GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University baseball went toe-to-toe with the #1 overall seed Florida on Saturday night, and nearly knocked off the Gators for the second time this season.
Three solo home runs were the difference for Florida (44-17), who won 3-2 over JU (40-20) on day two of the Gainesville Regional.
"Exactly what we expected and hoped in terms of the competitiveness," said Head Coach Chris Hayes. "Obviously we'd like to see the score flipped, but heck, that's the defending national champions and you've got to do something special to get them on their home field.
"I'm proud of the way our guys competed tonight."
A pitcher's duel early between JU's Spencer Stockton (8-6) and UF's Brady Singer featured six combined strikeouts and no runs through the first three innings. The Gators started the fourth with successive solo home runs to take a 2-0 lead.
JU answered back in the fifth. John Cassala was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced to third on Franco Guardascione's double to left. Connor Stephens then singled to center to put the Dolphins on the board. Ruben Someillan tried to squeeze Guardascione in from third, but Singer fielded the bunt and tagged out Guardascione in front of the plate to keep the Gators in front.
It appeared that UF was going to add to its lead in the sixth, but Cory Garrastazu reached up over the right field fence and brought the baseball back, and web gem that earned a standing ovation from the green clad fans in attendance at McKethan Stadium and a tip of the cap from his pitcher Stockton on the mound.
Florida did go deep for a third time on the night in the seventh to extend the lead back out to two, before Stockton finished his outing with his sixth strikeout of the night.
Jacksonville took advantage of the long ball to get back within one in the bottom of the seventh, when Garrastazu hit his second out of the weekend, a solo shot off the scoreboard to bring JU back within one 3-2.
Florida went to the pen for its closer in the eighth, and Someillan promptly hit his first triple of the season into the right field corner. JU could not get him in to tie the game however, with a flyout, groundout and popout ending the threat.
Matt Meyer pitched a perfect two innings in relief to keep the Dolphins within striking distance, but JU went down in order in the ninth.
Jacksonville plays an elimination game tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Florida Atlantic, who eliminated #4 seed Columbia earlier Saturday. Sophomore RHP Tyler Santana takes the ball for the Dolphins, who, with a win, would play Florida again tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
