GAME OVER
Eastern Michigan has just been mercy ruled. Game two will start in half an hour, approximately 5:50.
The final score of this one is UF 15, EMU 2.
END SIXTH
Teddy Foster, pinch-hitting, started the sixth with his first career hit-a towering home run to left center field. After three years at UF (one as a redshirt), he finally got his first hit.
Riley Cooper also saw his first at-bat, He grounded out to third after pitches.
The Gators take a 15-2 lead into the seventh, only needing to stave off EMU for three more outs.
MID SIXTH
Locke's day is done, and Cody Barnes steps in to pitch the sixth. He's looking much better than he did in his first outing on Sunday.
He got two quick ground outs and then hit a batter, but only barely. The batter touched his chest, complaining, "It hit me. It hit me," garnering much laughter in the press box.
UF is still ahead 14-2. If UF is ahead by 10 runs or more after EMU's seventh, the game will end in a mercy rule.
END FIFTH
The Eagles finally canned their starter after 96 pitches in four innings. He gave up 11 hits and nine runs, all earned, before getting pulled.
The new guy, Kevin Wammes, didn't do much better, and he gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Josh Adams got the inning going with a triple smashed to the right center field gap. He slid into third, but could have made it standing. Jonathan Pigott then followed that with a triple of his own, a ball he walloped over the center fielder's head, driving in Adams. A high fly ball to the shortstop caused him trouble, and the ball dropped in for a single, scoring Pigott.
Four hits in four batters? Yeah, EMU may want to look for some help in its bullpen in the offseason.
I could detail how the rest of the inning went play-by-play, but it would just offend EMU some more. The Eagles eventually got out of the inning, rest assured. But not before Matt den Dekker got his fifth and sixth RBI of the game.
The Gators get the one run back, and then some, taking an 14-2 lead into the sixth. This is the third time this year (in four games) that UF has scored 10 or more runs.
MID FIFTH
EMU threatened with a leadoff double, and Locke got two ground outs before giving up a single that drove EMU's runner home.
Through five innings, Locke has made a respectable start, allowing only two runs on four hits and notching four strikeouts.
EMU creeps closer, but only slightly, in the fifth inning. The Gators still have a seven-run lead, 9-2.
END FOURTH
Clayton Pisani has his third hit of the game and the Gators have another double-steal, their fourth of the season.
Jon Townsend continues to break up UF's rallies with his third strikeout of the game. He has two looking and one swinging. Since hitting a home run on opening day, Townsend hasn't registered a hit.
den Dekker just missed his second home run of the day, golfing a fly ball to the warning track to end the inning.
No change in the score-UF 9, EMU 1.
MID FOURTH
I could get used to these 1-2-3 innings. After taking more than an hour to finish the first two innings, the next one and a half only take 10 minutes. Locke strikes out his fourth batter of the game and gets two more ground outs.
UF is still ahead 9-1.
END THIRD
The Gators and Eagles fail to get anything going in the third inning. Both teams go three up, three down.
Nothing doing for EMU. Locke buckles down and gets a 1-2-3 inning with a ground out to third, a fly ball to center and a ground out to second. My left hand is now officially in pain, as I foolishly tried to catch a foul ball that rocketed into the press box. If my hand wasn't so cold, I'd be hurting much more. I need some warm water or something.
It's 6-1 after three innings.
END SECOND
den Dekker's song is so bad, but that doesn't stop him from hitting a grand slam off the right field scoreboard. It was the Gators' second grand slam of the season.
UF's 1-2-3 hitters are 6-6 after two innings with six runs scored.
UF is up 9-1 through two. EMU shouldn't leave its pitcher in much longer.
MID SECOND
EMU began the inning with a double to the left-center gap, and scored its first run on a sacrifice fly. den Dekker had a chance to throw the runner out at home on the play, but catcher Buddy Monroe couldn't hold on to the ball.
UF still leads 4-1 heading into the bottom of the second.
END FIRST
Barnes, playing designated hitter today, led off the inning with a single up the middle. The Gators utilized a hit-and-run strategy with Clayton Pisani batting. Pisani hit a single to the left side, moving Barnes to third and setting up the scene for a Cole Figueroa RBI single. This is the third straight game that UF has scored in the first inning.
In what seems like a common occurrence, UF also ran a double-steal in the first inning, with Pisani and Figueroa moving over successfully. Brandon McArthur got his seventh RBI of the year, bringing Pisani home.
Matt den Dekker saw his first plate appearance of the season, but walked after six pitches and did not register an at-bat. His introduction music is just plain weird. I don't know why he picked the song he picked, but it certainly doesn't get me amped. I wish I knew what it was called so I could tell you never to listen to it. Oh, he stole second base before the inning ended.
Freshman slugger Josh Adams also kept the bat on his shoulders, advancing to first after a lengthy battle with EMU's Robert Wendzicki to load the bases. Jonathan Pigott followed with a two-RBI double, but Adams was tagged out at home trying to score, ending UF's first.
UF holds an early 4-0 lead on EMU. This one has the makings of a slaughter. Wendzicki threw 41 pitches in that inning.
MID-FIRST
UF starting pitcher Stephen Locke is looking good after one inning on this gorgeous day at McKethan Stadium. He struck out the first two batters and ended the inning with a fly out to center field. Back at center field today is Matt den Dekker, who got that catch at the end of the inning. In left field is freshman Josh Adams, moving over from his position in the opening weekend. Usual left fielder Avery Barnes is still leading off, but he will play DH today.
One batter did get a hit off Locke, but it was a dinky ground ball up the middle that was too slow to do anything with.
UF and EMU are tied at zeros.
