Gators Come-From-Behind to Top Bethune-Cookman, 8-7
Florida catcher Teddy Foster's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Gators to a come-from-behind 8-7 victory over Bethune-Cookman in the NCAA Regionals opening round.
The Gators (40-20) scored three runs in their final at bat to beat B-CU (32-27) in Gainesville.
"We played well. Our guys are upset with the loss and we battled and fought to the end," said B-CU Head Coach Mervyl Melendez. "It wasn't meant to be - and you have to give Florida credit for their comeback. Hiram (Burgos) was a Warrior and pitched a great ball game for us. We made some moves and had confidence in all the players. We had to be smart with Hiram. He threw a lot of pitches (136) - he will never want to come out. He has a future (after college) in baseball and we did not want to hurt him."
Burgos Pitches 7 Innings In No Decision
Bethune-Cookman starter Hiram Burgos held the Florida Gators scoreless through the first four innings striking out four and allowing three hits with the `Cats leading 4-0. Burgos got out of a based loaded jam in the fourth and was also aided by a great running catch in the inning by RF Chris Brown.
Wildcats Jump Out to 4-0 Lead After Three Innings
An RBI single by Brown and an RBI groundout by Peter O'Brien launched B-CU to a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
RBI singles by Ryan Durrence and Emmanuel Castro in the third inning upped the B-CU margin to 4-0.
The Gators closed to 4-2 down scoring two runs on four hits in the fifth inning with Burgos at the 108 pitch mark following five frames. Burgos pitched seven innings, throwing 136 pitches, allowing three runs, eights and striking out six on a hot and humid evening.
Florida's Preston Tucker hit a two-out solo home run to right center field on Burgos' 130th pitch of the night, to cut the B-CU lead to 4-3 after 7 innings. "I was hitting my spots and my breaking ball was the best pitch for most of the game, getting ahead in the count," said Burgos. "I just tried to give us a chance to win. My arm was feeling good (after seven innings)."
Wildcats pitchers Joseph Munoz, Eric Thomas, and Felix Machado relieved Burgos in the eighth and ninth innings for B-CU.
Clark's Pinch-Hit 2-Run Home Run in Eight Gives B-CU 6-3 Lead
Senior catcher Drew Clark hit a pinch-hit two-run home run to right field in the eighth inning to give the Wildcats some insurance runs and a 6-3 lead.
Durrence Solo Home Run in Ninth Lifts B-CU To 7-5 Lead
Following Florida's two runs in the eighth inning to cut the lead to 6-5, B-CU slugger Ryan Durrence hit his team-leading 11th home run of the year in the top of the ninth- to put the Wildcats up 7-5.
NEXT UP......NCAA Baseball Regional continue Saturday in Gainesville
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Jacksonville (36-21) Saturday, May 30 at 1 p.m. in an elimination game.
Miami, 8-4 winner over Jacksonville Friday afternoon, plays Florida at 6:30 Saturday night.