Hurricanes can't rally past Gators

Hurricanes can't rally past Gators - By Manny Navarro

Chris Hernandez entered his first Friday night start of the season looking for career win No. 20 and a little payback for the two NCAA regional losses the Florida Gators handed the Hurricanes last May in Gainesville.

He was denied both.

Sixth-ranked Florida didn't pound Hernandez like the last time it saw him. But the Gators did just enough, touching him for three earned runs and eight hits over six innings in a 7-1 victory against the 11th-ranked Canes at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.

Hernandez, who gave up six earned runs in a loss to the Gators last May, struck out eight and didn't walk a batter Friday but simply didn't get much run support from his team in front of the crowd of 4,274.

UM (6-2) came in averaging more than 11 runs a game but produced only two hits and struck out 15 times.

``You have to give him [Florida starter Alex Panteliodis] credit, getting ahead of our hitters, working the strike zone,'' UM coach Jim Morris said. ``He beat us with his fastball.''