Bucs upset 15th-ranked Florida in 11 innings, 5-4

Alan Bontya had two RBI in victory

GAINESVILLE, FL - Charleston Southern scored an unearned run in the top of the 11th inning and held on to defeat 15th-ranked Florida, 5-4, in college baseball action on Friday night. Game two of the three-game series will be on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Senior designated hitter Alan Bontya had two RBI while outfielders Brian Sole and Jordan Haar, and catcher Keith Stewart each had two hits for the Buccaneers. Stewart and centerfielder Jay Reynolds also had RBI singles. Charleston Southern out-hit Florida, 11-7, and left 11 runners on base.

Charleston Southern improves to 2-3 with the victory while Florida opens the season with a loss.

Junior Bobby Parnell (2-1) earned the win in relief as five CSU pitchers limited Florida to seven hits. Brad Bissell pitched well as CSU's starter, allowing three hits and a run in 5 1/3 innings.

CSU led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth before Florida tied the game with a homerun off Fasulo. The Bucs grabbed a 4-3 lead in the 10th but the Gators answered with a two-out bad hop single to score the tying run.

CSU picked up a run without a hit in the 11th as Florida commited three consecutive errors, allowing the winning run.

The victory was CSU's first-ever against Florida in nine meetings and marked the first opening game defeat for UF since 2001.