Three waves from umpire Owen Butts’ arms caused a ruckus in McKethan Stadium.
In the bottom of the ninth of a 1-1 game, Butts called UF freshman Cody Dent safe at home plate, saying Dent avoided a tag from Arkansas catcher James McCann.
“From my angle, it looked like the ball beat him there,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “But I couldn’t tell if (McCann) made the tag or not. I didn’t have the best angle.”
The Gators and Razorbacks cleared their benches and ran on the field after Butts’ call, which gave No. 7 Florida (28-11, 12-6 Southeastern Conference) a 2-1 win against No. 9 Arkansas (33-8, 13-5 SEC) in the series rubber match Sunday.
“I was ready to celebrate before it happened,” said first baseman Preston Tucker, who hit his eighth home run of the season in the fourth.
UF players hugged each other and jumped on Dent, celebrating the team’s fifth SEC series win in six chances. Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn, meanwhile, passionately argued with Butts – even chest bumping the umpire.
“Right, wrong or different, I’m not to judge the umpire,” O’Sullivan said. “But obviously that was the deciding factor in the game.”
Running from second, Dent hesitated after catcher Mike Zunino hit a bloop single to right field. But despite Dent’s slow start, UF third base coach Craig Bell waved him home.
Arkansas right fielder Matt Vinson’s throw to McCann landed inside the third-base line just as Dent barreled to the plate. Dent veered right as McCann tried to tag him before sliding to the plate.
Butts waved his arms, signaling Dent was safe, even though the freshman missed the plate on his slide. Even after being called safe, Dent crawled home while McCann raced to the plate, hoping to preserve the tie as members of both teams sprinted to the diamond.
Brian Johnson started the ninth-inning rally with a pinch-hit single up the middle off reliever Mike Bolsinger, who took the loss Sunday. Dent then came in to pinch-run for the pitcher-turned designated-hitter.
But before his clutch hit, Johnson dazzled on the mound in his first appearance since straining a muscle in his back against Tennessee on April 10.
“I don’t know if I could have dreamed it up better,” Johnson said. “From missing that last weekend, I was bored staying home. I felt like I needed to get out there and prove myself.”
In a game that was delayed 2-1/2 hours because of a thunderstorm, Johnson posted career highs by throwing seven scoreless innings and striking out nine Razorbacks, the most punch outs by a Gators pitcher since Jeff Barfield struck out the same amount last year against Tennessee.
Johnson predicted the Razorbacks would be aggressive after reading a pregame scouting report, so the freshman relied on his changeup.
“Against really good hitting teams, that’s the difference maker,” O’Sullivan said of Johnson’s effective changeup.
Florida will not play a midweek matchup because of exams, so the team’s next game will be Friday night at 8 against LSU in McKethan Stadium.
“If we play like we did this weekend,” O’Sullivan said, “I feel good about our chances.”
