GAME OVER
Dustin Bamberg reaches third base on an error from LSU's center fielder. Bamberg hit it far and deep,and the center fielder couldn't get his glove closed around the ball. UF has a chance here to make it a game.
It's worth nothing that Bradford, the starter, is still in the game in the ninth inning. One day after Patrick Keating's complete game, Bradford is looking to do the same to UF.
Townsend grounds out to third base, and the Gators can't get Bamberg to move home. McArthur comes out next, looking to give UF that fourth run along with some momentum. Instead, he strikes out looking. What started out as such a promising inning has turned into a last-ditch effort.
Jonathan Pigott flies out to a diving Leon Landry to end the game.
The home runs killed UF today. Four LSU homers contributed five runs to the Tigers' total, and a run each in the eighth and nine innings didn't help either. But the biggest story of this game has to be Josh Adams' injury. He's going to the hospital after the game to get x-rays, and this team certainly has grown to need the freshman in the lineup. Without him, they might not be able to keep up the first-in-the-SEC pace.
MID NINTH
After a fast groundout, Mullaney gives up a hit through the right side. The Tigers have not gone 1-2-3 since the third inning. On a pickoff attempt, Mullaney throws the ball too low and it bounces past McArthur, letting LaMahieu go all the way to third base.
On the next pitch, the Tigers add insurance with a double from Schimpf. It's 6-3, and the day looks to be all-but over for UF. That's the first time all game a run has scored on something other than a home run.
Pontiff grounds out to third base, but Townsend had some trouble holding onto the ball before making the throw. He was lucky not to have thrown it over McArthur's head like he has done a few times this year.
Mullaney ends the inning with a strikeout looking of Helenihi. UF heads into the bottom of the ninth down three with only three outs until the Tigers claim victory.
END EIGHTH
Den Dekker grounds out to shortstop and he's close to making it. The speedy center fielder got closer to being safe than Munroe on a very slow grounder earlier in the game.
Cole Figueroa has two homers in the game, and he steps in for the third time against Bradford. Instead of going 4 for 4, he grounds out to third base, his first out of the day.
Pisani flies out to second base to end the eighth. Not much time left for UF.
MID EIGHTH
Den Dekker does what den Dekker does, using his oh-so-soft leather to make a stupendous leaping catch in ceter field almost against the 400-foot sign. Mullaney must be very thankful.
Mullaney then strikes out Dean, his first strikeout. The fans tell Dean to sit down, and he complies, plopping down on the dugout bench.
Clark then steps up to bat and rounds the bases moments later, smacking his second home run over the right field wall. This game has been crazy with all the home runs. Every run scored has come on a homer.
Landry singles up the middle, and that's two consecutive two-out hits for the Tigers.
The inning ends on a high pop-up to Townsend, but the Tigers once again extend the lead to two runs. The heart of the order for UF is batting in the eighth, and this is where they need to get it done.
END SEVENTH
Pigott walks to start the inning for UF, and they must be happy with a leadoff man on.
In the dugout, Josh Adams can be seen on crutches. Word is, he'll be taken to the hospital after the game for x-rays, but nothing definite yet on his actual condition.
Bryson Barber, who started the season as the Gators' designated hitter, comes in to pinch-hit for Buddy Munroe. He is 2 for 8 this year as a pinch hitter, and makes it 2 for 9 with a fielder's choice to the second baseman. Pigott is out at second while Barber makes it safely to first.
Avery Barnes again hits the ball very hard, but very unfortunately right to the first baseman, who turns and throws to second for one and then catches the ball on the bag for a double play. Barnes can't be happy with that, but sometimes no matter how hard you hit it, you don't hit it to the right place.
MID SEVENTH
Tony Davis, usually known for getting only one or two batters out, stays in for the seventh inning. He gets a groundout to second base, which is now being played by Clayton Pisani. No sign of Josh Adams, and that can't be good for UF. They've lost their batting-average leader at least for this game, if not more.
Davis strikes out Buzzy Haydel, but a throwing error from Buddy Munroe lets Haydel get to first safely. McArthur had to get off the bag to make the catch, otherwise it would be in right field and Haydel would be on second.
LeMahieu follows that with a single that almost hits Haydel on the basepath, and the Tigers have two on with one out. Davis balks the runners to second and third, then strikes out his second batter of the inning.
It's two in scoring position and two outs. Any out will do for Davis right now, who just doesn't want to give up the lead.
I take that back: Davis is out and Kyle Mullaney comes in. Davis did a great job, only giving up one hit and striking out three.
Mullaney throws two straight strikes, then gets a really close groundout to shortstop. LSU almost beat it out, but the threat is averted and UF is still only down one run.
END SIXTH
Cole Figueroa single-handedly is keeping UF in this game. He hits another home run off Bradford, his third of the series, to bring UF within two. He pulled the ball again, but Dave Curtis only owes me $5 for the first one. Still, that homer re-engergized the crowd and brought hope when things were looking bleak for the Gators.
