Florida Gators

HOOVER, Ala. – LSU pinch-hitter Jordan Romero hit a RBI single in the top of the 14th to bring home the winning run as the Tigers beat Florida 5-3 on Wednesday night Thursday morning at the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

With a game length of 5 hours, 7 minutes, it was the longest game in SEC Tournament history.

The Gators have to take the field again in less than 12 hours against Alabama in the loser's bracket of the tournament. The game is scheduled to start 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Texas A&M-South Carolina game (10:30 a.m. ET).

Gators starting pitcher A.J. Puk had one of his best performances of the season, with a career long 7.1 innings pitched, but things unraveled in the eighth inning as LSU scored three runs to take a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Buddy Reed led off with a ball hit down the left-field line that was initially ruled foul. After review, the umpires overturned the call and Reed was credited with a double. After a sac bunt from Mike Rivera, the Gators tied the game at 3-3 when Deacon Liput singled to bring home Reed.
 
Florida struck early with some offense in the bottom of the first. Jonathan India got things started with a one-out double down the left-field line and JJ Schwarz immediately followed with a double to score India from second. Reed got in on the act with his sixth triple of the year to bring home Schwarz and give the Gators a 2-0 lead.
 
After the first inning, both pitchers took control of the game and put a lot of zero's on the board through seven innings. In the eighth, LSU finally broke through. After a one-out double from Antoine Duplantis, Jake Fraley singled up the middle and LSU plated one run on a throwing error that allowed Fraley to get to third.
 
Florida went to the bullpen to try and escape the jam with Shaun Anderson, who induced a grounder from LSU's Kramer Robertson. Shortstop Dalton Guthrie fielded the ball and threw home to get Fraley, but the umpire called the runner safe.

Robertson advanced to third after a stolen base and wild pitch, then came home on Bryce Jordan's single to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

After the Gators tied the game in the ninth, neither team threatened again until the bottom of the 11th. Schwarz drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by pinch runner Blake Reese. After a pickoff attempt got away from the first baseman Reese took second. Reed drew a walk to put a pair of runners on for Mike Rivera. 

Rivera laid a bunt down that was fielded by the pitcher, who made a throw to third that didn't make it in time. With the bases loaded, Deacon Liput stepped to the plate and lined a ball to third baseman Chris Reid who doubled up the runner to end the threat.

Dane Dunning came out of the pen for Florida and pitched 4.1 stong innings but was credited with the loss after allowing an unearned run in the top of the 14th.

Up Next

Florida will face Alabama on Thursday at in an elimination game. The game is scheduled to start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Texas A&M-South Carolina game (10:30 a.m. ET). Jeff Cardozo and Mick Hubert will have the call on the Gator IMG Sports Network for all SEC Tournament games.

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