Bulls Toppled In Tenth By Gators, 5-4
April 23, 2009 | Baseball
|
The Bulls got a solo home run from Jonathan Koscso in the top of the ninth to take the 4-2 lead into the bottom half of the ninth inning, but USF was not able to hang on, and the Gators sent the game to extra innings where they eventually won on a walkoff single to left field by Mike Mooney.
The loss is the fourth loss in a row to the Gators in the past four years for the Bulls. USF lost to UF 6-5 in 2006, 10-5 in 2007 and 12-2 in 2008.
The Bulls are 3-8 all-time against the University of Florida with their last victory coming on May 11, 2005 in Tampa when the Bulls dropped the Gators 11-5.
USF starting pitcher Teddy Kaufman, who threw 86 pitches, allowed two runs from four hits in 6.0 innings. He struck out two and walked three in his sixth start of the year.
Florida starting pitcher Kevin Chapman lasted just two innings and allowed one earned run on two hits while walking two.
The Gators took the lead in the second with a solo home run, but USF answered with a pair of runs in the third. Peter Brotons reached on a leadoff single up the middle, then scored on a sac fly by Stephen Hunt for the first run. Ryan Lockwood drew a walk and scored on a wild pitch to put the Bulls ahead 2-1.A double to left field by Brandon Smith plated one run in the fifth, but his shot was about three feet short of being a three-run homer. The Bulls loaded the bases, but were unable to cross the plate again in the inning.
Florida matched the run in the bottom of the fifth, scoring one from a pair of hits and a walk.
USF got into a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, but a diving grab by Todd Brazeal in the hole between first and second base kept the bottom of the seventh scoreless for UF.
Jonathan Koscso added a booming homerun, his third of the year, in the top of the ninth to add an insurance run for the Bulls.
Florida would not go down quietly, though, loading the bases on reliever Matt Quevedo in the bottom of the ninth. A wild pitch by closer Joe Cole allowed one run to score, then a sac fly to left field plated the game-tying run. Cole registered his first strikeout of the day to end the inning and send the game into extra innings.
The Gators got a walk to start things off in the bottom of the 10th, and after Florida loaded the bases with a pair of singles, Mooney singled to left field to score Hampton Tignor and win the game for UF on a walkoff.
Game Notes
Last 11 Meetings
In the last 11 meetings, USF is 3-8 against UF coming into the game with the Gators taking the last three games in 2006 (6-5), 2007 (10-5), 2008 (12-2) and 2009 (5-4 F/10). USF's last win was on May 11, 2005 in Tampa, when the Bulls defeated the Gators 11-5.
Extra Innings in 2009
USF is 1-1 in extra inning games this season, defeating Pittsburgh 10-8 on April 5 in Tampa and losing to Florida 5-4.
Hitting Streaks
Ryan Lockwood extended his hitting streak to eight games with a base hit to center in the first inning.
Lockwood Reaches Base Safely 81 Straight Times
Although sophomore outfielder Ryan Lockwood's 32-game hitting streak came to an end on Feb. 22 he continues another streak ? consecutive games reaching base safely. Lockwood extended his streak to 81 against Florida on April 22. Only twice in his USF career he has not reached base, the first was his first-career game on Feb. 22, 2008 and the second was just two games later on Feb. 24. In a recent nation-wide poll of college SIDS, Andy Dirks of Wichita State had a 74-game streak in 2007.
Players Mentioned
OF/1B
/ Baseball
2B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
DH/LHP/OF/1B
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
3B
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
3B/1B
/ BaseballSaturday, February 14
Wednesday, February 11
Friday, October 03
Saturday, May 24