Josh Adams fouls a ball off his leg, and he is on the ground writhing in pain. He is not getting up so fast, and the entire stadium is silent. This is not good for the Gators at all. Television replays show the ball rocketing off his bat and the ball slamming into his knee. The coaching staff and two players go to lift Adams off his seat and carry him back into the dugout. Clayton Pisani comes in to finish the at-bat.
Pisani grounds out to second base, but all the energy has been sucked out of this place. All the noise that was made after Figueroa's home run is gone.
And just like that, it returns. Dustin Bamberg hits his first homer of the year not on a Tuesday, an opposite-field shot that just barely cleared the fence. The noise is back and Bradford might be getting flashbacks from Friday.
Townsend lays down a nearly perfect bunt, but LSU throws him out at first base - barely. Television replays make it look like Townsend was safe and O'Sullivan comes out to argue, but to no avail. The crowd is booing like crazy, and they are about as mad now as they were happy thirty seconds prior.
This up-and-down-and-up-and-down inning comes to a close as McArthur pops out to first base.
MID SIXTH
Toledo starts off the sixth in a good way, getting his second strikeout, also looking, on a full count. O'Sullivan comes out to the mound, and Toledo's day is over. He will be on the hook for the loss if UF can't come back.
In comes Tony Davis, the lefty, to face the deadly lefty Matt Clark. Clark has one home run already today and also flew out to the warning track in his second at-bat. Today marks Toledo's sixth straight start of five innings or more.
Davis gets the job done against Clark, striking him out. He also stays in to face the Tigers' next lefty, Leon Landry, who has also hit a homer today. Landry falls behind in the count, but then gets hit by a pitch and heads to first. However, Landry gets caught with too much of a lead, gets caught in a pickle and is thrown out sliding into second base.
END FIFTH
Buddy Munroe grounds out to the shortstop on the same exact kind of dinky grounder that Barnes has reached on twice today. Both Barnes and den Dekker would probably have been safe on that one.
Speaking of Barnes, he's the next batter up and hits a grounder very hard to LSU's first baseman. The fielder makes a great pick on a funny hop, then calmly walks over to first and steps on the base for the out.
Den Dekker hits a slow roller up the first-base line, and Bradford runs to the ball and tags him out. The fans thought den Dekker evaded the tag, but he was clearly out. Time is starting to run short for the Gators. Just four innings left for them to make a comeback.
MID FIFTH
Den Dekker makes a good sliding forward catch in center field to record UF's first out of the fifth inning. He's really had a great defensive year.
The next pitch is a home run over the right field wall into the LSU bullpen. That's three on the game and they account for all four of the Tigers' runs. So much for the Gators getting one back in the fourth.
Another ball goes deep into the outfield, but this one doesn't go quite deep enough. Pigott makes the running catch. The final out of the inning is also recorded by an outfield, as den Dekker gets under the ball. Toledo gives the Tigers their run back, and UF is once again in a three-run hole.
END FOURTH
Cole Figueroa gets the half-inning going very well for UF, hitting a home run over the right field wall. He pulled it, and thus Dave Curtis of the Orlando Sentinel owes me $5. Don't think I don't forget, Dave. You told me that next time Figueroa pulled a ball, you would give me $5. Pay up.
Josh Adams takes the next pitch a long way into deep left field, but LSU's Blake Dean makes a fantastic running and diving catch to record the out. His face planted into the ground, but he looks alright and held onto the ball.
Dustin Bamberg hits a single over third base, putting another runner on for UF. This is where they need to strike to get back into the game.
Townsend hits another ball to third base, and his counterpart throws to second base to get Bamberg out. Townsend moves over to first safely with McArthur coming up.
McArthur hits a single through the right side, and Townsend gets to second base. He could have easily gone to third, but stayed at second anyway. The point is moot, however, as Pigott softly lines out to second base on the next pitch.
MID FOURTH
LSU designated hitter Matt Clark, fresh off a home run in the second inning, hits a ball so high in the air that he makes it to second base before it comes down in the glove of Pigott in right field. The ball was caught at the very back of the warning track, and Toledo is lucky that one didn't go for a home run as well. Clark jogs back to the dugout, wondering what might have been.
Toledo gives a hit to Landry next, and the center fielder is now 2 for 2 on the day. This single was on a very slow swing, and it looked like Landry just reached out to make contact. The ball floated over Toledo's head and landed in shallow center field.
On a 3-1 count, Landry tries to steal second base but is picked off instead. That really helps out Toledo, giving him his second out. Toledo walks the batter, Gibbs, but still needs just one pitch to get out of the inning.
The next batter, Buzzy Haydel, goes down looking on three straight pitches. Toledo must be happy with that, his first strikeout of the game.
