Howell, who was 0 for 3 as a pinch-hitter and batting for the first time since April 23, laced a two-run double over the head of Florida right fielder Riley Cooper to score Josh Rutledge and Alex Avila with the tying and winning runs as the Crimson Tide took game one of the series.
"I was looking for something to drive in the gap or hit in the hole, fortunately I hit it over his head," Howell said. "It was change-up. This is a really good feeling."
Howell's game-winner was even more dramatic after the Crimson Tide had squandered a two-out lead in the top of the inning.
With two outs and leading 5-4, Alabama closer Austin Graham issued back-to-back walks to pinch-hitter Bryson Barber and Cooper, before striking out pinch-hitter Dustin Bamberg for what appeared to be the final out, but the ball got past catcher Mike Sharp and Bamberg was safe at first on the wild pitch to load the bases. UF left fielder Avery Barnes gave the Gators a 6-5 lead with a two-strike single to right to score Barber and Cooper.
Alabama (29-22, 13-12 SEC) responded with a ninth-inning rally of its own to earn its first last at-bat win of the season. Rutledge stroked a one-out single to right field off Clint Franklin, the first of three Gator pitchers in the ninth inning. Alex Avila delivered a two-out single to left off left-hander Tony Davis to put runners and first and second with two outs.
The Tide inserted junior Ryan Rhoden to pinch-hit for Alex Kubal, but Florida called on right-hander Josh Edmondson out of the pen and Coach Jim Wells elected to go with the left-hand hitting Howell, who ripped a first-pitch change up to right field to win the game.
Junior Austin Graham (4-1), who allowed an inherited runner to score in the eighth inning and gave up two runs of his own in the ninth, picked up the win for Alabama. He allowed two runs and one hit in two innings, with five strikeouts and two walks. The two walks were the first allowed by Graham since a start at LSU on April 5. He had not walked a batter in 25 innings out of the bullpen this season until the ninth inning.
The Crimson Tide had taken a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when junior Kent Matthes doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on junior Kyle Moore's ground out.
Florida (29-19, 13-12 SEC) had tied the game in the top of the eighth inning when pinch-runner Jonathan Piggott scored on Josh Adams sacrifice fly to center field.
Avila slammed a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to put the Tide in front 4-3. Freshman Ross Wilson reached on a two-out base hit to left field and scored on Avila's team-leading 13th home run of the season.
The Tide scored first with an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Jake Smith and Josh Rutledge collected back-to-back one-out singles to put runners at first and second. Ross Wilson then reached on an error by third baseman Josh Adams and Smith scored from second on the play to give Tide the lead.
Florida scored three runs with two outs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Matt den Dekker started the rally as he reached on a one-out infield single to second base. den Dekker was then picked off first base, but a balk was called by umpire Ray Miller, allowing him to advance to second base.
After Clayton Pisani struck out, Cooper blooped a single to right to score den Dekker with the tying run. Munroe followed with a two-run home run to left to put the Gators in front 3-1. It was Munroe's third home run of the season.
Alabama got one run back in the bottom of the fifth and had another runner thrown out at home plate as the Tide reduced the Gators lead to 3-2. Tyler Odle drew a lead off walk and Smith followed with a double off the wall in left field to put runners at second and third with no outs.
Rutledge lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Odle from third base as Smith also moved up on the play. Wilson was hit by pitch to put runners on the corners with one out. Wilson advanced to second as Smith was thrown out at home on the back end of an attempted double steal. Alex Avila then popped out to end the inning.
Alabama and Florida meet in game two of this three-game series on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. The Tide will send junior right-hander Austin Hyatt (3-3, 4.84 ERA) to the mound, while Florida will counter with junior left-hander Stephen Locke (3-2, 3.28 ERA). The Crimson Tide will honor its four seniors Matt Bentley, Brian Clark, Josh Copeland and Will Stroup in a pregame ceremony at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/5/209836