Florida takes series over MSU

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
April 19, 2004
STARKVILLE After posting a combined 35 runs in the opening two games of the weekend series, Mississippi State University and No. 20 Florida locked into a pitcher's duel over the first four innings on Sunday.
The Bulldogs scored the only run the two teams allowed in the opening half of the rubber game, but the two squads combined for 10 runs after the fifth inning as Florida (28-11, 8-7 SEC) picked up an 8-3 victory over MSU (22-14, 6-9 SEC) to claim the series win.
MSU won the first game of the series 11-2 on Friday, and Florida tallied a 16-6 win Saturday at Dudy Noble Field to even the series at one game apiece.
The loss dropped the Bulldogs into a tie for ninth place in the SEC with Georgia, which defeated LSU on Sunday to improve its conference record to 6-9.
Florida collected five runs off four hits in the fifth inning to take a 5-1 lead.
Gators center fielder Adam Davis hit a one-out single to center field, following back-to-back walks, to tie the game at one, and second baseman Ryan Kennedy followed one batter later with a two-run single to left field for a 3-1 advantage.
Florida first baseman C.J. Smith brought Kennedy home with a triple into the right-center field gap, and Ben Harrison plated Smith with a single to left field for a four-run lead.
Davis led Florida's offensive efforts going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and Jonathan Tucker and Smith went 2-for-4 with one RBI each.
MSU responded to Florida's five-run fifth, scoring two runs on two hits off three different pitchers in the bottom half of the inning to cut the Gators' lead to 5-3. Jones drove in a run with a single to right field, and second baseman Jeffery Rea brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Davis got one run back for the Gators in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI double to center field for a 6-3 advantage.
Florida tacked on two runs to its lead in the top of the eighth inning to take an 8-3 lead.
Gators catcher Matt LaPorta and left fielder Jeff Corsaletti opened the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third base, and Davis brought LaPorta home with a sacrifice fly to center field. Florida third baseman Jonathan Tucker capped the scoring with a triple to center field to bring Corsaletti home.
Jones, who went 2-for-4, broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of third inning scoring on a groundout to second by Rea for a 1-0 MSU lead. Jones led off the Bulldogs' half of the third by swatting a triple down the first-base line that just barely stayed fair.
Jeff Lacher (3-5) took the loss for MSU, allowing five runs on four hits in 4.2 innings with three strikeouts and three walks. Conner Falkenbach, who entered the game in the fifth inning, picked up the win for Florida to improve to 6-3.
MSU continues the season with a two-game series against Memphis on Tuesday and Wednesday at Dudy Noble.