GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Designated hitter Bryson Barber homered and drove in four runs Saturday to lead Florida to a 10-5 victory over LSU at McKethan Stadium in the teams’ final regular-season game of the year.
Despite the loss, LSU (34-22 overall, 13-17 SEC) still qualifies for the SEC Tournament as the No. 8 seed by virtue of Mississippi State’s 13-11 loss to Ole Miss Saturday in Starkville, Miss. The Tigers finished one-half game ahead of Mississippi State (12-17) for the final spot in the tournament.
The Tigers earned a berth in the SEC Tournament for the 22nd consecutive season, as LSU has participated in every league tournament dating back to 1985. The Tigers were in last place in the conference with a 6-12 mark four weeks ago, but LSU won seven of its final 12 SEC games to reach the postseason event.
“We’re disappointed that we didn’t win this series, but we’re glad to have the opportunity to play in the SEC Tournament and extend our season,” said LSU coach Smoke Laval. “It’s a new season now, so we go back to work and get ready for our game on Wednesday.”
LSU will play the No. 1 seed ? either Kentucky or Alabama ? at 5 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala. If Alabama wins its game Saturday night at Tennessee, the Tigers will play Alabama Wednesday; if Alabama loses to Tennessee, LSU will face Kentucky in its first tournament game.
Florida (28-28 overall, 10-20 SEC) did not qualify for the tournament, but the Gators did post their second SEC series victory of the year with Saturday’s win.
LSU grabbed a 1-0 in the third inning when Will Harris doubled and later scored from third base on a wild pitch by Florida starter J.K. LaCoste. However, the Gators responded with two runs in the bottom of the third against LSU starter Louis Coleman, as shortstop Adam Davis and catcher Brian Jeroloman delivered RBI singles.
The Gators increased their lead to 4-1 in the fifth on a pair of run-scoring doubles against Coleman by Jeroloman and by third baseman David Cash.
LSU cut the deficit to 4-2 in the sixth when Steven Waguespack launched a solo homer, but the Gators added three runs in the bottom of the frame as center fielder Chris Woods lifted a sacrifice fly and Barber lined a two-out, two-RBI single, giving UF a 7-2 lead.
Coleman (5-5) left the game in the sixth inning, as he allowed five runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings with two walks and one strikeout.
The Tigers scored a run in the seventh on shortstop Michael Hollander‘s RBI single, but the Gators answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning against reliever Chase Dardar. Hollander misplayed Woods’ two-out grounder, allowing left fielder Gavin Dickey to score.
LSU narrowed the gap to 8-5 in the eighth when Harris ripped a two-RBI double, but Barber unloaded his first homer of the season in the bottom of the frame off of reliever Darryl Shaffer. The homer followed a single by first baseman Matt LaPorta and gave the Gators a 10-5 advantage.
Florida closer Darren O’Day retired the Tigers in order in the ninth to end the game.
Right-hander Chas Spottswood (2-3), the second of five Florida pitchers, was credited with the win as he pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with three walks and no strikeouts.
Florida 10, LSU 5 (May 20, 2006 at Gainesville, Fla.)
———————————————————————-
LSU…………….. 001 001 120 – 5 10 1 (34-22, 13-17 SEC)
Florida…………. 002 023 12X – 10 13 0 (28-28, 10-20 SEC)
———————————————————————-
Pitchers: LSU – Coleman; Dardar(6); Shaffer(8). Florida – LaCoste; Spottswood(4); Edmondson(5); Hurst(8); O’Day(9).
Win-Spottswood(2-3) Loss-Coleman(5-5) T-2:50 A-3190
HR LSU – Waguespack (3).
HR UF – Barber (1).
Edmondson faced 1 batter in the 8th.