The third-seeded Florida Gators (43-16) fell to fifth-seeded Georgia Bulldogs (31-29) 4-3 after a scary play took starting pitcher Brian Johnson out of the game in the first inning.
Florida got off to a disastrous start when Johnson gave up a leadoff single. After picking up back-to-back strikeouts, Johnson gave up an RBI triple to put Georgia up 1-0.
Johnson then had a throwing error to allow the runner on third to score, putting the Bulldogs up 2-0 with a runner on first.
On the next at-bat, Johnson threw a pitch in the dirt, and the Georgia runner attempted to steal second on the wild pitch.
Sophomore catcher Mike Zunino picked up the ball and tried to throw to second, but stumbled over the Georgia batter as he threw. The ball struck Johnson, who was ducked and facing second base, in the back of the head.
The sophomore left-hander fell motionless to the ground and remained there for several minutes. Johnson left the field on a stretcher and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
Johnson was alert at the hospital and remembered everything that happened during the game, and doctors determined that he did not have a skull fracture.
He returned to the team hotel to stay out of the sun.
After Florida regrouped – Zunino was visibly shaken after the mishap – junior pitcher Anthony DeSclafani took over and pitched 7.2 innings, allowing the Bulldogs to pick up another two runs in the top of the third before settling down.
The Gators scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Nolan Fontana and Preston Tucker drew back-to-back walks, junior Tyler Thompson hit a two-out, two-RBI double to tie the game at 2-2.
Down 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, the Gators were able to scratch out another run.
Georgia third baseman Colby May’s throwing error with two outs allowed Daniel Pigott to score after he and Cody Dent hit consecutive singles and then stole second and third.
However, it wouldn’t be enough for the Gators, as the Georgia bullpen worked out of a few jams down the stretch to close out the win.
The two teams were set to play again immediately following the first game in an elimination game. The winner will advance to the SEC Tournament final on Sunday.
Gator Country’s Tim Casey will have a more complete recap of the game following the conclusion of the second game between the two teams.