For the second straight night, Florida took a one-run lead into the
top of the ninth inning against South Carolina. For the second straight
night, Florida looked to closer Johnny Magliozzi to finish it.
And for the second straight night, the Gamecocks had the tying run on second base with two outs.
And for the second straight night, Florida got a much-needed victory.
Magliozzi
struck out Brison Celek to end the game and give Florida the series
with a 4-3 win. The Gators reached .500 for the first time since March
9.
Florida (18-18, 7-7 SEC) has won four in a row and seven of its last nine.
The Gators couldn't get a lot going against South Carolina's Jordan Montgomery and Adam Westmoreland for seven innings.
But in the eighth, the Gators struck for three runs. Harrison Bader's two-run single with two outs gave UF the lead.
The two teams play again Saturday in the rubber game at 3 p.m.
Florida
starter Danny Young managed to get out of the first inning unscathed
despite giving up three hits. Florida was able to take the lead in the
bottom of the inning when Montgomery threw away a pickoff attempt with
runners on first and second.
Two sparkling defensive plays — one
at third by Josh Tobias and one in foul territory by right fielder
Justin Shafer — helped keep South Carolina off the board in the second.
But
in the third, Graham Saiko singled and Chase Vergason doubled to start
the inning. Florida looked as if it was set to walk Gamecock slugger LB
Dantzler. But after a visit to the mound by Kevin O'Sullivan, Young
pitched to Dantzler and struck him out.
After Celek was
intentionally walked, Max Schrock hit a grounder that appeared to hit
him in the right shoe. But the umpires missed it and Schrock, who did
not run, was thrown out at first while Saiko scored to tie the game.
Connor
Bright hit his third home run of the year with one out in the fourth, a
shot to left that just cleared the fence, to give the Gamecocks a 2-1
lead.
Young lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits but only the two runs.
