Round One: Goldenrod 4, Northwest 3

In this Round One matchup, the No. 4 Goldenrod Gators (91-71) had home-field advantage versus the No. 5 Northwest Stars (88-74).

Game One
Gators 8, Stars 1

Cliff Lee had an impressive outing at Gator Grounds where the Goldenrod Gators beat the Northwest Stars 8 to 1.

Goldenrod took the lead for good in the 2nd inning when they scored 2 runs on 2 hits. That was all Lee(1-0) needed. Goldenrod finished with 12 hits while Northwest ended up with 4.

Doug Fister (0-1) was the loser. He surrendered 3 homeruns in his 5 innings.

Game Two
Stars 6, Gators 0

Jordan Zimmermann threw a 2-hit shutout and Brian Dozier added four ribbies to his seasonal total with one swing of the bat as the Northwest Stars topped the Goldenrod Gators by a score of 6 to 0 at Gator Grounds.

Dozier enjoyed a big evening at the plate. He depressed the partisan hometown fans with a grand slam home run in the 4th inning and doubled in the 6th inning. Northwest totaled 9 hits on the night.

Zimmermann (1-0) was credited with the shutout. Jhoulys Chacin (0-1) was the losing pitcher. He allowed Northwest 5 runs in 4 innings of work.

Game Three
Stars 6, Gators 4

Jason Heyward hit 2 doubles at Star Dome where the Northwest Stars beat the Goldenrod Gators 6 to 4.

In the bottom of the 6th inning Northwest scored 3 runs when they came up with 4 base hits. The biggest moment was provided by A.J. Ellis who elicited a roar from the hometown fans when he blasted a two-run home run. Overall Northwest out-hit Goldenrod 10 to 4.

Latroy Hawkins (1-0) was the winner allowing no runs in 1 and 2/3 innings. Hawkins got help from Craig Kimbrel who was credited with his 1st save. Jeff Samardzija (0-1) was the losing pitcher.

Game Four
Gators 13, Stars 3

Torii Hunter had 3 base hits and 4 RBI as the Goldenrod Gators man-handled the Northwest Stars - the final score was 13 to 3.

Goldenrod claimed the early lead in the first inning when they scored 4 runs on 3 hits. That early scoring held up. Goldenrod out-hit Northwest for the game, 19 hits to 8.

Cliff Lee (2-0) went 5 innings allowing 3 runs for the victory. Doug Fister (0-2) was the loser. He was knocked around by Goldenrod, allowing 19 hits and 2 walks in 6 and 2/3 innings.

Game Five
Stars 5, Gators 3

In a two run game the Northwest Stars got by the Goldenrod Gators by the score of 5 to 3.

Jordan Zimmermann (2-0) had a solid outing for Northwest. He was reached for 7 hits and no walks in 6 and 1/3 innings. Zimmermann racked up 9 strikeouts. Both teams finished the game with 7 hits.

Craig Kimbrel gained credit for his 2nd save. Jhoulys Chacin (0-2) was tagged with the loss. He got hammered, allowing 6 hits and 4 walks in 3 and 1/3 innings.

Game Six
Gators 2, Stars 1 (12 innings)

The Goldenrod Gators nipped the Northwest Stars in 12 innings 2 to 1 at Gator Grounds in a hard fought contest.

The game was deadlocked at 1 after nine full innings. Goldenrod came out the victor in the 12th inning. After an out was recorded, Torii Hunter was hit by a pitch. Tyler Flowers stepped up next and he lined a base hit. Oswaldo Arcia then doubled giving Goldenrod the win much to the delight of the hometown crowd. Goldenrod had just 5 hits for the night.

Jim Henderson (1-0) got credit for the victory, pitching 2 and 1/3 innings and allowing no runs. Latroy Hawkins (1-1) was the loser in relief. He surrendered 1 hit and 1 walk in 2 and 1/3 innings.

Game Seven
Gators 7, Stars 2

Torii Hunter had 4 hits and 2 RBI as the Goldenrod Gators outscored the Northwest Stars 7 to 2.

In the 7th inning Goldenrod scored 5 runs when they came up with 3 base hits. The crucial at-bat was provided by Chris Davis who electrified Gator Grounds when he belted a three-run homer. Northwest was out-hit by Goldenrod, 11 hits to 7.

Jim Henderson (2-0) allowed no runs in 2 and 1/3 innings, and picked up the victory. The loss was charged to Trevor Rosenthal (0-1) in relief. He allowed 1 hit and 1 walk in 2/3 of an inning.