Graphic: Scott MacCord (UAA Communications)
CWS Snapshot: Texas Christian 9, Gators 2 (Instant Recap)
Friday, June 23, 2017 | Baseball, Scott Carter
TCU wins its third consecutive elimination game to force a winner-take-all game against the Gators on Saturday night in the College World Series.
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
TCU 9, FLORIDA 2
WHAT HAPPENED: Seeking to punch their ticket to the championship series, the Gators came up empty in a 9-2 loss. Starter Jackson Kowar struck out a career-high 11 but allowed six hits and four runs in five innings. Meanwhile, the Gators scratched out two runs against TCU starter Mitchell Travers but were unable to put a dent in TCU's excellent bullpen. TCU's win avenged its 3-0 loss to the Gators on Sunday night and sets up a winner-take-all rematch on Saturday. The Gators, who made all the key plays in their first two games in Omaha, were not as efficient Friday. Ryan Larson ran through a stop sign at third and was thrown out scrambling back to the base, the outfield defense was less than desired (see below), and while Kowar threw the ball well, he ran in and out of trouble between strikeouts over this final three innings.
PLAY OF THE GAME: The Gators rallied from an early 2-0 hole in the top of the third inning with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning courtesy of Mike Rivera's solo homer and Dalton Guthrie's RBI double that missed being a three-run homer by inches down the left field line. However, the game turned in TCU's favor for good in the top of the fourth when the Horned Frogs put two on with two out against Kowar. Josh Watson hit a ball hard to center field that Nick Horvath initially broke in on. The initial step in cost the Gators dearly as Horvath was unable to catch up as he retreated and the ball glanced off his glove for a two-run triple.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Florida's outfield defense was not as sharp as usual Friday and it proved costly. Left fielder Austin Langworthy appeared to have trouble picking up the ball clearly on a pair of doubles in the third inning that gave TCU a 2-0 lead. And in the sixth, the aforementioned play by Horvath in center field resulted in the Horned Frogs taking a 4-2 lead they never relinquished.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Kowar struck out seven of the first eight batters he faced Friday and finished with a career-high 11 Ks. Florida's starting trio of Alex Faedo, Brady Singer and Kowar has combined for 31 strikeouts in 19 innings in Omaha. The Gators became just the third team in the last 30 years to have three pitchers strike out nine or more batters in a CWS game according to ESPN Stats & Info.
UP NEXT: LSU faces Oregon State in Bracket I on Saturday afternoon and the Gators face TCU in Bracket II. The winners square off in the best-of-three championship series that starts on Monday night. The Gators-TCU game starts at 8 p.m. ET.
TCU 9, FLORIDA 2
WHAT HAPPENED: Seeking to punch their ticket to the championship series, the Gators came up empty in a 9-2 loss. Starter Jackson Kowar struck out a career-high 11 but allowed six hits and four runs in five innings. Meanwhile, the Gators scratched out two runs against TCU starter Mitchell Travers but were unable to put a dent in TCU's excellent bullpen. TCU's win avenged its 3-0 loss to the Gators on Sunday night and sets up a winner-take-all rematch on Saturday. The Gators, who made all the key plays in their first two games in Omaha, were not as efficient Friday. Ryan Larson ran through a stop sign at third and was thrown out scrambling back to the base, the outfield defense was less than desired (see below), and while Kowar threw the ball well, he ran in and out of trouble between strikeouts over this final three innings.
PLAY OF THE GAME: The Gators rallied from an early 2-0 hole in the top of the third inning with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning courtesy of Mike Rivera's solo homer and Dalton Guthrie's RBI double that missed being a three-run homer by inches down the left field line. However, the game turned in TCU's favor for good in the top of the fourth when the Horned Frogs put two on with two out against Kowar. Josh Watson hit a ball hard to center field that Nick Horvath initially broke in on. The initial step in cost the Gators dearly as Horvath was unable to catch up as he retreated and the ball glanced off his glove for a two-run triple.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Florida's outfield defense was not as sharp as usual Friday and it proved costly. Left fielder Austin Langworthy appeared to have trouble picking up the ball clearly on a pair of doubles in the third inning that gave TCU a 2-0 lead. And in the sixth, the aforementioned play by Horvath in center field resulted in the Horned Frogs taking a 4-2 lead they never relinquished.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Kowar struck out seven of the first eight batters he faced Friday and finished with a career-high 11 Ks. Florida's starting trio of Alex Faedo, Brady Singer and Kowar has combined for 31 strikeouts in 19 innings in Omaha. The Gators became just the third team in the last 30 years to have three pitchers strike out nine or more batters in a CWS game according to ESPN Stats & Info.
UP NEXT: LSU faces Oregon State in Bracket I on Saturday afternoon and the Gators face TCU in Bracket II. The winners square off in the best-of-three championship series that starts on Monday night. The Gators-TCU game starts at 8 p.m. ET.
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