"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">By
TOM GREEN
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
Alligator Writer
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; color: #0000ff;">
"mailto:tgreen@alligator.org">tgreen@alligator.org
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px;">
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
Florida second baseman Josh Adams said South Carolina would come
into Gainesville bitter this weekend after the Gators celebrated a
Southeastern Conference title on the Gamecocks’ infield last
season.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
The way the Gamecocks played Friday night, it appeared Adams was
right.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
Fourth-ranked South Carolina (17-5, 3-1 SEC) tagged Brian Johnson
(4-1, 2.86 ERA) for seven runs, topping No. 1 Florida (20-3, 3-1
SEC) 9-2 in front of 5,586 fans in McKethan Stadium.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
“They outplayed us in every phase,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.
“They outpitched us, they outhit us and they played really good
defense. … It was one of those nights.”
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
The Gamecocks attacked Johnson early on, and it paid off. Catcher
Mike Zunino said the lefty was locating on most of his pitches, but
South Carolina’s hitters capitalized on Johnson pitching around the
plate.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
South Carolina put up a four spot against the lefty in the third
inning, propelling them to a series-opening win, while handing the
Gators their first weekend loss of the season.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
South Carolina right fielder Adam Matthews sparked the Gamecocks’
offense with a leadoff triple before shortstop Peter Mooney singled
him in to put them on the board.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
Each of the first four batters South Carolina sent to the plate
that inning scored, capped off by a two-RBI single from catcher
Brady Thomas.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
The Gamecocks chased Johnson with one down in the sixth inning
after the lefty gave up a leadoff bomb to Jake Williams followed by
a double and a walk.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">It
was the worst outing of the season for Johnson, who had allowed
five total runs in his previous five outings.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
While South Carolina had its way with Johnson, Florida’s hitters
were stifled by Gamecocks left-handed starter Michael Roth (5-1,
1.50).
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
Roth pitched a season-high 8.1 innings of two-run ball and struck
out six Gators while scattering 10 hits.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
“He kept us off balance a lot and you just got to tip your cap to
him,” Adams said. “He did a great job and we didn’t make
adjustments.”
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
The southpaw’s efforts ended Florida’s recent power surge at the
plate, but the Gators managed to string together a couple of runs
in the ninth when Zunino, Kamm Washington and Adams hit three
straight singles. Adams’ single put UF on the scoreboard and Jeff
Moyer then plated the second run on a groundout to short.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
But that’s all Florida could muster against the defending College
World Series champions, as righty reliever John Taylor came in to
close out the game.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
“There’s nothing to say,” Adams said of Florida’s performance.
“Everybody knows that’s embarrassing.”
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
The teams square off again tonight at 7, with righty Hudson Randall
(3-0, 0.85) taking the mound for Florida and lefty Steven Neff
(2-0, 2.49) toeing the rubber for South Carolina.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">
Etc.: Zunino extended his hitting streak to 11
games with a 3 for 4 outing. The hit streak is one shy of his
career high. … Nolan Fontana’s fifth-inning double stretched his
hitting streak to a career-high nine games. … The 5,586 fans in
attendance was a McKethan Stadium record for an SEC game. …
Freshmen hurlers Keenan Kish and Daniel Gibson each tossed a
scoreless inning of relief.
