Augenstein Pitches Florida Past Alabama, 4-3
5/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Florida sophomore right-hander Bryan Augenstein pitched into the ninth inning for his ninth win of the season, leading the Gators to a 4-3 win over No. 12 Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium Friday night.
Florida (26-25, 8-17 SEC) won its second straight Southeastern Conference road game and needs one more win this weekend to snap a streak of seven straight SEC series losses. Alabama (34-17, 15-10 SEC) lost its fourth straight game and fell into a first-place tie in the SEC Western Division with Arkansas.
Augenstein (9-5) allowed three runs on eight hits in 8 1/3 innings, with two walks and six strikeouts. He left the game after allowing a one-out base hit to backup first baseman Matt Bentley and a walk to pinch-hitter Ryan Rhoden.
"Their pitcher was good and he did a nice job," Alabama head coach Jim Wells said.
The game was interrupted in the top of the ninth inning when UF center fielder Gavin Dickey and UA catcher Kody Valverde got into a scuffle at home plate after Dickey was thrown out trying to stretch a triple into a inside-the-park home run.
The incident is under review by the SEC Office. Dickey and Valverde were both ejected from the game by home plate umpire Alexander Davis, along four other players.
Florida scored single runs in the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead. In the first inning, the Gators scored one run one two hits, including Austin Pride's bad-hop RBI single that scored Matt LaPorta from second base with two outs.
UF added another run in the second on Dickey's lead off home run to left center field. It was his 11th home run of the season. Florida loaded the bases with two outs before Dave Cash flied out to center to end the threat.
Florida made it 3-0 in the third when Pride drew a lead off walk, stole second and scored on Brian LeClerc's RBI single down the right field line.
The Gators tacked on an unearned run in the sixth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Brandon McArthur led off with a single and moved to second on Adam Davis' sacrifice bunt. Brian Jeroloman reached on an error by second baseman Evan Bush and then LaPorta walked to load the bases. Cash then grounded out to second base to score McArthur with the unearned run.
Alabama offense finally showed signs of life in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Tide scored three runs on three straight two-out hits to cut the deficit to 4-3. Paiml started the rally when he was hit by a pitch with one out and then moved to second on Salem's base hit to left field, his third hit of the game.
After Downs flied out to center field, Alabama's two-out rally began as Avila, Valverde and Bush laced three straight two-out hits to make it a one run game. Avila's base hit scored Paiml and Valverde singled home Salem to cut the margin to 4-2 Bush then lined a single to right to score Avila to make it a one-run game before Bentley flied out to left field to end the inning.
"We seemed a little tentative in the first five innings," Wells said. "We were waiting on somebody to step up. We didn't seem to play with confidence."
The Crimson Tide could get no closer against Augenstein and the Gator bullpen.
Alabama put two runners on with one out in the ninth inning, but left-hander David Hurst retired Brandon Belcher and right-hander Darren O'Day nailed down the win with his eighth save as he struck out Paiml to end the game.
GAME NOTES:
*Alabama junior left hander Wade LeBlanc did not start on the mound on Friday night, missing his first series opening start of the year. He is expected to start Saturday's game for the Tide.
*Senior first baseman Spencer Pennington left the game with an injury in the fifth inning when Florida left fielder Chris Petrie collided with him on a play at first base. Pennington's injury was not serious.
*Florida's cleanup hitter David Cash was 0-for-5 in the game and he stranded 10 base runners, including six in scoring position.
