Baseball can be a cruel game. Florida felt its wrath yet again Friday at McKethan Stadium. Baserunning mistakes killed rallies. Two-out baserunners taxed Florida pitchers. Three innings offered opportunities to win the game. Three times the Gators couldn’t come through.
No. 11 Mississippi (23-4, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) defeated Florida (11-16, 2-5 SEC) 4-3 against in a seesaw extra-inning game that lasted 11 innings.
Rebels pinch runner Lance Wilson scored the go-ahead run after Gators reliever Johnny Magliozzi fired an errant throw to third while fielding a sacrifice bunt. Coach Kevin O’Sullivan didn’t mind the aggressive attempt to third. Once centerfielder Harrison Bader grounded out to shortstop for the last out, Magliozzi’s throw was just one of many miscues in another game Florida should’ve won.
“We are playing better, but there is no consolation for finishing close,” O’Sullivan said.
Gators third baseman Zack Powers tied the game at three with a single in the eighth. Florida only scored one after getting five at-bats in the inning with runners in scoring position.
Second baseman Casey Turgeon advanced shortstop Cody Dent to second an inning later on a sacrifice bunt. A strikeout and fly out to center field killed another rally. Bader had a runner at second when he grounded out to end the game. Florida racked up 10 hits to Mississippi’s seven, but finished 0 for 13 in run-scoring opportunities.
It appeared Florida gained new life in the ninth inning when Dent completed a diving stop and throw up the middle for the third out. Magliozzi sprinted off the mound pumping his fist. A one-run game looked like it could go Florida’s way. The Gators move to 1-7 in one-run games and 0-5 in extra-inning contests.
In a season where the margin of error has been nonexistent for Florida, Friday night proved no different. With Josh Tobias on first and Connor Mitchell on third in the fourth inning, the Gators botched a first-and-third play for the third out.
Mississippi threw Mitchell out after he darted for home too late once Tobias got himself in a rundown in between first and second. Justin Shafer stranded Bader on third in the fifth when he couldn’t reach on a drag bunt attempt. Rebels starter Bobby Wahl picked Dent off at second with one out in the seventh inning. Coupled with the missed chances to win and Florida is left with what if.
Wahl, who pitched 7.1 innings, didn’t factor in the decision for the first time all season. He had won his previous six starts. Florida left-hander Daniel Gibson tossed a career-high four scoreless frames. The junior picked the Gators up after starter Jay Carmichael had an uncharacteristically spotty start with four walks and two hit batters in 4.1 innings. Positives couldn’t overcome the sting of defeat. Florida might lead the nation in moral victories, but close isn’t good enough. Not for O’Sullivan. Not for the Gators.
“It’s really frustrating,” Shafer said. “Our pitchers kept us in the game. We had plenty chances to get the win and we didn’t come through.”
Martin out for weekend: Freshman shortstop Richie Martin won’t see the field in anything more than a pinch-running role against Mississippi. He suffered a fractured right index finger against Miami on March 3. Martin pinch ran for Mike Fahrman in the eighth inning for his first action since the injury.
“We probably won’t do anything with him this weekend,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s close. We won’t do anything until he is 100 percent.”
Crawford throwing in game two: Junior right-hander Jonathon Crawford (0-4, 5.67) makes his seventh start this season Saturday at 1 p.m. He faces Mississippi junior right-hander Mike Mayers (2-2, 2.83). A victory would even the series with the finale set for Sunday at the same time.
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
Freshman starting pitcher Jay Carmichael warms up between innings during Florida’s 4-1 win against Kentucky on March 15 at McKethan Stadium. Carmichael only pitched 1.2 innings in April while dealing with arm soreness.
