Gator Lefty Blanks Bulldogs Again To End MSU's Stay In The SEC Tourney
HOOVER, Ala. -- Florida senior left-hander Keith Ramsey pitched his second complete-game shutout against the Bulldogs in three weeks Thursday as the No. 11 Gators (42-16) posted a 5-0 elimination round win over Mississippi State (34-24-1) in the SEC Tournament. Florida advances to play SEC West champ Alabama Saturday while the Bulldogs now await Monday's announcement of the 64-team NCAA Tournament field.
Ramsey (8-3) struck out seven, quieted the Bulldogs on six hits and successfully worked around several MSU scoring threats to earn the win.
The Gators scored an unearned run in the second inning when Ryan Shealy reached on an infield single to third base, advanced to second on Ben Harrison's misplayed grounder at shortstop, and scored on a two-out single to right field by Aaron Sobieraj.
It was the only run allowed in the first seven innings by MSU starter Chris Young (5-2). In the eighth, Young hit the first batter in the inning and loaded the bases with back-to-back singles. Relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon retired the first batter he faced on a pop fly in the infield, but Ryan Shealy followed with a first-pitch single to left that plated two runs. Harrison delivered a two-out single up the middle to plate the third Gator run in the inning.
Papelbon retired the first two batters he faced in the ninth on fly ball outs before giving up another run. Mark Kiger reached with his third hit of the game and scored from first base on Pat Osborn's single to center field.
The Bulldogs were unable to cash in on a pair of game-tying scoring opportunities after the Gators had taken a 1-0 lead. Steve Gendron legged out his 14th double to open the second and Jon Mungle extended his career-best hitting streak to 10 games with a triple off the top of the right-centerfield fence to open the sixth. But Ramsey retired the next three batters in order and worked around a pair of two-out Bulldog hits in the ninth to preserve the shutout. Robby Goodson ran his hitting streak to 11 games with a two-out single in the ninth and senior catcher Jason Burkley followed with his first hit of the game.
It was the second shutout against MSU by Ramsey, who tossed a complete-game one-hit shutout in a 4-0 Gator win May 5 at Dudy Noble Field.
Young, in only his fourth start of the year, gave up four runs, three of them earned, and struck out two.
Florida, the SEC's top-hitting club, totaled 11 hits, three each by Kiger and Shealy.
FLORIDA 5, MISSISSIPPI STATE 0UF 010 000 031 --- 5-11-0MSU 000 000 000 --- 0- 6-1WP -- Keith Ramsey (8-3). LP -- Chris Young (5-2).T -- 2:35. ATT -- TBA.