No. 5/6 UF baseball falls to No. 6/3 FSU in Tampa

Taking part in the inaugural Florida Four collegiate baseball tournament at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL, No. 5/6 Florida Gators baseball (5-1) was looking for their first win of the season against the rival No. 6/3 Florida State Seminoles (7-0). Unfortunately for the Gators, a seven-run first inning by the Seminoles put them out of it early; Florida State would cruise to a 10-5 victory in the first of four regular-season games between the teams that will run into conference play (Mar. 16, Mar. 30, April 13).

Sophomore starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani (0-1) was shelled for five earned runs on three hits in the bottom of the first; he was removed before Florida even recorded an out. Freshman Hudson Randall replaced him, giving up two more earned runs. FSU did not leave a single player on base in the first, getting their final out after first baseman Jayce Boyd smacked a two-run home run.

The Gators got on board for the first time in the third inning as freshman catcher Mike Zunio smacked a solo homer to center field. UF would not score again until the top of the ninth, when they rallied for four runs off of relief pitcher Andrew Durden.

Geoff Parker (1-0) picked up the win for the Seminoles by only giving up six hits and one earned run in 5.1 innings.

Florida heads down to Coral Gables, FL, for a three-game series against the in-state rival No. 16/11 Miami Hurricanes beginning Fri., Mar. 5 at 7 p.m.