Mike Zunino was happy to lead off the top of the fourth inning. After a testy latter half of the third, the junior catcher wanted to give the Gators an emotional edge.
On the second pitch he saw, Zunino smacked a solo home run to over the center-field wall, putting Florida (44-18) ahead of Georgia Tech (37-25) for good in a 6-2 win.
"I just wanted to carry over momentum," Zunino said. "I was able to get a pitch I could handle and just tried to get a good swing on it. ... I just love to try to get everyone going."
An overturned call by the umpiring crew in the bottom of the third inning created the tension. Gators starter Hudson Randall struck out Yellow Jackets first baseman Jake Davies with runners on first and second in a 1-1 game.
However, as Florida’s players left the field, Davies argued that Zunino had not caught the foul tip off Davies' bat as as home plate umpire Mike Morris originally ruled. Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall came out on the field to contest the call, and it was overturned. Gators coach Kevin O’Sullivan objected, but to no avail.
Randall went back to the mound and — three pitches later — fanned Davies to end the frame.
"[Morris] called it a foul tip that hit the bat," NCAA assistant game representative Dick Runchey said. "[The umpires] wanted to concur whether it hit the ground or did [Zunino} catch it clean. That's why they got together. And the umpires got together and they said it hit the dirt."
O'Sullivan added: "I'm not going to comment on the umpires. I think they got the call right, and that's the bottom line. [The controversial call] certainly got the crowd into it, and it was a big, emotional lift for us."
Zunino led off the top of the fourth with his solo shot, and Yellow Jackets starter Buck Farmer hit Daniel Pigott with a pitch. Casey Turgeon double to put runners on second and third, Schafer knocked in Pigott with a single and Vickash Ramjit hit a sacrifice fly to bring Turgeon home.
"Emotions were running high, obviously," Zunino said. "We thought [the fourth inning] was a big turning point right there, and we just wanted to pretty much keep momentum."
The situation worsened in the top of the fifth. With Nolan Fontana on first, Preston Tucker hit a ground ball to Georgia Tech shortstop Mott Hyde. An errant throw from Hyde allowed Fontana to reach second safely.
Fontana collided with Yellow Jackets second baseman Thomas Smith on the play, and second base umpire Chris Coskey called a time out. Hall came out to argue and was ejected.
“The umpire told me ‘time out’ was called because both [Fontana], and Thomas Smith, were banged up on the ball,” Hall said in a written statement. “[Fontana] thought he was out, and was leaving the base when time was called.
“I felt [the umpire] bailed [Fontana] out by calling time, and I told him he should not have done that.”
In the top of the seventh, Fontana was tagged out at home trying to score from second base on a Brian Johnson single. Georgia Tech right fielder Daniel Palka’s throw beat Fontana home, and catcher Zane Evans applied the tag for the out.
After the play, Fontana kicked Evans’ mask.
"It kind of just bothered me," Evans said. "I didn't think there was any reason for him to kick my mask. It was a clean play."
Randall started for the Gators with task of slowing down a red-hot Yellow Jackets offense. Before Saturday’s game, Georgia Tech had averaged 8.6 runs in its last five contests.
While Randall did not duplicate Jonathon Crawford’s no-hit effort Friday night, he still impressed. Pitching against his father’s alma mater, Randall gave up eight hits, but only one earned run in 5.2 innings.
"I didn't have my best stuff, but you rarely do have your best stuff," Randall said. "I was just battling out there tonight, and they're free swingers."
Florida’s next game will be against the winner of Sunday’s contest between Georgia Tech and the College of Charleston at noon. The Gators will play at 6 p.m.
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org.
Catcher Mike Zunino homers to center field against Georgia Tech. His solo shot gave the Gators a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning en route to a 6-2 win.