END THIRD
Jonathan Pigott strikes out swinging with the first at-bat. On the next pitch, Buddy Munroe flies out to left field. This half-inning might prove to be faster than Toledo's if Barnes gets out quick enough.
As I type that, Barnes gets his second consecutive dinky infield single. He's a lucky man to be on base twice already, as both of his ground balls were very poorly hit.
Den Dekker is the next Gator at the plate, and he softly flies out to left field to end UF's threat. The Gators got their first runner on since the third batter of the first inning, so at least they have that going for them.
MID THIRD
After Toledo gave up a really really really ridiculously long foul ball, he gets Pontiff to ground out right back to him for the out. Toledo follows that with a ground out to second base. A pop out to Cole Figueroa in shallow center field, and Toledo is off the mound in less than five minutes. That was an incredibly fast half-inning.
END SECOND
Dustin Bamberg grounds out to short to get UF's second inning going. Bradford looks to have settled down after that awful first inning from which he somehow escaped unscathed.
Next up is John "J.T. Money" Townsend, He hits the ball back to his counterpart at third base, who throws across the field for the out. Two up, two down.
Brandon McAthur comes to the plate next for his first at-bat of the game. Two pitches in and he's quickly down 0-2. After taking a ball, McArthur pops out to shortstop. Bradford is a completely different man than we've seen in the past. That's five straight outs recorded by the Tigers pitcher.
MID SECOND
Toledo, pitching quickly, gets into some trouble by hitting LSU's first batter of the inning on the leg. That's the first base runner of the game against Toledo and the crowd here is eerily silent. With the
Two pitches later, LSU's Matt Clark hits a home run to the top of the scoreboard in right field. That's his 13th of the year and his 2nd of the series. Clark has some serious power.
Two pitches after that, Toledo gives up another home run, this time to Leon Landry, the Tigers' center fielder. Back-to-back home runs almost to the same spot put the Gators in a 3-0 hole early in this one. They might look back at that first inning later and wonder if they could have got some runs out of it.
Toledo gets a talking-to from UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan, then gives up a single. That's three straight hits and four consecutive batters reaching against Toledo. The Tigers bunt the runner to second, and Toledo records his first out of the inning.
Cole Figueroa makes a great backhanded stop at short, then throws to Brandon McArthur at first for the out on a bounce. McArthur made a great pick, and jogged to the mound to deliver the ball back to Toledo. The Tigers' runner holds at second with one out left in the inning for Toledo.
Toledo gets the last out on a fly ball to right field, then slowly - very slowly - walks to the dugout. He receives high-fives from his teammates on getting out of the inning, but you can tell he's not happy with himself.
END FIRST
Avery Barnes makes it six straight UF hits off Bradford dating to Friday night as he hits a weak grounder up the middle. The fans who were here Friday night must remember the name, and they are hoping Bradford continues his terrible time against UF. Barnes tries to steal second, but is thrown out for Bradford's first out of the weekend.
Matt den Dekker hits a single over the second baseman, making it seven consecutive hits off Bradford. This kid just can't get UF out. If Barnes didn't try to steal, UF would have two on and no outs.
Make that eight straight hits off Bradford, as Cole Figueroa hits a grounder through the left side. I don't know what there is to say about Bradford anymore. He's probably just praying for an out at this point. UF should have at least the bases loaded and at the most one run.
Josh Adams gives Bradford some mercy, grounding into a double play, 4-6-3, breaking the eight-hits-in-a-row streak against him.
MID FIRST
Toledo gets off to a fantastic start, getting LSU's first three batters to ground out to short, fly out to center and then pop out to first. Toledo did throw one wild pitch, but it didn't matter as there was no one on base. The Tigers batters fouled multiple pitches off, possibly frustrating Toledo, but showed no signs of it.
Tiny amounts of drizzle are falling onto the first row of the press box. I hope this doesn't get harder, or my computer could get fried.
PRE-GAME
It's a cloudy day here in Gainesville, but that shouldn't stop the Gators (20-5, 7-1 SEC) from going for the sweep today against the LSU Tigers (15-10, 2-6 SEC), who can't seem to catch a break in the series. On Friday, the Tigers fell victim to five consecutive UF hits in the seventh inning, leading to a 8-5 UF win. Yesterday, LSU ran into the best day of UF starter Patrick Keating's career-the righty threw a complete game, allowing only seven hits and one run.
Today, UF starts freshman Tommy Toledo (4-0, 1.93 ERA) against LSU's Jared Bradford (4-3, 4.99). Bradford was responsible for UF's five consecutive hits on Friday night and saw his ERA jump 1.5 points in that performance. I'm sure he's looking forward to facing this lineup again and proving that Friday was a fluke.
The other change for UF is moving Matt den Dekker from the No. 8 spot in the lineup to No. 2, while putting Jonathan Pigott in the No. 8 hole. Other than that, the lineup is the same as Friday and Saturday. First pitch is in about 15 minutes. I'll get back to you after the first half-inning.
