Michigan State University
Florida
Spartan Baseball Falls At No. 6 Florida, 13-2
3/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2005
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No. 6 Florida used an 11-run rally over the final three innings to defeat Michigan State by a score of 13-2 Saturday at McKethan Stadium. The Spartans could not overcome three errors and 10 walks en route to suffering their third consecutive loss.
In the first inning, senior Jeff Corsaletti hit a leadoff double to center field and later scored on a passed ball to give Florida (14-4) a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans (5-5) answered with a run in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1. Sophomore Ryan Basham (Lowell, Ind.) walked to open the frame and advanced to third on a single by senior first baseman Erik Morris (Orchard Lake, Mich.). On the next play, Basham scored as sophomore catcher Sean Walker (Round Lake, Ill.) grounded into a double play.
The Gators regained the lead at 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by junior Stephen Barton, scoring sophomore Adam Davis, who was hit by a pitch thrown by MSU starter Craig Brookes (Naperville, Ill.) to open the inning.
Florida parlayed four walks, two singles and two MSU errors into five runs in the sixth inning to build a 7-1 lead.
The Gators broke the game open with a five-run seventh inning, highlighted by sophomore Jared Kubin's two-run single off MSU reliever Mike Takashima (Rochester Hills, Mich.) through the left side of the infield.
Florida scored its final run of the game in the eighth inning after junior Chris Woods registered a walk with the bases loaded, scoring sophomore Matt LaPorta from third base.
The Spartans scored a run in the ninth inning on an RBI single to right field by sophomore second baseman E.J. Daws, scoring Morris, who led off the frame by being hit by a pitch.
Kubin paced Florida's 12-hit attack, going 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Tommy Boss (5-0) earned the win for Florida after giving up only one run in five and two-thirds innings while recording three strikeouts.
Three Florida hurlers limited the Spartans to just seven hits, including two by Walker who finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a double.
Brookes (0-1) took the loss for Michigan State, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings of work. Brookes also produced three strikeouts.
The series finale is scheduled for Sunday, March 13 at noon.
