University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Florida
Vols Salvage Series With 6-5 Win
April 14, 2002 | Baseball
April 14, 2002
Knoxville, Tenn. -- Trailing 3-2 after four innings, the Tennessee Volunteers plated four runs in the fifth and held off a late rally by the No. 11 Florida Gators to salvage the final game of the series, 6-5, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Tennessee (18-20, 5-10 SEC) plated the four runs while sending nine men to the plate in the decisive frame. The Vols got two clutch hits, a double by Nick Crowe and single by Matt Sternberg, sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt and a fielders choice in taking a 6-3 lead.
Florida (26-12, 8-7 SEC) pulled within 6-4 in the seventh as Ryan Shealy scored for the second time on the afternoon on a double by David Klebonis.
The Gators mounted their rally in the ninth as Jake Riordan and Aaron Sobieraj singled to lead off the inning. Following a fielders choice that erased Sobieraj, Shealy doubled home Riordan to cut the lead to 6-5.
With one out, Klebonis was intentionally walked to load the bases. Joey Andrews then struck out Pat Osborn before being replaced by Jeffery Terrell who retired pinch hitter Joe Mercadante on one pitch for his fourth save.
Dusty Johnson (2-0) picked up the victory, working five innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits with four strikeouts. Keith Ramsey (4-2) suffered the defeat as he allowed all six runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Relievers Tommy Boss and Mike Pete kept Florida in the game by combining for 3 2/3 shutout innings, giving up three hits.
Hal Bibee collected three of the Vols' 10 hits. Klebonis also had three hits, including a home run, to pace the Gators who pounded out 15.
A Tennessee error led to a Florida run in the first as Osborn singled home Shealy as one of three Gator hits in the inning. The Gators added two more on solo home runs by Klebonis in the third and Brian Rose in the fourth. Rose's gave Florida a 3-2 lead.
The Vols opened their scoring in the second with three straight hits, plating two runs on a single by Sternberg and a sacrifice fly by Chad LeGate for a 2-1 lead.
Tennessee closes out its eight-game home stand against East Tennessee State on Wednesday, Apr. 17 at 7 p.m. ET.
