More colleges

SOUTH FLORIDA

Women's tennis

Women's Tennis Wins Battle Of I-4

Orlando - The University of South Florida women's tennis team snapped a three-match losing streak Wednesday afternoon, defeating the University of Central Florida Knights, 6-1, at the UCF Tennis Complex, in Orlando.

The Bulls (8-5) took two-of-three doubles matches from the Knights (4-5) to take an early 1-0 lead. The last time USF won the doubles point was on January 25 in a 4-2 victory against Winthrop.

Freshman Janette Bejlkova remained perfect on the season, defeating Elvira Serott at the stop position, 6-0, 6-3. The victory brings Bejikova's dual-match win-streak to six matches.

Sophomore Jessica Zok won her seventh match of the season, her third at the No. 2 position, by defeating Jenny Frisell, 5-2, 6-4

Also picking up victories for the Bulls were senior Liz Cruz and sophomores Allyn Mueller and Natalia Guevara.

The win brings USF's overall record against UCF to a commanding 12-3 all-time.

The Bulls will return to the USF Varsity Tennis Courts for the first time this season when they take on BIG EAST foe, Villanova on Wednesday, March 5 at 2 p.m. USF's match against Clemson on Sunday, Match 2 was canceled and will be rescheduled in the future.

FLORIDA

Baseball

Florida Doubles Up Eastern Michigan, 16-8

GAINESVILLE - Behind three RBI apiece from freshman Josh Adams (Jacksonville) and senior Bryson Barber (Pensacola) and a 3-for-5, four-run outing by junior Avery Barnes (High Springs), Florida (5-0) completed a doubleheader sweep of Eastern Michigan (0-6) on Wednesday night with a 16-8 victory at McKethan Stadium. The Gators handled the Eagles in this afternoon's opener, 15-2, and totaled 31 runs, 30 hits, 17 walks, 10 stolen bases and four homers during the twinbill. Junior J.K. LaCoste (Jacksonville) worked 2.1 innings out of the bullpen to earn his first victory since March 8, 2006, a 3-1 decision over UNC Greensboro.

"It was nice to swing the bats well today," head coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "I think that any time there are back-to-back games and a team can have a 9-1 lead after two innings both times, it should take a lot of pressure off the pitching staff. Obviously, jumping out to an early lead helps and I was pleased with how many different players contributed to the two wins."

Florida continued its offensive production by jumping on rookie starter Jordan Goldschmidt (0-1) for five hits and three runs in the first inning, featuring a bases-clearing double by Adams (1-for-3, two runs). Barnes walked to start things off and sophomore Clayton Pisani (Naples) was hit by a pitch before sophomore Cole Figueroa (Tallahassee) (2-for-3, three runs, two stolen bases) sliced an RBI single through the right side of the infield. Although Figueroa was picked off, senior Brandon McArthur (Seffner) (1-for-2, three runs) and freshman Matt den Dekker (Ft. Lauderdale) earned free passes to load the bases. Adams ripped his first career double into right to increase his team-leading RBI total to 10 and sophomore Jonathan Pigott (Ormond Beach) (2-for-3) later added a two-out single up the middle for a 5-0 count.

The Eagles filled the bags with one down in the second against freshman right-hander Travis Lawler (College Station, Texas) courtesy of two hit batters and a base-hit by junior Kyle Rhoad (4-for-6, three runs, three RBI). A walk to senior Steve Bradshaw put the visitors on the board before Lawler had sophomore Andrew Marshall fly out to right.

Florida roared back by sending nine men to the plate in the bottom of the frame and tallied four runs on five hits and an EMU error to take a 9-1 advantage. Barnes opened with a single, moved to second on balk, stole third and scored on a throwing error by freshman catcher Matt Skirving. Figueroa doubled to left, swiped third and came home on a two-bagger by McArthur. Following a four-pitch, two-out walk to Adams, Barber collected his second career triple to put the hosts up by eight runs.

Eastern Michigan answered with four runs on five hits in the third, highlighted by a three-run homer by Rhoad, to narrow the gap to 9-5 and chase Lawler. Back-to-back singles by Skirving and freshman Zack Leonard after a fielder's choice by Powell loaded the bases for the Eagles.

