Gators Win SEC Tournament Opener
5-4 over Auburn
Thursday, May 25, 2017 | Baseball
Michael Byrne sets a school record with his 14th save of the season
HOOVER, Ala.—Florida took a one-run lead in the eighth inning and sophomore Michael Byrne pitched a scoreless ninth to set a school record with 14 saves this season as the Gators beat Auburn 5-4 at the 2017 SEC Tournament in Hoover.
With the win, Florida advances in the winner's bracket and will play Friday at 12 p.m. ET against the winner of Thursday's game between Arkansas and Mississippi State.
Florida (41-15) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after four innings but Auburn (35-23) scored four runs in the seventh inning to tie the game.
Christian Hicks drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring home the winning run.
Starter Alex Faedo bounced back after a rough outing last week and allowed one run through six innings with seven strikeouts. He now has 305 career strikeouts, tied for the third-most in school history with John Burke (1990-92).
The Gators got on the board first in the bottom of the third. Catcher Mike Rivera, playing for the first time since April 11 due to a hand injury, reached on a dropped popup in shallow right.
Deacon Liput gave Florida a 1-0 lead with a RBI single to center.
Florida put together a two-out rally in the fourth inning to put three more runs on the board. JJ Schwarz doubled down the right field line and Jonathan India stroked a two-out single to center to bring him home.
Christian Hicks' RBI double scored Hicks and Mark Kolozsvary singled to make it 4-0 after four innings.
Faedo worked six scoreless innings before running into trouble in the seventh. Auburn led off with a single and walk and Florida went to the bullpen and called on Frank Rubio.
Rubio got the ground ball that UF was looking for but the Gators could not quite turn the double play and left-hander Nick Horvath replaced Rubio with runners on the corners and one out.
A chopper to third by Jonah Todd got Auburn on the board and an errant through from Jonathan India kept the Tigers' rally going. Horvath allowed a two-out walk and Conor Davis lined a double to the wall in right field to bring home a pair of runs.
After another pitching change, Auburn tied the game on a wild pitch from Tyler Dyson, who then ended the threat with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Gators loaded the bases with one out after a pair of singles from Schwarz and India and a walk to Horvath. Hicks' walk provided the winning run.
Michael Byrne took the mound in the ninth and earned the save with a scoreless inning for the record-breaking save.
POSTGAME QUOTES
FLORIDA COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
Opening Statement …
"Michael Burn, what a great story. He broke the school record tonight with his 14th save and we had no idea he was going to be our closer until about a month into the season so congratulations to him. I thought we had some really good at-bats in the third and fourth inning, especially with two outs. It was one of those nights that we scored just enough. Jonah Todd is a tough out. Those two guys at the top of their lineup, Todd and (Daniel) Robert, are really, really good hitters, and I knew we had to get through those two guys to win the ball game. I'm glad that we get to have a day off tomorrow, and that we are assured two more games in this tournament."
On Alex Faedo …
"I thought he was good tonight. His fastball was about 92-94. He located his pitches for the most part and threw some really quality changeups. Auburn's hitters did a nice job of laying off of a few of them because out of the hand they looked like fastballs, and I thought he might get some swings and misses on some of those. His changeup is a pitch that is much improved for him and his slider was really good. He fastball was good too."
ALEX FAEDO, PITCHER
On tonight's performance …
"It was a good game. Auburn has a good team, and they hit me pretty well early in the season. I wanted to go out and put our team in a better place to win the game. I was happy we won. It wasn't good that we gave up the lead but it was good that we had to fight back and that it wasn't just given to us. That is what our team is all about, finding ways to win."
With the win, Florida advances in the winner's bracket and will play Friday at 12 p.m. ET against the winner of Thursday's game between Arkansas and Mississippi State.
Florida (41-15) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after four innings but Auburn (35-23) scored four runs in the seventh inning to tie the game.
Christian Hicks drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring home the winning run.
Starter Alex Faedo bounced back after a rough outing last week and allowed one run through six innings with seven strikeouts. He now has 305 career strikeouts, tied for the third-most in school history with John Burke (1990-92).
The Gators got on the board first in the bottom of the third. Catcher Mike Rivera, playing for the first time since April 11 due to a hand injury, reached on a dropped popup in shallow right.
Deacon Liput gave Florida a 1-0 lead with a RBI single to center.
Florida put together a two-out rally in the fourth inning to put three more runs on the board. JJ Schwarz doubled down the right field line and Jonathan India stroked a two-out single to center to bring him home.
Christian Hicks' RBI double scored Hicks and Mark Kolozsvary singled to make it 4-0 after four innings.
Faedo worked six scoreless innings before running into trouble in the seventh. Auburn led off with a single and walk and Florida went to the bullpen and called on Frank Rubio.
Rubio got the ground ball that UF was looking for but the Gators could not quite turn the double play and left-hander Nick Horvath replaced Rubio with runners on the corners and one out.
A chopper to third by Jonah Todd got Auburn on the board and an errant through from Jonathan India kept the Tigers' rally going. Horvath allowed a two-out walk and Conor Davis lined a double to the wall in right field to bring home a pair of runs.
After another pitching change, Auburn tied the game on a wild pitch from Tyler Dyson, who then ended the threat with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Gators loaded the bases with one out after a pair of singles from Schwarz and India and a walk to Horvath. Hicks' walk provided the winning run.
Michael Byrne took the mound in the ninth and earned the save with a scoreless inning for the record-breaking save.
POSTGAME QUOTES
FLORIDA COACH KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
Opening Statement …
"Michael Burn, what a great story. He broke the school record tonight with his 14th save and we had no idea he was going to be our closer until about a month into the season so congratulations to him. I thought we had some really good at-bats in the third and fourth inning, especially with two outs. It was one of those nights that we scored just enough. Jonah Todd is a tough out. Those two guys at the top of their lineup, Todd and (Daniel) Robert, are really, really good hitters, and I knew we had to get through those two guys to win the ball game. I'm glad that we get to have a day off tomorrow, and that we are assured two more games in this tournament."
On Alex Faedo …
"I thought he was good tonight. His fastball was about 92-94. He located his pitches for the most part and threw some really quality changeups. Auburn's hitters did a nice job of laying off of a few of them because out of the hand they looked like fastballs, and I thought he might get some swings and misses on some of those. His changeup is a pitch that is much improved for him and his slider was really good. He fastball was good too."
ALEX FAEDO, PITCHER
On tonight's performance …
"It was a good game. Auburn has a good team, and they hit me pretty well early in the season. I wanted to go out and put our team in a better place to win the game. I was happy we won. It wasn't good that we gave up the lead but it was good that we had to fight back and that it wasn't just given to us. That is what our team is all about, finding ways to win."
Players Mentioned
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