After finishing as last year’s runner up in the CWS, Florida won’t even have a chance to play for the title this year. Despite rallying, the Gators squandered chances and fell to the Golden Flashes 5-4 today in Omaha, eliminating them from the postseason.

KSU got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. George Roberts laced an RBI single to bring Jimmy Rider home. The Flashes could’ve taken an even bigger lead, but they left two runners stranded.

They added more runs in the bottom of the second, though. Jason Bagoly singled, then reached second on a sac bunt from Alex Miklos. Miklos ended up getting to first thanks to a Gators error. Derek Toadvine laid down a sac bunt of his own to advance Bagoly to third.

Rider knocked an RBI single to bring Bagoly home, and David Lyon followed suit to make it 3-0 Flashes. Roberts got a base hit to bring Rider home before a ground out ended the inning. They left two men stranded again, or they could’ve really blown the game open.

Florida got on the board in the third, when Mike Zunino singled to bring Josh Tobias home. Tobias had been hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.

Kent State tacked on their final run in the bottom of the fourth. Rider doubled, went to third on a wild pitch, and came home on a second wild pitch to make the score 5-1.

» Continue reading “Kent State Stays Alive, Bounces Top-Seeded Florida”

After another day of Super Regionals action, one Southeastern Conference team is advancing to Omaha, another’s season is over, and two more will have to wait to find out their fates.

Florida 9, NC State 8

For the third year in a row, the Gators (47-18) are Omaha-bound. Despite a valiant last ditch attempt and multiple rallies by the Wolfpack (43-20), Florida managed to hang on and win in the 10th inning.

NC State got on the board first, in the bottom of the third, when Matt Bergquist knocked a one-out double to bring Brett Austin home from second. It didn’t take UF long to respond, though.

In the top of the fourth, the Gators put up four runs. Preston Tucker started things off with a homer to right, then Mike Zunino and Brian Johnson each doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. An RBI single from Casey Trugeon brought Zunino home and gave Florida the lead. A sac fly from Justin Shafer made it 3-1, and Vickash Ramjit singled to cap off the scoring.

The Wolfpack got right back in it in the bottom of the inning. Andrew Ciencin hit a one-out single, and Jake Fincher did the same thing. Brett Austin double to bring both men home and cut the score to 4-3. They had a chance to tie or take the lead in the inning, but couldn’t capitalize.

In the bottom of the fifth, though, NCSU tied it up with a homer from Chris Diaz. They took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Bergquist laced a one-out single and Trea Turner bunted to reach first base. With runners at first and second, Danny Canela roped an RBI single and brought Bergquist across the plate.

It was Florida’s turn to take the lead in the top of the eighth. Johnson went yard, then Daniel Pigott and Turgeon singled. Turgeon stole second, and with men at second and third, Shafer knocked an RBI single. » Continue reading “NCAA Super Regionals: Another Mixed Bag For The SEC”