GAME OVER
Dustin Bamberg makes his college pitching debut in the ninth inning, giving up his first career hit to center field. Then he gives up his second career hit. Then his third. The Gainesville Sun's Brandon Zimmerman: "I don't think Babmerg's got a future on the mound."
Figueroa makes a great play on a pop up into foul territory, running backward and barely catching the ball for the first out of the inning. Bamberg may have calmed down, and he gets another pop out with the next batter, this time to first.
Bamberg then gives up a two-run double on a ball that most of the crowd thought was foul, myself included. Townsend then gets a ground ball and steps on third base to end the game, except the was only a runner on second and the play was not a force out, so play continues and Townsend feels a little silly.
Auburn gets an RBI-single next, bringing the game within four runs.
Bamberg's day is done, and UF brings in Kyle Mullaney to finish the Tigers. What was once a safe eight-run lead is now a four-run game with two runners on base. But Mullaney does his job, getting a fly out to center field to end the game.
UF wins the series today but plays one more against Auburn tomorrow at 1 p.m.
END EIGHT
Auburn's new pitcher, Taylor Thompson, mows down the Gators in order in this inning: McArthur grounds out, Townsend flies out and Pigott strikes out. Auburn has three outs left to get something done.
MID EIGHT
Travis Lawler comes in to pitch for UF and quickly gives up a double to Auburn's pinch hitter. After a strikeout, Lawler walks another pinch hitter, brining up the No. 9 hitter. Lawler sends him back to the dugout on a strikeout looking.
Auburn's buses are reappearing in the parking lot. They should have shown up a few innings ago for Auburn's sake.
After Auburn brings home a runner with a single over McArthur's head, Pigott makes a great diving catch out in right field to end the inning. The Gators' outfield is incredibly fast, and if they can't get to a ball, you know you've hit it well.
END SEVENTH
Jon Townsend smacks his second home run in as many games to start off the Gators' seventh, and he is now tied for most home runs on the team with Adams again. The fans in the left field bleachers again scurry to get their hands on a genuine SEC baseball. The Gators go back up by seven with one swing of the bat. Everyone in the lineup now has a hit.
After a Pigott fly out, Pisani gets a single over the third baseman's head, bringing up Buddy Munroe. Munroe knocks another ball off the left field wall for his second double in two innings. Pisani scores from first base and Munroe moves to third on the throw, prompting an Auburn mound conference. The Gators got back both runs Auburn scored in the top of the inning, something O'Sullivan is surely thrilled about.
Hendrix's day is done and in comes Austin Hubbard.
Hubbard's day doesn't start very well, as he walks Barnes. A heckler right below the press box is really giving it to Hubbard, and quite unnecessarily. The 11-3 UF lead should be all the heckling Auburn needs, and this guy is really out of line, yelling at Hubbard after every pitch. Hubbard gives up another walk and then a fielder's choice to Figueroa, who is safe at first. Munroe scores on the fielder's choice, expanding UF's lead to 12-3.
Adams proves he is human, flying out to center field to end the inning. The heckler finally shut up, and it wasn't a moment too soon. The usual hecklers are fine and funny, this guy was just rude.
MID SEVENTH
The public address system plays "Eye of the Tiger" in between innings, mocking Auburn and it's eight-run deficit. To respond, the Tigers get a man on with a single and then Hunter Morris smashes a home run to left center field. It's back to a six-run game, and Josh Edmondson looks as shaky as he has all season.
Edmondson gives up his third consecutive hit, and Munroe comes out to consult him. Munroe leaves the mound quickly, and Edmondson gets Auburn to end the inning by flying out to center field.
END SIXTH
Buddy Munroe's music is pretty awesome, and the catch gets an awesome hit to start the Gators' sixth, a laser of a double off the left field wall. Munroe slides and barely makes it under the tag, getting his first double of the year. Barnes moves him up to third with a groundout, and up to bat comes Matt den Dekker. We went from best music on the team to worst music in a matter of minutes.
Den Dekker grounds out to the first baseman, but almost made it safely because the first baseman was so concerned about Munroe running home. Figueroa eases his worries by hitting an RBI-single with the Gators' next at-bat. It was Figueroa's second hit on the day and UF's first run since the second inning.
