GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Nolan Fontana’s bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Florida a 5-4 victory over rival Miami in the Gainesville Regional on Saturday.
Fontana lined Daniel Miranda’s 1-1 pitch into left field, scoring Daniel Pigott from third and putting the Gators (47-16) in command in the double-elimination regional.
Miami (37-22), which has lost seven straight against Florida, will play Jacksonville in an elimination game Sunday. The Hurricanes can only hope for better defense in that one. The Canes committed four errors — all of them leading to runs for Florida.
Miami committed nine errors in two games in a super regional in Gainesville last year.
The last one Saturday was the most costly. Pigott reached when Stephen Perez booted a grounder. Pigott moved to second on a balk and to third on a walk, setting up Fontana’s winner.
