Florida Sports Wire

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 9-1 run in the closing minutes by Lipscomb proved to be the difference in a high scoring back and forth contest on Saturday at Historic Swisher Gymnasium. Jacksonville posted a third straight 80+ point game, but came out on the short end falling 87-83 to end a two game win streak. "You are not going to win many games when you give up 87 points," said Head Coach Tony Jasick. "I am a firm believer that you have to earn everything in life. Give them credit, they shot the ball well, but we still gave up 87 and that is not what we are trying to do." In a game that featured 10 ties and 15 lead changes, the Dolphins (3-9 A-Sun; 9-20) held a 40-37 lead at the break before Lipscomb (6-6 A-Sun; 12-15) shot 63 percent (17-27) and erupted for 50 second half points. Jacksonville led 52-45 three minutes into the second half and was still in front 72-71 with four minutes remaining before the decisive 9-1 run. After the Bisons took the lead they would se

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sophomore Buddy Reed delivered a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth to score senior Josh Tobias from second base as No. 5 Florida (5-0) defeated No. 8 Miami (4-2), 4-3, on Friday night at McKethan Stadium. Junior right-hander Taylor Lewis (1-0) picked up his first win as a Gator by stranding a Hurricane on third to complete the eighth and then retired the side in order in the ninth before Reed’s heroics. Tobias was hit by a pitch from freshman Michael Mediavilla (0-1) to start the final frame, was sacrificed to second base on a bunt by sophomore Ryan Larson and came home with the decisive run on Reed’s base-hit into left center field with two strikes. The Gators had tied the game in the sixth inning on a two-run single with two down by freshman Mike Rivera and used Reed’s game-winning hit for their first walk-off victory since April 27, 2014 (Missouri). UF had grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when freshman Jesse Lepore committed a balk to bring ho

CHARLESTON, S.C.  - Despite having several scoring opportunities, the Jacksonville Armada FC endured its first preseason defeat, falling 1-0 in a preseason friendly to the Charleston Battery on the road at Blackbuad Stadium. Even with the slow pace of the match and the Armada FC's attempt to control possession, the Battery managed to notch one past goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo in the 47th minute. As is typical to most preseason matches, both teams made multiple substitutions and poured players into the match to offer trialing players time. "I think we can take some positives from this match." said co-head coach Guillermo Hoyos. "The style and pace of play was slower. These types of matches, the slower ones, help us focus on learning our style. The players need to get to know each other better as we play these preseason matches." Regardless of the final result, the coaching staff was impressed with the turnout of Armada FC supporters in the stands. Members o

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –  A late ninth inning rally was to no avail Wednesday night in Jacksonville as No. 12 Florida State (3-1) suffered its first loss of the 2015 season falling to the Dolphins (2-2) 5-3 inside John Sessions Stadium. The Seminoles had the tying run at second base in the ninth but Nathan Disch struck out Josh Delph for the final out of the game to preserve the win and pick-up his first save of the season. Trailing by three heading into the ninth, the Seminoles pushed a run across when Danny De La Calle smashed a bases loaded RBI single over the out stretched glove of JU left fielder Austin Hays. With the base runners not sure if Hays would come up with the catch, the runners advanced just one base resulting in a run down with De La Calle being thrown at first. “It was just a great fight that we put up (in the ninth),” Florida State head coach Mike Martin said. “Unfortunately things did not go our way. We have to throw this one away and be ready to go this we

After a three-game sweep of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on opening weekend, No. 12 Florida State (3-0) makes the trek east on I-10 to face Jacksonville (1-2) on Wednesday, February 18 at 4 pm for the first of an early four-game road swing for the Seminoles. The Seminoles outscored the Grizzlies 27-6 this past weekend as Florida State hit .323 as a team, while posting a team ERA of 1.00 allowing just three earned runs in 27.0 innings. DJ Stewart and Josh Delph paced the Florida State offense hitting .556 and .500, respectively. FSU’s starting pitchers allowed just two earned runs and struck out 21 over a combined 16.0 innings of work. Wednesday’s meeting marks the first of two games between the Seminoles and Dolphins over a seven-day span. The two teams will complete the season series in Tallahassee on Tuesday, February 24. The Seminoles enter the game winners of nine in a row over the Dolphins. FSU has won five straight inside John Sessions Stadium with JU’s last win on i