Adams gets on base for the fourth time today, this time with a walk. McArthur ends the inning with a fly out to left field, but the lead for UF is even bigger now. Auburn is going to have to start scoring in a hurry - the Tigers only have nine outs left.
MID SIXTH
The wind is really starting to have an impact on fly balls. Auburn hit a ball that, off the bat, looked like it could be a home run, but the wind caught it and Pigott made the easy play in shallow right.
Edmondson, in for Keating (who is lined up for the win), gives up a single through the right side. As much as the ball was going up the middle in the first four innings, it's going to the right side this time. Edmondson gets his first strikeout of the game on Auburn's No. 7 batter. Auburn's runner steals second base, and then Edmondson forces a groundout to third base. It's all Gators in this one.
END FIFTH
Towsend flies out to start the Gators' fifth, and then Pigott is involved in a very interesting play. He pops up to first base, but the Auburn players can't decide who will catch the ball, and it drops in for a single. Pigott rounds first base, and is thrown out by a mile at second. Another pop out to first ends the inning for UF.
It's still an 8-1 lead for the Gators, and Josh Edmondson is coming in to pitch the sixth inning.
MID FIFTH
Keating starts the fifth right where he left off - walking players. If not for that amazing triple play, Auburn might still be going in the fourth inning. Keating probably just wants to make it out of the fifth inning right now, because his best stuff is clearly behind him today.
Of course, as I type that, Keating strikes out Auburn's No. 9 hitter. A foul ball in that at-bat struck a light pole that is about two inches in diameter, and then bounced back into the stands. What are the odds of the baseball hitting such a small pole?
A single to right field puts pressure on Keating, and this time a triple play isn't possible, as there is already one out. Instead, Keating induces a fly out to center field. Keating then gives up another single, and OSullivan comes out to talk to him with the bases loaded. Keating gets to stay in, however, and whatever O'Sullivan said worked. Auburn's cleanup hitter pops out to first base to end the inning.
Even though the Tigers threatened, the Gators held strong and still have an 8-1 lead halfway through the game.
END FOURTH
Nothing much for the Gators this inning, except that Josh Adams is awesome, getting his third hit of the game, this time a double to left field. That makes him six for seven on the weekend. Adams goes to third base on a wild pitch, but McArthur ends the inning with a groundout.
I'm still in awe of that triple play last half-inning. That was absolutely insane.
UF is up 8-1 after four.
MID FOURTH
Keating starts to look a little shaky this inning, giving up a leadoff single to right field and then following that by hitting Auburn's No. 6 batter.
WOW WOW WOW in ALL CAPS WOW. The Gators just turned an insane triple play. Auburn's Ben Jones hit a ball right back to Keating. It bounced off Keating's body right to Adams at second, who then threw the ball to Figueroa at second, who then threw to McArthur at first. That was the first triple play I've ever seen in person, and it was crazy. The stadium erupted, and I've been told it is the first UF triple play since March 15, 1997.
I can barely believe what I just saw, and UF escapes the inning with an 8-1 lead intact.
END THIRD
Nothing doing for UF in the third, as the Gators get three straight outs. Pisani grounded out to third, Munroe flew out to right and Barnes struck out.
It's 8-1 UF, and the Gators don't score for the first time all day.
MID THIRD
Keating gets three quick outs, except Buddy Munroe throws the ball over McArthur's head at first after an inning-ending strikeout, so the teams keep playing the third. Keating has to be frustrated after that, but Munroe makes up for it by throwing out the runner attempting to steal.
It's UF 8, Auburn 1 after two and a half.
END SECOND
Den Dekker starts off the Gators' half of the inning with a single - guess where - up the middle. The middle of the field is getting a lot of action today, and the center fielders may be tired of picking up ground balls. After resting at first for a pitch, den Dekker steals second, but then goes back to first on an interference call.
Figueroa hits a single up the middle (strange place to hit one) and puts den Dekker back on second anyway. That's the end of Shuman's day, as Bradley Hendrix comes in from the pen to replace him.
Hendrix doesn't fare much better, giving up an RBI-single to Josh Adams. I don't know what else to say about how well Josh Adams is playing this season, but he's currently on pace for 28 RBI in the game. The future of UF baseball looks bright.
Brandon McArthur gets UF's fourth consecutive single, scoring Figueroa from second. Also, it went up the middle, giving UF an 8-1 lead. Townsend grounds into a 6-4-3 double play, giving Auburn its first two outs of the inning. And boy, did they need them.
