Another key win for Gator baseball, an invite for a Gator women’s basketball player, NBA playoffs and more in our Wednesday Sports News and Notes…

** The Gator baseball team got excellent pitching and used a five run sixth inning to down Florida Atlantic 7-1 at McKethan Stadium Tuesday.   UF is now 27-23 on the year and will next face Auburn at home this weekend.

** UF rising sophomore Sydney Moss has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2013 USA Basketball U19 World Championship team trials to be held later this month in Colorado Springs.

** The Miami Heat look to even its NBA playoff series with the Chicago Bulls tonight in Miami; the Heat trail 1-0 after a 93-86 loss in Game 1.   Golden State visits San Antonio tonight as well with the Spurs up 1-0.

** The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed veteran cornerback Marcus Trufant to bolster their defense.

** The SEC Softball Tournament starts today in Lexington, Kentucky.  Florida, the top seed, will play either Alabama or Texas A&M in its first round game tomorrow.

** Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ has been hospitalized after being hit in the head with a line drive last night.  He is undergoing tests.

** Also in MLB action, Tampa Bay loses to Toronto 6-4 while Atlanta falls to Cincinnati 5-4.  And Boston’s David Ortiz now has a 27 game hitting streak after getting a hit last night against Minnesota in a 6-1 loss.

The Gator baseball team gets a win; the Chicago Bulls pull off a stunner and more in our Tuesday Sports News And Notes…

** The Gator baseball team blows out Florida A&M 22-1 Monday night in Gainesville to improve to 26-23 on the season; UF hosts Florida Atlantic tonight and the game can be heard on ESPN 850 WRUF starting at 6:55pm.

** Former Gator baseball player Mark Ellis has been placed on the disabled list by the Los Angeles Dodgers with a strained quadricep muscle.

** The GHS softball team is in the Class 6A state semifinal after beating Eau Gallie 2-1 on Monday.  GHS plays Pembroke Pines Charter in Vero Beach on Friday.  Bradford County is also going to state after edging Titusville Astronaut 1-0 in Class 4A.

** The Chicago Bulls go into Miami and stun the Heat 93-86 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference NBA semifinal series.  San Antonio beat Golden State in double overtime despite 44 points from Steph Curry of Golden State.   Tonight, Indiana is at New York and Memphis visits Oklahoma City in Game 2 of those series.

** Former Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde has been named to the College Football Hall of Fame.  Several other players for this year’s class will be announced later.

** The Gator men’s golf team will participate in the NCAA South Regional May 16-18 in Baton Rouge.

** In MLB action, Atlanta downs Cincinnati 7-4 as shortstop Andrelton Simmons homers twice.  San Diego blanks Miami 5-0 and Tampa Bay blows a seven run lead and loses to Toronto 8-7.

Tampa Bay Rowdies’ midfielder Keith Savage has never been lucky when it comes to the semifinals. From high school state playoffs, through college at the University of West Florida and into his professional career, he had never won the penultimate match to play for a championship. This was until the 2012 North American Soccer League playoffs.

Savage and the Rowdies eventually fought their way past the Carolina RailHawks in the league semi-final series, although for Savage, it at first looked like it was going to be the same disappointment of years before. After winning the first game of the two game series 2-1, the Rowdies found themselves in a 2-0 hole 18 minutes into game two. But, a penalty kick and two second-half goals for the Rowdies was the difference. Due to their aggregate score in the two games being 5-2 they advanced to play in the NASL Bowl.

The Rowdies lost the first match in the championship series 2-0 to Minnesota United FC, and it was going to take a big game at home if the Rowdies were going to hoist the championship trophy, and that is exactly what Savage and his team delivered. He had a goal and an assist in the game and helped the Rowdies to a penalty shootout victory after a 3-1 win.

 “To finally win a championship was an amazing feeling. We kind of rode that high through the off season, and now it is time to get back to work. We want another one.”

But, the Rowdies are not looking to take this season lightly. Every player must continue to improve in such a fast paced league or they will be filtered out for younger upcoming talent.

 “If you are not looking to keep getting better as a player your career is probably over. Guys continue to come in and get better. There are better college players who come and want to take your job,” Savage said. “I’ve definitely improved every year, but I still feel like I haven’t had not a breakout year, but a year I am capable of having, so I am still striving to get there and hoping to improve every year, and really as a team we are improving so that makes me better as a player.”

With the 2013 NASL season just getting kicked off there are a few changes in the rules that will greatly impact the league. There are no longer playoffs at the end of the season. There will just be a final between the two teams at the top of the standings. That puts more pressure on the teams to do well during regular season play.

 “You have to be in first place to go to the final, so it is much harder. There is more emphasis on each game.”

With the help of Savage, the Rowdies will look to win back-to-back championships for the first time in NASL history. And this time he won’t have to worry about the semifinals getting in the way.