Sophomore Aaron Crooks had a sac fly to right and Rhoad cranked his second homer of the year to left field to reduce the visitors' deficit to four runs. An infield hit by junior Jim Gulliver ended the night for Lawler, who yielded eight hits and five runs over 2.2 innings, with three K and three hit batters.

Florida tacked on two unearned runs in the third when den Dekker's pop-up to second base was dropped and increased its lead to 12-5 when Barber led off the home part of the fourth with a solo blast to right center. Soon after, Barnes reached on a two-out single, stole second and came all the way around to score on a throwing error on the play by Skirving for a seven-run cushion. EMU took advantage of two Gator errors in the fifth for a 13-7 score before Figuerfrom freshman reliever Robert Hamly, who had taken over for Goldschmidt (0-1, 4.0 IP, 10 H, 13 R, 7 BB, 3 K).

Senior Jeff Davis (2-for-5) stroked an RBI single in the seventh off sophomore reliever Tony Davis (Cooper City) and Barnes connected on his first four-bagger of the season with Pigott aboard in the eighth to complete the scoring at 16-8. Eastern Michigan out-hit the Gators, 13-12, as Rhoad was 4-for-6 with three runs and three RBI out of the leadoff slot. Four different UF players turned in multiple-hit outings and four individuals drew at least two of the squad's season-high 12 walks.

The Gators will make their first road trip of the season when they travel to Coral Gables for a three-game series against eighth-ranked Miami (3-0). Sophomore RHP Kyle Mullaney (Jacksonville) will oppose Hurricane sophomore left-hander Eric Erickson in Friday's opener at 7 p.m.

Softball

The No. 5/7 Florida Softball team (19-1) suffered its first loss of the season, 2-1, losing a hard-fought 10-inning battle to Long Beach State (8-6).

The game was truly a pitcher's duel as Florida junior pitcher Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and Long Beach State's Brooke Turner were locked in a scoreless tie through four innings. Each pitcher struck out seven batters and each allowed only two hits in the opening four innings. Each guided her team into the 10th inning and each struck out a career-high 16 batters in the game. It was Turner (5-2), however, who would come out on top, handing Nelson (11-1) and the Gators their first loss of the season.

The Gator bats would end the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth. Senior Mary Ratliff (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) led off the inning just beating out the throw on an infield base hit. Freshman Ami Austin (Ormond Beach) came in to pinch run for Ratliff at first. Austin moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Tifffany DeFelice (Coral Springs).

With two outs and a 1-2 count, sophomore Corrie Brooks (Christmas) fought off three more pitches before knocking a base hit to center field, just out of the reach of the Long Beach centerfielder, to score Austin from second for the 1-0 Gator lead.

Long Beach State got runners on base in consecutive at bats for the first time in the game in the bottom of the sixth. Fransiska Morlet led off the inning with a base hit just inside the left field line. Jessica Beaver followed with another base hit just inside the right field line.

Nelson struck out Jonae Perez on three straight pitches to give the Gators the first out of the inning. Lacy Tyler drew a walk from Nelson to load the bases with only one out. Nelson took down Jennifer Griffin on strikes for the second out of the inning before walking Brooke LeSage, tying the game at 1-1. Nelson fanned Danielle Linke for the final out of the inning, sending the Gators into the final inning or regulation with a tie game.

The bottom half of the Gator lineup was due up in the top of the seventh. With one out, DeFelice drew a walk to represent Florida's potential go ahead run. The final two batters of the inning went down on strikes though, leaving the fate of the game up to Nelson and the Gator defense in the bottom of the inning.

With one out, the 49ers number eight hitter, Ashley Levine, drove a base hit through the right side. Nelson took Morlet out on strikes for the second out of the inning before walking Beaver, moving Levine into scoring position. Nelson took care of business though, tying her career high with 13 strikeouts as she fanned Perez for the fourth time in the game, sending the game into extra innings.

Waleszonia led off the inning, laying down a perfect bunt for her third hit of the day. The next three batters were sat down in order though, ending the inning.

The Florida defense retired the 49ers in order in the bottom of the eighth, including two strikeouts looking from Nelson.

The Gators were not able to get a runner on base in their half of the ninth. Linke led off the bottom of the inning with a walk from Nelson. She moved to second on a sacrifice by Weber and to third on a ground out to first by Levine. Nelson sent the game into the 10th as she fanned her 16th batter of the game.

