Thursday March 9, 2000Baseball Defeats Louisville on 10th Inning HR
Gainesville, FL
Baseball Headline
Freshman Aaron Sobieraj hit a home run in his first collegiate at-bat in
the bottom of the 10th inning to give Florida a 13-12 victory over
Louisville in the finale of a two-game series at McKethan Stadium. Florida
(11-9) blew a six-run lead in the ninth inning before claiming the extra
inning victory over Louisville (3-12), splitting the series.
Sobieraj (1-1) also picked up the win with his game-winning home run, pitching two scoreless innings. Sobieraj, a freshman from Clearwater, Fla., entered the game in the ninth inning with runners on first and second with UF leading 12-10.
After a fielder’s choice advanced the runners into scoring position, Sobieraj hit left fielder David Williams to load the bases. Scott Kohler then walked to pull the Cardinals within a run before Curtis Sapp struck out for the second out in the inning. Louisville tied the game on an infield hit by Troy Hilpp on a grounder up the middle that was fielded by UF shortstop Pat Osborn. The relay to second base was late as the tying run scored. Sobieraj then struck out Bill Gatti, Jr. who had hit a three- run home run earlier in the inning to help the comeback effort, to end the inning.
Florida failed to score in the bottom of the ninth inning, stranding two runners. But, Sobieraj pitched a perfect 10th inning to set the stage for his game-winning home run over the right field wall.
Louisville jumped out to a 6-0 lead on starter Stuart McFarland. Florida then responded with 12 unanswered runs, scoring at least one run in the second through sixth innings to build a 12-6 advantage.
Sobieraj (1-1) also picked up the win with his game-winning home run, pitching two scoreless innings. Sobieraj, a freshman from Clearwater, Fla., entered the game in the ninth inning with runners on first and second with UF leading 12-10.
After a fielder’s choice advanced the runners into scoring position, Sobieraj hit left fielder David Williams to load the bases. Scott Kohler then walked to pull the Cardinals within a run before Curtis Sapp struck out for the second out in the inning. Louisville tied the game on an infield hit by Troy Hilpp on a grounder up the middle that was fielded by UF shortstop Pat Osborn. The relay to second base was late as the tying run scored. Sobieraj then struck out Bill Gatti, Jr. who had hit a three- run home run earlier in the inning to help the comeback effort, to end the inning.
Florida failed to score in the bottom of the ninth inning, stranding two runners. But, Sobieraj pitched a perfect 10th inning to set the stage for his game-winning home run over the right field wall.
Louisville jumped out to a 6-0 lead on starter Stuart McFarland. Florida then responded with 12 unanswered runs, scoring at least one run in the second through sixth innings to build a 12-6 advantage.
