Pinch-runner Blake Reese races home with the winning run Saturday night. (Photo: Matt Stamey/UAA Communications)
12 Innings, 2 Errors, 1 Huge Win for Gators
Sunday, June 4, 2017 | Baseball, Scott Carter
The UF baseball team survived a marathon against USF to advance to the Gainesville Regional final.
Late Saturday night at McKethan Stadium, even the hot dog vendors looked sleepy as the Gainesville Regional game between Florida and South Florida carried on into the 12th inning.
It had already been a long evening at the ballpark for everyone as a 38-minute weather delay in the third inning previewed what was to come in a 4-hour, 58-marathon in UF's second game of the NCAA Tournament. Once play resumed Florida scored a run in the fourth on Mike Rivera's two-out RBI single. USF broke through in the fifth off Gators ace Alex Faedo when Duke Stunkel – great baseball name, by the way – singled in a run to tie the game.
That was all the scoring until the signature moment seven innings later, which was set up by an infield single by designated hitter Christian Hicks to lead off the 12th. When Hicks beat out a slow roller to shortstop, that's when O'Sullivan made his move.
The USF bullpen had been terrific and sophomore lefty Andrew Perez was mowing down Gators. Perez pitched three hitless innings until Hicks' broke the spell. With the potential go-ahead run at first, O'Sullivan called on pinch-runner Blake Reese to replace Hicks.
In O'Sullivan's mind, Reese's speed could be the difference if the Gators could hit a ball in the gap or advance Reese into scoring position with a sacrifice and perhaps win on a single to the outfield.
"We really had no choice,'' O'Sullivan said. "We weren't really swinging the bats well against their relievers."
The first attempt to advance Reese into scoring position backfired when Deacon Liput failed to sacrifice him to second, striking out by fouling off a two-strike bunt attempt.
Those who remained among the announced crowd of 2,954 groaned into the night. Still hanging out at first base, Reese looked toward third base coach Craig Bell for the sign as Nick Horvath, UF's No. 9 hitter, stepped into the box against Perez.
The Gators lost a coin flip on Friday night, which made them the visiting team against the Bulls. They knew that whatever happened, USF had another at-bat.
That's when the Gators got a gift from the baseball gods, one that makes the Road to Omaha one of ecstasy or agony depending on your allegiances.
As Reese edged off the base, Perez fired a pick-off attempt that surprised Reese and more importantly, USF first baseman Joe Genord.
"I wasn't that far from the bag,'' Reese said. "I don't know if the first baseman expected the throw or what. I was only a couple of steps off the bag."
As Genord went racing for the ball Reese headed for second and then third. Meanwhile, Genord made an ill-advised throw to third after he reached the ball. The throw sailed high over third baseman David Villard's head, allowing Reese to race home for a 2-1 Gators lead.
"It's funny, for whatever reason before that inning, I decided I was going to take a jog down to the cages and back,'' Reese said. "In games like that, there's always going to be some moving pieces and guys are going to have to get in and try to help out. That's just my role right now."
The throwing errors by Perez and Genord opened the flood gates as the Gators added three more runs in the inning. Closer Michael Byrne, in the longest outing of his career as a reliever, finished off a spectacular outing with a scoreless 12th in Florida's 5-1 win.
The Gators advanced to the regional final and can clinch a Super Regional berth on Sunday night with a victory against the winner of USF and Bethune-Cookman in Sunday's early game.
Byrne, who earned his 15th save with a 2 2/3-inning outing in Friday's win over Marist, got the victory Saturday by pitching five scoreless innings and eight strikeouts.
"I wanted to finish that game,'' said Byrne, who threw 82 pitches. "I was hoping I would get the last couple of outs. I was not expecting to go just one or two [innings]. I was expecting to go the whole way."
Byrne has been so good this season that afterward, Reese and Faedo both called him the team's MVP.
"He's got us all beat,'' said Faedo, who struck out 10 and allowed just one run in seven innings.
Whatever happens the rest of the way for the Gators on the Road to Omaha, Saturday night's game is one they won't forget.
Certainly, Reese has a good story to tell about his contribution.
"I sat around for four hours,'' he said. "I came in to pinch-run. I ran. That's about it. I was seeing stars by the time I got home."
O"Sullivan went home to take a nap and get ready for chance to sweep a third consecutive Gainesville Regional. Sometimes you manage by the book and realize the game always has the final say.
"It was just a crazy game,'' he said. "This is what happens in postseason baseball. You've got to play clean baseball."
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