June 5, 2005
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Brian Leclerc and Jeff Corsaletti drove in four runs apiece, Alan Horne settled down after a shaky start and Florida defeated Notre Dame 23-3 Sunday night to win this NCAA regional.
The Gators advanced to next weekend’s super regionals, where they will host Florida State.
Florida made it to the super regionals last year after winning a regional in Oklahoma, but dropped two games at Miami.
The Gators seem better prepared this time around, especially after sweeping through the regional and outscoring their opponents 36-8 in the three victories.
Notre Dame (38-24-1) got the worst of it, with the Gators (43-20) getting 23 runs on 21 hits.
The Fighting Irish basically ran out of pitching after using three pitchers Saturday and another three to beat North Carolina in an elimination game earlier Sunday.
The Gators took advantage of the beleaguered staff early, scoring five runs in the third, two in the fourth, two in the fifth. They added three in the seventh, seven in the eighth and four more in the ninth.
Even Greg Quatrino, a junior who rarely plays, got into the action. He hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the ninth as the Gators were trying to ease up by substituting generously. It was Quatrino’s first career hit.
Adam Davis had four hits, three RBIs and scored three runs. Brandon McArthur drove in three runs. And Brian Jeroloman had a two-run single in the seventh that pushed the lead to 12-2.
Florida posted a five-run inning for the second straight day, sending 10 batters to the plate in the third and getting five hits.
Jared Kubin opened the inning with a walk, then left the game after injuring his shoulder sliding safely into second base. Stephen Barton replaced him, but wasn’t on the bag very long.
Corsaletti drove Wade Korpi’s first pitch over the right field fence for his ninth home run of the season. He added RBIs in the eighth and ninth innings.
Davis followed with a double. Matt LaPorta walked and Jeroloman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. McArthur delivered a sacrifice fly, then Leclerc singled past a drawn-in infield, scoring LaPorta and Jeroloman.
That was it for Korpi (4-3), who gave up three hits and five runs in 2 1-3 innings. He walked three, hit two and struck out two.
McArthur and Leclerc added RBI singles in a two-run fourth, extending the lead to 7-2.
The Gators picked up two more runs in the fifth, and the seven-run cushion was plenty for Horne (8-2). The team ace allowed four hits and two runs and improved to 7-0 in his last nine starts.
He struggled early, walking the first batter, hitting the second and then giving up a double and a two-run single to Matt Edwards. But after some first-inning jitters, he was nearly flawless. He retired 18 of the next 20 batters, giving up just a pair of singles.
The junior also walked one and struck out eight, possibly improving his stock in next week’s amateur draft.