Javy Rodriguez finished 3-4 with three RBI and Tom Farmer threw 7.0 innings in leading Miami to a 6-2 victory against Florida Saturday in the NCAA Baseball Regionals at Mark Light Stadium.
With the loss, Florida plays again tonight at 7 p.m. against Stetson. The Florida-Stetson winner advances to play Miami Sunday at 1 p.m. in the championship round and will need to defeat Miami two times to advance to NCAA Super Regional play. Stetson eliminated Bucknell with a 7-0 decision in Saturday's second round game.
Miami went up 2-0 in the fifth inning when it loaded the bases on three walks to Kevin Brown, Mike DiRosa and Mike Rodriguez. Brown scored from third on a passed ball and DiRosa scored on Javy Rodriguez's ground ball to third base.
The Hurricanes took a 5-0 lead with three runs in the seventh inning when Mike DiRosa and Charlton Jimerson reached base on a single and walk respectively. Mike Rodriguez drove both runners home on a two-RBI single up the middle and Rodriguez scored on Javy Rodriguez's RBI single.
Down 5-0, Florida battled back in the eighth. Kevin Estrada led off the inning with a walk followed by Mark Kiger's single. Both moved to second and third on Matt Goss' lineout to the first baseman. Estrada scored from third base on a wild pitch and Jason Dill drove in Kiger on a single to rightfield.
The Hurricanes added an insurance run in the ninth on Javy Rodriguez's RBI single.
Javy Rodriguez finished 3-4 with three RBI. Miami starter Tom Farmer (13-2) earned the win after pitching 7.0 innings. He allowed eight hits, no runs and struck out five in his outing. Charlton Jimerson finished with a two-hit day.
Florida starter Alex Hart (3-4) took the loss. He gave up just one hit and struck out a season-high six batters in 4.1 innings pitched. He allowed only two runs (one earned) but walked a season-high six batters. Jay Belflower (2.0 IP), Eddie Rojas (2.1 IP) and Joey Simon (0.1 IP) each threw for Florida.
Florida outhit Miami 11-6 and stranded eight baserunners. The Gators were led by Peter Nystrom's 3-4 performance. Jason Dill went 2-4 with a RBI and Kevin Estrada added a 2-3 performance.
GAME NOTES
*Coupled with Friday's 4-5 performance, Jason Dill is hitting .667 (6-9) with three RBI in the two NCAA Regional games.
*Pitcher Alex Hart struck out a season-high six batters but walked a season-high six batters.
*Aaron Sobieraj has registered at least one hit in 11 of his last 12 games played.
*Matt Goss has at least one hit in 17 of the last 18 games.
*Florida has now finished with 10+ hits in 11 of its last 14 games.
*UF is now 12-10 in NCAA Regional games in Miami.
*Florida is making its 19th appearance in NCAA Regional play.
*The Gators are making their sixth appearance in NCAA Regional play in Miami (1981, 1982, 1985, 1994, 1997 and now 2001).
*Florida is now 42-31 all-time in NCAA Regional play.
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