GAME OVER
Josh Edmondson is in to close the game out. And he does so quickly with three straight outs.
END OF EIGHT
Barnes smashes a two-run run homer to right center. Avery Barnes' line tonight is ridiculous. 3-5 with FOUR run scored and two steals.
Gators lead 16-8.
MID EIGHTH
Bullock avoids trouble with three straight outs after allowing a lead off double. Bullock has been very solid for the Gators this season.
END OF 7TH
It's three up, three down for the Gators in the seventh. The Gators are just a few outs away from a 5-0 start
MID 7TH
Franklin's night is done after one inning of solid work.Tony Davis is in to pitch.
Davis started the inning solidly with two strikeouts, but followed that up with a walk and a hit. And with that his night is done. Billy Bullock has entered the game in hopes maintaining the Gators six-run lead.
Bullock promptly strikes out Eagles outfielder Kenneth Battison.
END OF SIXTH
Clayton Pisani stops what would have been a 1-2-3 inning for the Eagles with a walk. Figueroa flies out to end the inning. This is the first inning where both teams failed to record a run. And my fingers officially feel numb.
MID SIXTH
It appears Lacoste's night is over as Clint Franklin enters the game to replace him
Franklin makes quick work of the Eagles with a 1-2-3 inning
END OF FIFTH
Figuero's stellar play continues as he follows yet another walk with a steal of second base.
Bad break for the Gators as den Dekker's bunt attempt lofts safely into the glove of the Eagles' catcher and he makes an easy throw to first to throw out McArthur.
Figueroa scores yet again, this time on a wild pitch.
Gators lead 14-7 after five innnings.
MID FIFTH
The Gators are getting a bit sloppy as a single and throwing error leave two men on base. Lacoste bounces back with a strikeout of Steve Bradshaw for the first out of the inning. Yet another error, this time by Josh Adams, allows a run to score and cuts lead to 13-7.
Lacoste strikes out Andrew Marshall to prevent any more damage.
END OF FOURTH
Bryson Barber smashes a homer to right center field. The Gators lead 12-5. Hampton Tignor can't catch a break as Eagles second baseman grabs what looked to be a base hit for Tignor.
Evan has just told me that Avery Barnes has four plate appearances in four innings. Impressive. Even more impressive, Barnes steals second then scores on a throwing error. Gators lead 13-5. The Gators want to go somewhere warm too. I knew I wasn't the only one.
MID FOURTH
Lacoste is off to a very solid start with a pop out and strikeout to start the inning. As I write that he walks Aaron Powell. I should stop saying things like that.
The Gators avoid any trouble as Zack Leonard grounds out to end the inning.
END OF THIRD
Barnes strikes out looking and Pisani pops out. If the Gators aren't careful they may have an actual game on their hands. Figueroa draws a walk. I seriously can't remember the last time one of his at-bats didn't result in him getting on base.
Goldschmidt's doing a good job of trying to make sure he doesn't make this a game as he hits McArthur with a pitch after walking Figueroa. Josh Ivan is doing his best as well. He drops an easy den Dekker pop out that would've ended the inning, allowing two runs to score. The Gators lead 11-5.
MID THIRD
Another shaky inning for Lawler, who's allowed three hits and a fielder's choice this inning. Lawler's seems to enjoy adversity, because he's loaded the base every inning. Aaron Crooks hits a sac fly to left field to cut the lead to 9-2. If the Eagles play their cards right they may not get a chance to get back into their warm, toasty team bus a little earlier because of the mercy rule. We'll see where their priorities are.
Kyle Rhoad slams a three-run homer to cut the lead to 9-5. I guess I've got the answer to my question.
Lawler allows another base hit. His outing has officially gone from poor and crawled into just plain bad. J.K. Lacoste enters the game for Lawler. Lawler's final line is 2.2 innings, 8 hits allowed, 5 earned runs and three strikeouts.
END OF SECOND
Barnes adds another score with a steal of third and bad throw to third. The Gators seem to be intent on finishing this game early. And as my hands slowly develop frost bite, I've got to say I appreciate their efforts.
McArthur drives in Cole Figueroa, who's on base so much he may as well start leaving a change of clothes there, to bring the Gators' lead to 7-1. Josh Adams draws a walk and Bryson Barber is kind enough to send him back to the dugout with an RBI triple to left center. The Gators lead 9-1. So much for the Eagles not getting embarrased this time around.
Tignor ends a second consecutive inning with a ground out.
MID 2ND
Lawler seems to be getting into a bit of a groove. He's struck out three consecutive batters after striking out Matt Skirving to start the inning. As I write that Lawler promptly hits Zack Leonard with a pitch.
The Eagles are trying to build a bit of momentum after Lawler hits yet another batter with a pitch to load the bases. Lawler walks Steve Bradshaw to score a run for Eastern Michigan. The Gators' lead is down to 5-1. Lawler avoids any more trouble with a fly out to end the inning.
END OF FIRST
The Eastern Michigan pitching staff is really struggling after allowing a gaudy 15 runs in 7 innings, Eagles pitcher Jordan Goldschmidt walks Avery Barnes and hits Clayton Pisani with a pitch.
Cole Figueroa singles into right field and drives in Avery Barnes to give the Gators a 1-0 lead. Evan, who's right next to me says, "Oh, the rout is already on," we'll see Drexler.
Goldschmidt nearly hits Brandon McArthur in the head with a pitch. That would have been a scary sight. Goldschmidt walks Matt den Dekker for his third walk of the inning. It's safe to say he's having trouble finding the plate.
And once he finally does find the plate, it results in a three-RBI double by Josh Adams. The Gators lead 4-0 with just one out in the first inning. I guess the rout is indeed "on."
Pigott singles into center field and drives in Adams. UF has already scored 47 runs through 36 2/3 innings. Tignor finally grounds out to bring the inning to an end.
MID FIRST
Travis Lawler is struggling with his command a bit at the start. He fell behind Eastern Michigan shortstop Jim Gulliver, who doubled into left center followed by a base hit by Steve Bradshaw.
And what do you know, Lawler hits Eagles catcher Andrew Marshall with a pitch. It'll be interesting to see if Lawler can work his way out of a bases loaded jam.
Lawler bounces back with two cocnsecutive strikeouts, leaving three Eagles runners stranded.
The Gators pounded Eastern Michigan by a score of 15-2 in the first game. Eastern Michigan is surely hoping for a more competitive showing in the second game. Me? I'm just hoping I don't turn into a popsicle in the press box.
Barnes is back at left field this time around and Josh Adams is starting at third in place of the struggling Jon Townsend. Tignor's back at catcher.
Travis Lawler is on the mound for UF.
