A furious eighth inning rally wasn’t enough as the University of Florida baseball team (43-21) couldn’t overcome five costly errors as the Gators fell 8-7 to host Miami in game one of Super Regional action Saturday. Florida led 4-2 but Miami scored six unanswered runs that were all unearned against Florida starting pitcher Justin Hoyman.

Game two will take place at Mark Light Stadium at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday. Florida will send RHP Connor Falkenbach (10-6) to the mound to face Miami RHP Cesar Carrillo (10-0).

The Gators rallied with three runs in the eighth but left the tying run stranded at second in the defeat. UF would not threaten in the ninth as the Gators would be retired in order against Hurricane closer Danny Gil who struck out three in one and a third innings of work. The save for Gil was his fifth of the season.

Hoyman would take the loss to fall to 11-2 on the season as the recently drafted junior gave up 10 hits and eight runs (two earned) with a walk and three strikeouts in seven innings of work. Ricky Orta would pick up the win in relief of Miami starter J.D. Cockroft who would last 5 and 1/3 innings in getting the no decision. Orta would get just two outs but ran his record to 2-0 on the season.

Miami scored three runs in the deciding seventh inning as a pair of throwing error on bunts led to the big Miami inning. After a single by Jon Jay, Hoyman fielded a sac bunt attempt but the ball slipped out of his hand allowing Adam Ricks to be safe at first. On a second straight pitch to Ryan Braun, Hoyman would field a second bunt and throw the ball over Jonathan Tucker’s head at third allowing the first run of the inning to score. A sacrifice fly by Brian Barton and fielder’s choice groundout would plate the final two runs as the damage was done and Miami clung to the 8-4 advantage.

Florida would storm back in the top of the eighth as a leadoff double from Brian Leclerc was followed by Florida’s third home run of the contest. Justin Tordi would do the damage as he lined his fourth round tripper of the season off the scoreboard in left field. With the bases clear, Jonathan Tucker would restart the rally with his single to left center. After Tucker moved ahead on a bunt, C.J. Smith would provide a double to the right center gap scoring Tucker and putting Florida within a run. Miami would bring on Gil at that point in the game as the closer got a strikeout to end the inning.

Florida fell behind early as the first Miami batter of the contest in Jon Jay hit a solo shot to left field on a low and away pitch from Hoyman.

Florida would threaten against Cockroft in the second but came away empty. The Gators would take the lead in the following inning as the top of the Florida order came through.

Jeff Corsaletti led off the second with a single, which was followed by a double from Matt LaPorta. Florida would not cross the plate as Cockroft benefited from a pickoff and then got a strikeout and groundout to end the inning.

After the first out of the third Tucker ripped a double down the left field line. He immediately came home as Adam Davis tied the score with his single to left center. After a walk, Ben Harrison put Florida ahead with his single to left field. Florida would load the bases with one out as Corsaletti was hit by pitch but a ground ball double play ended the inning.

Miami would tie the contest at two in the bottom of the inning as a pair of singles put two runners aboard. Ricks would then lift a fly ball sacrifice to center that plated Roger Tomas with the tying run.

A pair of solo home runs then put Florida ahead by two runs at 4-2 after four and a half inning. Two Gator freshmen hit the long balls for the two run cushion. Leclerc hit the solo shot to left center in the third and LaPorta pulled a home run down the left field line in the fifth.

The Hurricanes would then score six runs in the fifth through the seventh innings. All six runs in those innings were unearned against Hoyman as Florida had five errors in those three frames.

Miami tied the score in the bottom of the fifth with two runs and then took the 5-4 lead in the sixth. In the fifth Ricks hit an RBI single that scored Richard Giannotti who had reached on a fielding error. Tomas later came home to tie the score after he singled on a sacrifice fly from Braun.

Tucker would finish 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored to lead the Florida attack. All nine Gator starters in the batting order had base hits, as UF would finish with 15 hits.

Jay and Tomas had three hits and score twice each for Miami who had 11 hits in the contest.

• The leadoff home run for Jon Jay was his fifth home run of the season which all have gone to opposite field … It was the first long ball allowed by Hoyman in his last three starts and 26 and 2/3 innings.
• Adam Davis made a fielding error at second base in the fifth inning for the Gators … It was the first error for the second baseman in the last 22 games and 111 chances.
• With his single in the third Ben Harrison ran his hit streak to 15 games which is the longest by a Florida player this season and ties for the longest in the past two seasons … It is also tied for the sixth longest by a SEC player this season.
• Florida turned two double plays in the contest to up their season total to 74, which tied the school record of 74 also accomplished in 2001.
• Florida had seven extra base hits (four doubles, three home runs) in the contest which is the second most all season … It was the fourth time this season that the Gators had three or more home runs this season.
• The Gators played their 36^th game this season decided by three runs or less … Florida fell to 13-7 in one run contests while Miami improved to 7-3 in one run games.
• Hoyman made his 19^th start of the season, which is tied for the fourth most ever in a single season in school history … His 139 and 2/3 innings pitched in 2004 is the third most innings in a season.
• Florida had 15 or more hits in a game for the 10^th time this season and 10 or more for the 43^rd time in 2004 … The 43 games with 10 hits are tied for the fourth most in a season in school history.
• Florida was playing its first ever game in Super Regional competition … The Gator lineup included four freshmen starters.
• Adam Davis had his team leading 22^nd stolen base of the season … It is the most stolen bases for a Florida freshman in school history.
• The Matt LaPorta home run was his 14^th of the year which is tied for the second most on the team … LaPorta has hit his 14 long balls in 127 at bats (HR/9.1 at bats).
• The four hit game for Tucker was his third four hit game of the season and the fourth of his career … It was the 10^th time this season that a Florida player had four hits in a game.

-UF-