#1 FSU Drops 4-1 Bout To UF Amid Hostilities

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The No. 1 FSU baseball team dropped a 4-1 decision to the unranked Florida Gators Tuesday, the circumstances of which should make for an interesting matchup in Tallahassee.

When these teams met on March 18th, FSU failed to take advantage of some golden opportunities, and that’s juts how this one began as well, as Florida State stranded two runners in the top of the first inning.

The Gators opened the scoring off Seminole starter Peter Miller in the bottom of the first, when the ‘Nole righty walked three Gators (one intentionally). UF leadoff hitter Casey Turgeon scored on a Braden Mattson single to open the scoring at 1-0. Despite some control issues, Miller nevertheless struck out the side.

Although he also walked the leadoff hitter in the second, Miller fell into a groove, not allowing another hit until the Gator fourth. He and Florida starter Justin Shafer continued to duel until UF southpaw Danny Young relieved Shafer in the fifth. FSU again threatened, as Casey Smit opened the inning with a walk and stole second, but, as has been the trend this year against Florida, the Seminoles couldn’t come up with the big hit, and he was stranded at third.

The Gators notched another run in the sixth, when Mattson singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored when Shafer — who’d moved from the mound to DH — bunted. Miller’s throw was errant, and Mattson came around to score, making the score 2-0. Shafer advanced to second on the play, and Gage Smith came in for the ‘Noles. Shafer was sacrificed to third and scored when Smith mishandled a John Sternagel bunt, bringing the score to 3-0 and Florida State lefty Bryant Holtmann in from the bullpen. Catcher Danny De La Calle threw out Sternagel attempting to steal second, and Holtmann struck out Buddy Reed for the third out.

The 10,125-person crowd remained quiet until the eighth, when Seminole D.J. Stewart knocked a dribbler down the first-base line. Young ranged over to field the ball, and got in the base line, finding himself on the proverbial train tracks, as Stewart ran right through — or over — him. A game lacking in hits suddenly saw several. A bench-clearing brawl ensued, and shots were exchanged, while Stewart, Young, and UF’s Zack Powers were ejected. But Florida reliever Ryan Harris retired John Nogowski to end the inning.

Kenny Burkhead came on for the ‘Noles in the bottom of the eighth and surrendered a single to Shafer, who was bunted to second and scored on a base hit by Sternagel, increasing the Gator lead to 4-0. Shafer appeared to raise his spikes toward De La Calle while sliding into home, a move less-than appreciated by the vocal FSU bench.

Jose Brizuela responded with a solo home run to right-center field in the top of the ninth, and Florida State brought the tying run to the plate after a Brett Knief single and a Gage West pinch-hit walk, but Josh Delph flied out to end the game.

This is the second time in as many games that Florida has bested the ‘Noles this season, having won in Gainesville on March 18th by a 3-1 score. The Seminoles and Gators are scheduled to play one more time this season, an April 8th tilt in Tallahassee, and given the aggression displayed in this skirmish, Dick Howser stadium should be on fire. FSU, now 19-5, is on the road again this weekend, beginning a three-game series against the Boston College Eagles in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts on Friday.