Super Regional: Gators 2, Wake Forest 1 (Instant Recap)

Graphic: Scott MacCord (UAA Communications)

Super Regional: Gators 2, Wake Forest 1 (Instant Recap)

Saturday, June 10, 2017 | Baseball, Scott Carter

Florida needed 11 innings but finally got a big hit to put away the Demon Deacons in Game 1 of the best-of-three series.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Gators defeated Wake Forest 2-1 in Game 1 of the Gainesville Super Regional on a long Saturday at McKethan Stadium.

The game was halted in the fourth inning due to a weather delay that lasted 3 hours, 49 minutes. When play resumed, the game went into extra innings.

Here is a quick breakdown:

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WHAT HAPPENED: The Gators finally cashed in at the plate in the bottom of the 11th inning when senior outfielder Ryan Larson, who returned to the lineup for the first time since getting hit in the head by a pitch in the SEC Tournament, stroked a two-out single with the bases loaded to drive home Jonathan India with the winning run. Larson's hit was the first for Florida since Deacon Liput's infield single in the fifth inning.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Wake Forest catcher Ben Breazeale hit a leadoff home run in the top of the ninth to tie the game 1-1 and force extra innings. That was a candidate for play of the game until Larson's RBI game-winner finally ended a 7-plus hour day at the ballpark. The game lasted 3:45 -- or four minutes fewer than the game.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Making the final home start of his Gators career, junior right-hander Alex Faedo pitched well until the weather delay ended his night prematurely. Faedo tossed four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and walking one. Faedo struck out nine of the 17 batters he faced. If Wake Forest forces a Game 3, Gators head coach Kevin O'Sullivan said Faedo would be available to pitch in Game 3.

STAGGERING STATISTIC: Florida pitchers Faedo (9 strikeouts), Brady Singer (8) and Michael Byrne (6) combined to strike out 23 Demon Deacons, which sets a school record for team strikeouts in a NCAA Tournament game.

UP NEXT: Game 2 of the best-of-three series is Sunday afternoon at 3. The Gators can clinch a third consecutive berth in the College World Series with a victory. Wake Forest needs a win to keep its season alive and force a Game 3 on Monday.