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season is in full force and arrives in Florida for one of the most tradition-rich drag races in the world, the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, March 12-15, the third of 24 races in the 2015 season.                 The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, the traditional East Coast opener on the Mello Yello Series circuit, will feature the biggest stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series as they set out to conquer “The Swamp.” A win at this event can mean great momentum as drivers pursue NHRA Mello Yello world championship glory during the season that crisscrosses the United States. Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. Celebrating its 46th running, the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals has entertained spring-b

By MIKE BONTS FLORIDA SPORTS WIRE JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Armada FC jumped out to a quick lead over the Philadelphia Union and went on to 3-1 preseason victory in their first-ever match before 13,934 at EverBank Field. Lucas Trejo's penalty shot in the closing seconds of the first half was Jacksonville's final goal. Philadelphia kept the pressure on goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo that eventually ended the shutout. The visitors put points on the board when Andrew Wegner scored on a perfect pass from Sheanon Williams. Gallardo was spelled in goal in the second half by David Garcia. Jacksonville's Fabrico Ortiz was assisted by Bochy Hoyas and Alhassane Keita was aided by a pass from Pascal Millien as each scored in the season's first exhibition game. Saturday's attendance set a new NASL preseason attendance record. The Armada play at home again on Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. against Fort Lauderdale at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. -

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- This Saturday promises to be a historic and spectacular day for not only the Armada but also for the City of Jacksonville and First Coast region. Armada FC will take to the pitch for the first time ever when they host the MLS' Philadelphia Union at EverBank Field. The Armada's launch into professional soccer is presented by Community First Credit Union and will be supported by the three branches of the sea-faring military in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines and U.S. Coast Guard. Five hundred members of the military and their families have been invited to attend the match. Stadium gates will open at 2:30 p.m. for the Community First Pre-Match Experience - three hours of fun-filled entertainment that will include autograph-signing sessions with both teams in the Sea Best Cool Zone, a chance to hear from Armada FC co-head coach Jose Luis Villareal on stage, live music from The Band Be Easy, interactive fun for kids of all ages on the Armada Soccer Experience,

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Lydell Manigo came off the bench to score all of his 15 points in the second half to help rally Flagler College past Armstrong State University 64-59 in a Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Alumni Arena. Flagler snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 9-11 overall and 4-9 in the Peach Belt. The Saints are now tied with the Pirates for fifth place and is one game out of fourth place in the PBC’s East Division. Armstrong suffered its second consecutive loss and has now dropped four-of-its-last-five games to go to 6-13 overall and 4-9 in conference play. Manigo came off the bench for the first time this season, after starting the previous 19 games, played sparingly in the first half, but erupted in 14 minutes of play in the second half with 5 of 7 shooting from the field and he made four three-pointers. He added five rebounds to his line. Kessler Bell tallied 15 points on 4 of 6 shooting and he knocked down three treys and made

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – USTA Florida Tri-Level League teams from Orlando and Jacksonville advanced to Indian Wells, Calif., to represent the USTA Florida Section after capturing men's and women's titles at the USTA Florida Tri-Level Playoff Championship, held Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2015 at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach. Tri-Level League is a doubles format designed to provide a unique team league opportunity to members by combining players of differing NTRP levels (3.5/4.0/4.5) on teams in local and sectional competition. For more info go to www.ustaflorida/leagues. The women's winners were comprised of players from Orlando, but representing Marion County and finished first in a six-team round robin. The Marion County/Orlando team and a team from Orange/Seminole counties finished tied with 4-1 win-loss records, but the tiebreak of more individual match wins went to the Marion County/Orlando women. Captained by Stephanie Schwartzberg, the Marion County/Orlando squ

New Football Schools Kennesaw State held a spring tryout for current KSU students today. With just over 200 days remaining until Kennesaw State kicks off its inaugural football season, KSUOwls.com will begin a weekly segment featuring members of the football team. This week’s feature is on quarterback Chandler Burks, the school’s first-ever recruit… Kennesaw State also added Shorter (Ga.) to its inaugural 2015 schedule… Morthland College (Ill.) officials say they have closed on the purchase of 10 acres of land in West Frankfort that will become the site of the school's football field and athletic complex… Scheduling The ACC announced its 2015 football schedule… Conference USA announced its 2015 football schedule… UCF and Florida Atlantic announced a home-and-home series in 2018 and 2019… Purdue and Wake Forest University announced a home-and-home series in 2026 and 2027…  Clemson has added games against Georgia Southern and Charlotte to its future football schedules… People