in runs on singles to make it 7-3.
"We put together some really good at bats throughout the entire game," said Hayes. "Just when we needed to in critical moments early we couldn't get that one big hit."
UF responded with three of its own in the bottom of the seventh, with a throwing error after the first two men reached scoring two and another single bringing in a third, which would conclude the scoring at 10-3.
Jacksonville wraps non-conference weekend play on the road at Jacksonville State this weekend. Friday night's series opener is at 6 p.m.