Jonathan Pigott skies a pitch to shortstop for the third out of the inning, but the Gators keep the scoring coming in the second.
After two innings, UF already has more runs than it did yesterday, and has a once-again comfortable 8-1 lead.
MID SECOND
Keating allows three hits in the second, all singles up the middle, and all in a row. Auburn gets one back as O'Sullivan comes out to talk to Keating. Keating then gets a fly out to center field to end the inning.
It's still a 6-1 lead for UF, but Auburn is much more in this game than it was 10 minutes ago.
END FIRST
Avery Barnes starts off the game with a single up the middle, and we're not going to have any no-hitters today. Matt den Dekker is next for the Gators, ridiculous introduction music and all. He tries to bunt, and hits it in the air, just too short for the first baseman to reach. Barnes thinks the ball is going to be caught and stays on first, and he can't make it over to second in time after the ball is dropped. den Dekker reaches safely, however, and UF has one on with one out.
Figueroa gets a single to the second baseman, a bouncing ball that den Dekker jumps over to avoid. It may have been an error on the throw - the ball bounced before reaching the first baseman - but it's scored as a hit and UF has two on.
After Karl Hyppolite says that Josh Adams is tied for the lead in home runs, Adams shuts him up by hitting a three-run homer, his fourth of the year, to straight away center field. Auburn's center fielder just kept backing up and backing up, and eventually he hit the wall. Now Adams is in sole possession of first on the UF home runs list, followed by Jonathan Towsend with three.
McArthur comes to the plate and appears to be fine, but he grounds out to short and hustles back to the dugout. I don't think he is feeling any negative impact from the collision last inning. Jon Townsend follows by walking after getting the count full.
Jon Townsend takes the first pitch he sees for a double right down the third base line, and Auburn has a nice little mound conference. They're not quite changing the pitcher yet - it's only the first inning, after all - but things are looking bad for Shuman.
Clayton Pisani gets his first at-bat since Sunday against Brown, and does a great job, lacing a home run over the left field bleachers. Fans in the bleachers pour out, hoping to get a hold of that ball. It's 6-0 UF and it's only the first inning.
Buddy Munroe, the catcher and ninth batter of the inning, walks. The Gators have officially batted around. Barnes follows with a groundout on the first pitch, but UF certainly made its mark in this inning.
After one inning, a pair of three-run shots give UF a 6-0 lead over Auburn.
MID FIRST
This has to be one of the biggest home crowds of the season for UF. I can actually hear people clapping for players and some voices singing along with the national anthem. The usual hecklers' voices are still loud and clear, however, as they yell their usual insults to the opposing batters and players.
Keating gets a groundout to start the festivities, then walks Auburn's second batter. Looking out into center field, dark rain clouds are to my left and bright skies are to my right. I hope the wind is blowing from the right, because otherwise we might be in for some rain.
Auburn's third hitter smashes a single past Cole Figueroa at shortstop, and the lead runner takes off for third. Barnes makes a great throw to Figueroa, who turns and fires to Pigott at third to get the runner out.
Auburn's cleanup man hits a pop fly to first, and slams into Brandon McArthur on the first base path. McArthur goes down hard and the trainers come out to see if he is alright. McArthur stays on the grass just to the left of first base for over a minute, then sits up to applause from the crowd. He stands up a minute later and, a little woozy, runs to the dugout. I'll keep you posted with any developments.
The runner was called out on the play for interfering with McArthur, and the inning is over.
PRE-GAME
Well well well, back again at Alfred McKethan Stadium are the Auburn Tigers, ready to take on the Gators for the second time in 24 hours. The Gators won yesterday's game 7-1 behind great pitching from Billy Bullock, Clint Franklin and Kyle Mullaney as well as an offensive explosion in the fourth and fifth innings.
Today, the Gators start Patrick Keating (1-0, 2.63) against Auburn's Scott Shuman (2-0 2.70). Lineup changes for UF from last night - Buddy Munroe will be catching, Clayton Pisani takes over the DH spot (which went 0-4 with four Ks last night) and Matt den Dekker moves into the No. 2 spot in the order.
Game should be starting any minute now, and I just can't wait to hear Buddy Munroe's introduction music. I'll keep you posted.
