GAINESVILLE, Fla. —Brandon McArthur’s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth capped off a four-run comeback as Florida upended Vanderbilt 8-6 Thursday night at McKethan Stadium.
The Commodores went into the inning with a 6-4 lead when Bryson Barber hit a two-out two-run pinch-hit homer to tie the game at 6-6. Clayton Pisani walked with one out and after a fly-out Barber hit a line drive homer that hit the foul pole in right to tie the game. Avery Barnes singled to left and McArthur then belted a homer to left-center to give the Gators an 8-6 lead.
Florida improved to 32-20 overall and a half game behind Vanderbilt in the Eastern Division with a 15-13 mark. in the Southeastern Conference. VU dropped its third straight game to fall to 37-16 and 15-12 in conference action. With South Carolina’s loss to Tennessee tonight, the Commodores clinched a spot in the SEC tourney next week in Hoover.
“We just didn’t close down the inning and the difference in the game is home runs,” said Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin. “We got two outs and when you play with fire you are going to pay once in a while. Those were two good at-bats by Barber and McArthur.
Russell Brewer (4-2) came on in the eighth and was charged with the loss after giving up four runs on three hits in an inning of work.
Josh Edmonson picked up the win with 1.2 innings of two-hit scoreless relief to move to 4-3 on the season.
Dominic de la Osa and Shea Robin led the Dores with two hits each, while Barnes led the Gators with four hits and two runs scored.
Florida got on the board in the first when Avery Barnes singled and scored on a triple by Brandon McArthur. Josh Adams brought McArthur home with a RBI single to left to make it 2-0.
Barnes’ two-out RBI double in the second pushed the lead to 3-0. Buddy Munroe doubled to centerfield with two out and scored on Barnes double down the rightfield line.
VU plated three runs in the fifth to tie the game up at 3-3. Andrew Giobbi doubled to lead off the inning and then scored on a fielding error by Florida first baseman Brandon McArthur on a hot-shot grounder by Steven Liddle. Alex Feinberg followed with a single and he and Liddle both advanced on Brad French’s sacrifice bunt. David Macias grounded out to second to bring in Liddle and Dominic de la Osa brought in Feinberg to tie the game on an infield single to short.
Cole Figueroa’s solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the fifth put the Gators back on top 4-3.
Shea Robin’s solo homer in the sixth, his fourth of the year, tied the game back up at 4-4.
Mike Minor gave up four runs on 10 hits in six innings of work in the no decision. He struck out four and walked one.
Pedro Alvarez’ RBI double in the eighth gave the Commodores a 5-4 lead. Dominic de la Osa walked to lead off the inning and scored on Alvarez hit to left-center. Ryan Flaherty bunted him Alvarez to third and he scored on a RBI groundout by Shea Robin to extend the lead to 6-4.
Bryson Barber’s two-out two-run pinch hit homer in the eighth tied the game at 6-6. Clayton Pisani walked with one out and after a fly-out Barber hit a line drive homer that hit the foul pole in right to tie the game.
“Florida is a good ballclub and it is one of those things where it isn’t over until the last pitch,” said Pedro Alvarez.
The Commodores and Gators will play the second game of the three game set tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m. CT. Right-hander Caleb Cotham (7-3, 3.28 ERA) will take the hill for VU, while UF will counter with southpaw Stephen Locke (4-2, 2.99 ERA).
Vanderbilt 000 031 020 – 6 9 1
Florida 210 010 040 – 8 13 2
Minor, Hayes (7), Goodenow (7), Brewer (8) and Robin. Bullock, Davis (8), Edmondson (8) and Munroe. W- Edmondson 4-3, L- Brewer 4-2 Sv- None. HR: VU: Robin (4) UF: Figueroa (8), McArthur (2), Barber (5)
