GAINESVILLE, FLA. – Fourth-ranked Florida rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth without the benefit of a hit as two Georgia  errors proved costly in a 4-3 loss Friday at McKethan Stadium.

The Gators improved to 35-12 (18-7 SEC) while Georgia dropped to 14-34 (3-20 SEC including 0-7 in one-run SEC games). It spoiled another fine outing from junior Justin Grimm who provided seven strong innings for the Bulldogs and was in line for a victory.

Florida took a 1-0 lead in the first on a two-out, run-scoring single from designated hitter Brian Johnson. It scored Matt den Decker who reached on an infield hit and collected two stolen bases in the frame. In the second, left fielder Tyler Thompson reached on a one-out single, stole second and second on a base hit by catcher Mike Zunino.

Georgia responded in the top of the fourth with a three-run outburst to take a 3-2 lead off Gator left-hander Alex Panteliodis.
Freshman Todd Hankins led off with an infield single to extend his hitting streak to eight games.

Sophomore Levi Hyams lined a double down the left field line. A passed ball on Zunino scored Hankins and Hyams advanced to third. Sophomore Zach Cone had a nine-pitch at bat that resulted in a walk. Freshman Kyle Farmed tied the game with an RBI-single as Cone raced to third. He scored the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice by designated hitter Brett DeLoach.

Grimm had one of the finest outings of the season, going seven innings and allowing just two runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. After giving up a couple early runs, Grimm blanked the Gators over his final five innings of work to maintain Georgia’s one-run advantage. In his last two SEC starts, Grimm has 17 strikeouts and only two walks.

In the eighth, Georgia looked to senior left-hander Justin Earls. He pitched a perfect inning against the heart of the Gator order, retiring den Decker, Preston Tucker and Austin Maddox.

In the ninth, freshman Cooper Moseley came on with a 3-2 lead. Johnson led off with a slow roller to third that Hankins fielded and fired high to Kevin Ruiz at first for an error. Daniel Pigott followed with a sacrifice bunt that catcher Carson Schilling fielded and threw to second to try and get pinch-runner Jerico Wetzel. He was ruled safe. Josh Adams stepped up and put down a bunt that Moseley fielded in front of the mound and his throw was high and wide to Ruiz. Wetzel scored on the play, Pigott went to third and Adams advanced to second.

After an intentional walk to Thompson to load the bases, Zunino delivered a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Pigott for a 4-3 Gator victory.
Gator reliever Greg Larson (3-1) notched the win with four scorless innings of relief while Moseley dropped to 0-4.

“We put them in position to tie it and win it when they didn’t need a hit, and they did,” said Georgia coach David Perno. “We played well for eight innings but still can’t get any satisfaction out of it because of the way things turned out. Justin Grimm was great tonight and Justin Earls came in and did a nice job and Cooper was throwing strikes, we just didn’t make any plays in the ninth.”

The series continues Saturday at 1:06 p.m. with CSS televising the contest. Georgia will start senior right-hander Jeff Walters (1-6, 9.27 ERA) while the Gators counter with freshman right-hander Hudson Randall (6-3, 2.94 ERA).