Gators In The Olympics - Aug. 20
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 | General
Former Gator Matt LaPorta and the U.S. Baseball Team clinched the third seed for the medal rounds with a 4-2 triumph over Japan on Wednesday at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Baseball
The field is set for the medal rounds at the Summer Olympics, with the United States getting a rematch against Cuba on Friday and unbeaten Korea meeting Japan in the other semifinal.
That was determined by the Americans' 4-2 victory over Japan in 11 innings on Wednesday night at Wukesong Main Field. Capitalizing this time on the new extra-innings rule, the U.S. broke a scoreless tie in the top of the 11th on three consecutive singles, and then closer Casey Weathers escaped a bases-loaded jam after allowing Japan two runs.
Stephen Strasburg, the San Diego State junior who struck out 11 and allowed just one hit in seven scoreless innings against the Netherlands last Thursday, is scheduled to start against the international-baseball machine from Cuba at 6 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET). Korea and Japan will play the 10:30 a.m. game on Friday, and the losers of the semifinals will meet for the bronze at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday followed by the gold medal game between the winners at 6 that night.
After suffering a mild concussion in the win over China, former UF slugger Matt LaPorta took batting practice prior to the meeting with Japan and is expected to return to the lineup against Cuba.
2008 Gator Medal Count: 9 (2 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze)
| Gator | Country | Sport | Event | Time | Medal |
| Caroline Burckle | U.S. | Swimming | 800-meter free relay | 7:46.33 | Bronze |
| Kerron Clement | U.S. | Track & Field | 400-meter hurdles | 47.98 | Silver |
| Ryan Lochte | U.S. | Swimming | 200-meter back | 1:53.94 | Gold |
| Ryan Lochte | U.S. | Swimming | 800-meter free relay | 6:58.56 | Gold |
| Ryan Lochte | U.S. | Swimming | 200-meter IM | 1:56.53 | Bronze |
| Ryan Lochte | U.S. | Swimming | 400-meter IM | 4:08.09 | Bronze |
| Dara Torres | U.S. | Swimming | 400-meter medley relay | 3:53.30 | Silver |
| Dara Torres | U.S. | Swimming | 50-meter free | 24.07 | Silver |
| Dara Torres | U.S. | Swimming | 400-meter free relay | 3:34.33 | Silver |
-UF-
