LITTLE ROCK — FLORIDA 8, SOUTH CAROLINA 2
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Florida (21-2, 4-1 SEC) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and belted four home runs on its way to defeating South Carolina (17-6, 1-4).
Vickash Ramjit led Florida with three hits, including two home runs. Preston Tucker and Brian Johnson had two hits apiece as a part of a 10-hit day for the Gators.
Florida starter Brian Johnson (4-0) allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. South Carolina starter Forrest Koumas (1-2) lasted only oneplus inning, allowing 6 runs on 4 hits with 5 walks and 3 strikeouts.
TENNESSEE 4, KENTUCKY 1
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Zack Godley pitched eight strong innings as Tennessee ended Kentucky’s 22-game winning streak, the longest in the nation, and handed the Wildcats their first loss of the season.
Godley (4-1) pitched eight innings of three-hit ball, retiring 21 of the final 25 batters he faced after allowing a first-inning run. He struck out four and walked two. Nick Blount pitched a scoreless ninth to record his first save of the season.
AUBURN 4, LSU 3
AUBURN, Ala. - Ryan Tella smacked an RBI single through the right side of the infield to drive in Zach Alvord from third as Auburn (14-8, 3-1 SEC) ran its winning streak to four games with a victory over LSU (17-5, 2-2).
Auburn starter Derek Varnadore allowed 3 runs,1 earned, over 7 1/3 innings, scattering 6 hits with 1 walk while striking out 5 before leaving with the game tied at 3-3 in the eighth. Slade Smith (1-3) earned the victory with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
OLE MISS 11, ALABAMA 7
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Five Ole Miss players had at least two hits each as the Rebels (16-6 2-2 SEC) pounded out 16 hits and kept Alabama (8-14, 0-4) winless in SEC play.
Andrew Mistone and Alex Yarbrough combined for seven RBI for the Rebels. Mistone went 2 for 5 with 4 RBI, and Yarbrough went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI.
GEORGIA 1, VANDERBILT 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Curt Powell’s home run and some stellar pitching led Georgia (17-6, 3-1 SEC) past Vanderbilt (7-15, 0-4).
It was the fifth shutout of the season for Georgia.
Powell’s home run came off Kevin Ziomek to start the fourth.
Bryan Benzor (4-0) picked up the victory, working 2 1/3 scoreless innings with a career-high five strikeouts. Blake Dieterich earned his fourth save as Georgia gave up only 7 hits and 2 walks with 10 strikeouts.
FRIDAY’S GAMES Tennessee 4, Kentucky 1 Florida 8, South Carolina 2 Georgia 1, Vanderbilt 0 Auburn 4, LSU 3 Miss. State 11, Arkansas 2 Mississippi 11, Alabama 7 TODAY’S GAMES - All times Central Florida at South Carolina, noon Arkansas at Miss. State, 2 p.m.
Georgia at Vanderbilt, 2 p.m.
Mississippi at Alabama, 2 p.m.
Kentucky at Tennessee, 3 p.m.
LSU at Auburn, 3 p.m,
Sports, Pages 24 on 03/24/2012