GAINESVILLE, FL – UNC Greensboro out hit Florida 10-8 but stranded 12 runners as the Spartans fell 3-1 to the Gators in baseball action Wednesday evening at McKethan Stadium.
Florida tallied two runs in the home half of the first inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead ignited by back-to-back singles from Stephen Barton and Brian Leclerc. Austin Pride then drew a walk to load the bases and catcher Brian Jeroloman plated two with a single to centerfield.
UNCG squandered a golden opportunity to put runs on the board in the top of the third inning. Sean Snell led off the frame with a single on the infield and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Greg Feltes before Jermaine Mitchell walked to put runners on first and second with only one out. Guy Welsh, the Spartans' leading hitter and run producer, took the first three pitches for balls, but UF starter J.K. LaCoste battled back and retired Welsh on a foul out to first with the count full. Adam Deleo followed with a harmless fly to rightfield to end the inning.
Gavin Dickey put the Gators out in front 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a towering home run over that sailed over the trees in left centerfield for his fourth roundtripper of the season.
The Spartans scored a run in the top of the seventh to make the score 3-1 on Deleo's third RBI of the season. Feltes reached base on a throwing error charged to shortstop Adam Davis before Mitchell singled through the right side to put runners on first and second. Welsh moved both runners up 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt to third before Deleo drove home Feltes with a groundout on the infield. David Adams came but inches of plating the second run of the inning, but second baseman Matt Gaski made a diving grab as the sophomore dove into rightfield to snare the blooper and prevent any further damage.
UF starter J.K. LaCoste (2-1) got the win after allowing no runs on six hits in five innings on the hill. UNCG freshman Clinton McKinney (0-2) suffered the loss after yielding two runs on four in three innings of mound duty.
Mitchell led UNCG at the dish, going 3-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to seven games in the process. Wes McCall and Logan Smith each chipped in with two hits apiece.
UNCG returns to the diamond Friday evening at 6 p.m. when the Spartans host Kent State in the season-opening game at UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Spartans opened the 2006 campaign with the first 14 games of the season away from Greensboro.
AGATE:
Florida 3, UNC Greensboro 1 (Mar 08, 2006 at Gainesville, Fla.)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 100 - 1 10 1 (3-10)
Florida............. 200 100 00X - 3 8 3 (11-6)
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Pitchers: UNC Greensboro - Clinton McKinney; Greg Matson(4); Ryan Clear(7); Brandon Harvey(8).
Florida - LaCoste; Wynn(6); Edmondson(7).
Win-LaCoste(2-1) Save-Edmondson(2) Loss-Clinton McKinney(0-2) T-2:51 A-3220
HR UF - Dickey (4).
- UNCG -
