GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It took eight innings for Florida’s bats to heat up Friday night against Tennessee, but they were still sizzling Saturday.
The Gators launched two home runs in the first inning off starter Stephen McCray to go up 3-0 and cruised to a 10-2 win at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium to clinch the weekend series.
“They got the momentum from (Friday night), and it certainly carried over,” Tennessee coach Todd Raleigh said. “What we needed after (Friday) night was, you know, settle in, get a couple zeros.”
But that didn’t happen. All nine starters for the Gators had at least one hit, and Florida fans began filing out of the stadium after the Gators scored their 10th run in the sixth.
The Gators (13-7, 2-3 SEC) scored three runs in the third and another three in the sixth, while Tennessee (9-11, 1-4) was all-but silenced for the second day.
The Vols had their best chance to keep the game competitive in the third when a Blake Forsythe double put two runners in scoring position. But Florida starter Nick Maronde buckled down, getting a strikeout and fly out to end the inning.
“We had second and third with one out, the middle of our lineup up,” Raleigh said. “If we could have got one or two there, maybe it’s a different game.”
Florida reliever Clint Franklin retired 11 consecutive hitters in the fourth through seventh innings.
“Their pitching staff, I’ll give it to ’em,” Forsythe said. “They did a great job today mixing it up real well.”
While Florida’s staff was excellent, McCray (3-1) was chased after just 2 2/3 innings. He allowed six runs and nine hits, causing his ERA to balloon from 2.84 to 4.98.
Ryne Simpson relieved McCray in the third and promptly walked the two batters he faced, scoring another run for Florida.
Tennessee used four different pitchers by the fourth and six for the game.
Tennessee scored twice in the ninth. P.J. Polk started the inning with an infield single, and pinch-hitter Charley Thurber hit a double to right-center to score Polk. Thurber scored two batters later while Florida attempted to turn a double play.
Raleigh said a lack of depth because of injuries will keep him from making any lineup changes today, when the series concludes at 12:30 p.m.
“There’s no depth, there’s no moves I can make,” Raleigh said. “I can’t bring people up from the minor leagues. This is what we’ve got.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 17
Halls3 writes:
To go from a guaranteed win last night to losing the series is a reflection of the coaching.
dirtywhiteboy writes:
this team sucks and isn't showing improvement. i'd say the todd raleigh watch is in fell effect.
teampenny#658108 writes:
Down year by VOLS standards. All will be well if football team beats someone this fall. Always has been always will be about FOOTBALL. That is life in the SOUTH! GO VOLS
edvol writes:
The program is on life support and no signs of life. Hamilton, if we are not going to invest in this program with top notch coach, please let us four-figure VASFers know it! We deserve to know there's a commitment to this program. Raleigh seems like a good guy, but not for this program. On top of a coaching mess in bball and one that looks like it could be starting in football, we and the athletes deserve better. It's sad to see this team on the field. Don't seem to have any guidance!
orangevolz writes:
You don't support the Vols, and I am sure you don't donate a dime to the VASF, so quit complaining about everything. I don't know if you are a Bammer, Gator or a Pup, but thank goodness you are not a Vol fan.
budd#207344 writes:
you win bb games with pitching and defense not waiting for 3 run homers.
knoxlawvol writes:
Raleigh does not seem to be helpling his own cause in his responses to the media following losses claiming we should have won, we're the better team, making excuses, etc. This guy would do well to purchase a monkey and train it to conduct post game press. At least a little feces flinging would be preferable to his statements. Seriously, this guy is a clown and hopefully he will be gone sooner rather than later.
livinloudin writes:
RALEIGH IS AN IDIOT!!!! He is never accountable to anything..always an excuse and always what could have been if something was different!!
AGAIN I ASK WHY NOT START BRIAN MORGADO!!!! He was a stud last year and who strikes out more?? If you dont brown nose Raleigh and you are not one of "his" recruits he pushes you out.... Yan Gomes.....Aaron Evertt........Lance McClane.....Andy Siminick I guess Brian Morgado does not work into his game plan......Where did they find this idiot??
Oh and by the way....GO GATORS!!
GET RID OF RALEIGH
UT_Thread_Head writes:
it's more like embarrassing.
so how do you coach bats that aren't hitting? KD is not hitting the ball, and neither are the others, so how do you coach that? our pitching seems to be hit or miss (when their on their on but...), how do you coach that? unfortunately for now it is what it is, and as much as i would like to see Garner as coach..i'm afraid at this time he would be in the same boat Raleigh is in..i don't know :(
littleorange writes:
Are you watching Mr. Hamilton?????
livinloudin writes:
how do you coach hitting you instill confidence....how do you coach pitching you instill confidence..........
how do you coach a team to greatness you make them want to play and win for you...you make them want to make you proud...I do not see that happening here!
RedDevilFanAllTheWay writes:
Bryan Morgado was a Delmonico signee. Raleigh isn't going to do anything to support those players. UT Baseball sucks now. Delmonico may have not been a fan favorite, but Raleigh is just ineffective and the program is in far worse shape now.
johnnyboy381091#213934 writes:
Raleigh is a complete buffoon. Delmonica is ditched for this guy?
This guy's leadership style is to throw up hands and say "We have no depth, we play who we have".........its an embarrassment......Delmonico didn't leave it in that bad of shape.
OrangePride writes:
I disagree with you edvol.....we are not on life support, we are on "death watch." Florida was 0-3 coming into the series and has now taken 2 straight. We have weak pitching and we make up for it with worse hitting. This looks like a cellar year for the Vols and may well be the end of Raleigh. So there is at least a silver lining in all this.
UT_Thread_Head writes:
i've heard the horror stories of how he's treated and talked down to these guys, so i agree with you on making them want to play for you, but this is the SEC..time to step up! don't get me wrong, i'm not saying he's the man, but this ain't high school or peewee league..they know how to play and what they need to do too win..both players and coaching need to get it together.
UT_Thread_Head writes:
i think them razorbacks made em mad last weekend!
UT_Thread_Head writes:
yes indeed!
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