Junior Danyell Hines (Bryan, Texas) started the 10th inning at second due to international tie breaker rules. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Megan Bush (Anaheim Hills, Calif.). Brooks hit a fly ball to center field, but it was not quite deep enough to score Hines. Turner intentionally walked Waleszonia, putting Gators at first and third. Freshman Kelsey Bruder (Corona, Calif.) struck out for the final out.

Long Beach's 10th began much the same way as the Gators'. Morlet started the game at second and moved to third on a Beaver sacrifice. Pinch hitter Bridgette Pagano popped up to Bush at short for the second out of the inning. It looked as if the Gators would liveTyler hit an infield ground ball deep to Paculba at second and she threw to Gardiner at first. However, first base umpire Les Carr said Gardiner's foot pulled from the bag, allowing Tyler to reach and Morlet to score the winning run. Florida head coach Tim Walton calmly argued the call, and the umpires conferenced to discuss the call, but held firm, giving Long Beach the 2-1 win.

Waleszonia propelled the Gator offense in the game with a 3-for-4 performance and a walk. Brooks had the lone Gator RBI.

Florida continues its trip West this weekend in the Worth Invitational in Fullerton, Calif. The Gators play Oregon State at Noon ET on Friday, followed by Pacific at 2:15 p.m. ET. All games w ill be broadcast live on GatorZone.com via Yahoo.com.

FLORIDA STATE

Men's Swimming and Diving

Florida State begins ACC Championships in third place

Atlanta, Ga.- Florida State men's swimming and diving began the defense of its 2007 ACC Title on Wednesday evening at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Ga. tied for third place after the first two events of the 2008 ACC Championhips. FSU is tied with North Carolina with 60 points six points behind second-place Georgia Tech.

The meet began with a bang for the Seminoles with a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay. The team of senior Ian Powell, freshman Matt Shead, sophomore Corey Swanson and junior Scott Baker touched the wall in a time of 1:27.62. FSU was in fifth place heading into the anchor leg, but Baker brought the Seminoles home swimming a 19.00 split to give the team second place.

In the 800 freestyle relay the team of freshman Robby Hayes, sophomore Dan Bradford, Powell and freshman Ian Rowe finished sixth in a time of 6:39.80.

The 2008 men's swimming and diving championships continue Thursday, February 28 as the Seminoles compete in the 500 free, 200 individual medley, 50 free and 200 free relay. You can watch Florida State defend its title live on www.accselect.com every evening beginning at 7:00 p.m. For meet results visit www.seminoles.com.

SAINT LEO

Women's basketball

SAINT LEO KNOCKS OFF ECKERD 80-73 IN OVERTIME

Saint Leo - Melissa Guerero (Jr., Trinidad & Tobago) scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for a double-double to lead the Saint Leo University women's basketball team (13-13, 6-9 SSC) to an 80-73 overtime win over Eckerd College (15-11, 5-10 SSC) in the final home game of the 2007-08 season on Wednesday night at the Bowman Center.

Guerero was 11-of-19 from the floor, leading three Saint Leo players in double figures. Lauren Lee (Fr., Clearwater) scored a career-high 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Nichole Tyler (Jr., Van Etten, N.Y.) scored 15 points.

The Lions overcame four Eckerd players in double figures, led by Olivia Nagle who scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in defeat for the Tritons. Javiera Novion also scored 21 points in the loss for the visitors.

Eckerd took an early lead in the game, but the Lions used a 14-3 run to open up an eight point lead with 8:48 left in the opening half. Saint Leo eventually stretched its lead to a game-high 13 points, which marked the half-time margin.

The Tritons came out of the locker room and put together a 14-2 run to close within one point. The Lions pushed their lead back to six with 12:42 left in the game, but Eckerd battled back to tie it at 56-56 with 4:46 remaining. The visitors took a 63-61 lead with 1:09 left in regulation, but Dominique Daniels (So., Columbus, Ohio) hit two free throws to tie the game at 63 and send it to overtime.

In the extra period, Eckerd's Samantha Infantino gave the Tritons a two-point lead with a lay-up, but it was the last lead of the night for the visitors. Saint Leo scored the next six points, and although the lead was trimmed to one the Lions held on for the victory going 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the closing stages.

Saint Leo will conclude its regular season on Saturday with a trip to Melbourne. The Lions will face Florida Tech at 2 p.m.

[Last modified February 28, 2008, 00:11:42]