University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Fall to Florida, 7-2, but Win Series
April 06, 2008 | Baseball
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KNOXVILLE ??? The Tennessee baseball team came up short in its attempt for a second straight home Southeastern Conference series sweep Sunday, as Florida managed a 7-2 win in the series-finale at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. But by claiming the first two contests against the 13th-ranked Gators, the Volunteers posted their fifth straight series win over Florida.
Tennessee now owns a 19-11 (7-5 SEC) record on the year, including a 15-3 mark at home. Against ranked teams this season, UT owns a 4-1 record. The Vols totaled 30 hits and six home runs on the weekend.
???Anytime you win a series in SEC play it???s good,??? UT head coach Todd Raleigh said. ???They were in first place coming in, so I???m pleased.???
Florida (21-10, 8-4 SEC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, marking the third straight game in which the Gators had put themselves on the scoreboard in the opening frame. The Vols overturned their deficits in the first two games of the series but were unable to come from behind in the finale.
Tennessee responded with four straight two-out hits in the bottom of the first. Vols catcher Yan Gomes scored on an RBI single by first baseman Jeff Lockwood to make it a one-run game.
Gators shortstop Cole Figueroa logged his second RBI of the game when he drove in UF leadoff man Avery Barnes with an RBI double in the top of the third inning. That marked the end of Tennessee starting pitcher Steve Crnkovich???s day, as Vols reliever Aaron Everett???the SEC???s appearances leader???took the mound for the first time in the series and the 18th time on the year.
Florida extended its lead to three runs in the third when Figueroa scored from third on a wild pitch by Vols reliever Ty???Relle Harris, who entered the game when Everett left with elbow pain after 1/3 inning.
Tennessee left fielder Shawn Griffin led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run that left the park just inside the right foul pole. It was the senior???s third home run of the series and his fifth of the year.
Barnes countered with a solo blast in the top of the fourth to push the Gators??? lead to 5-2. Despite their three-run deficit to that point, the Vols owned a 9-6 advantage in hits. Tennessee finished the game with 11 hits, while Florida totaled 10.
Figueroa singled in the fifth and later scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by UT designated hitter Dustin Bamberg.
Tennessee loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth, but Gators reliever Stephen Locke got Lockwood to hit into a 4-6-3 triple play to end the threat. It was the first time UT hit into a triple play since Feb. 3, 2002, against Miami (Fla.).
Barnes provided an RBI double for Florida in the sixth to extend UF???s lead to five runs, 7-2. It marked the fourth straight inning in which the Gators had scored.
Crnkovich took the loss for UT to fall to 4-3. Gators starter Patrick Keating (5-0) got the win, and Stephen Locke earned the save.
Harris worked 2 2/3 innings for the Vols and tied his career-high with five strikeouts. Lockwood held the Gators scoreless while pitching the final 1 2/3 innings.
Griffin, a native of Hollywood, Fla., led the Vols in the series with eight hits, four runs, two doubles, three home runs and five RBI. He hit .667 on the weekend.
???(Griffin is) killing the ball right now,??? Raleigh said. ???He had a tremendous series. Every time he came up you felt like he was going to get a hit.???
Griffin has home runs in each of his last four games against Florida.
Tennessee???s next action comes Tuesday at 5 p.m. when it hosts Austin Peay. The game was originally slated for Feb. 27 but was rescheduled after being rained out.
