Gators Rolling at Right Time with CWS Berth on Line
Monday, June 1, 2015 | Baseball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Regardless of what happens this afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, an intriguing story line awaits.
If Florida State wins the Tallahassee Regional and advances, the Seminoles visit McKethan Stadium next weekend with a berth to the College World Series on the line.
Share a Little Sunshine indeed.
If College of Charleston is able to beat the Seminoles twice, then the Gators get to face one of the teams that knocked them out of last year's NCAA Tournament.
That's more like a Share a Little Revenge matchup.
But forget about the Gators' opponent. The best story line of all is this Florida baseball team. The Gators are two wins from advancing to the College World Series for the fourth time in six seasons.
In case you have been overwhelmed by recent UF coaching changes, or the Florida softball team's captivating run to another WCWS, or perhaps the sassy moves of Rumer Willis on "Dancing With The Stars," these Gators are good.
"That's a very, very good baseball team in the other dugout."
Florida Atlantic head coach John McCormack spoke those words on Sunday evening after Florida's 2-1 win over the Owls. The Gators did what they have done all postseason.
They pitched well, they played stellar defense, and they won. Florida enters its first Super Regional in three years with a seven-game win streak.
Sunday's win played out differently than Florida's previous victories in the regional.
The Gators crushed Florida A&M 19-0 on Friday, cruised past USF 8-2 on Saturday, and then used the best start of freshman Alex Faedo's young career to edge the Owls and help erase some of the frustration of getting swept in regional play the past two years.
Making his first career NCAA start, Faedo limited FAU to three hits, one run and one walk over six innings. He struck out six and benefited from another timely hit from freshman JJ Schwarz, whose RBI single in the sixth was the game-winner.
McCormack wasn't the only coach Sunday to appreciate Florida's play in advancing to a Super Regional for the fifth time in eight seasons.
"These things are hard to win,'' Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "The goal of getting to Omaha is real. Every team wants to get there so badly. Our guys are playing well at the right time. I think if we can stay within ourselves and not get in our own way, we have a chance."
How well are the Gators playing? Here's a glance:
- Florida's pitching staff allowed three runs in 27 innings in the Gainesville Regional
- The UF starters surrendered just one run and nine hits in 18 innings.
- The Gators have outscored their opponents 59-10 during their seven-game win streak.
- The Gators did not commit an error in the regional and have made only two over the last seven games.
- Florida is hitting .344 (86-for-250) over its last seven games, including its four-game win streak in the SEC Tournament.
Not long after the Gators softball team punched its ticket to the WCWS championship series with a heart-pounding, extra-inning victory over Auburn on Sunday, the UF baseball team took center stage.
As the SEC Network crew closed its coverage of the Gainesville Regional, the announcers raved about the Gators, calling them a favorite to win it all.
The Gators advanced to three consecutive CWS under O'Sullivan from 2010-12. They made it to the championship series in 2011 before losing two tension-filled games to South Carolina.
Don't be surprised if this Florida team is playing for a national championship in a couple of weeks in Omaha.
Yes, the Gators are that good.
On a warm afternoon at McKethan Stadium, and with the softball team live on ESPN, only 2,053 fans turned out for Sunday's victory over FAU.
O'Sullivan thanked them for their support afterward.
"Outstanding all weekend, hanging on every out,'' he said.
For those not there, you have at least two more opportunities to watch this team at home before what the Gators hope is a trip to Omaha.
Pitcher Bobby Poyner, one of only two seniors on the roster, recalls the last Super Regional at McKethan Stadium. It was 2012 and against N.C. State.
The Gators won to set off one of the most memorable dog piles in UF baseball history.
"It's a whole another level of baseball," said Poyner, who pitched two scoreless innings Sunday. "The fans get even more excited."
Florida State or College of Charleston. The way the Gators are playing it might not matter.
"We've shown the ability to win in a lot of different ways,'' O'Sullivan said. "If you beat us, you've got to beat us. I don't think we beat ourselves very often. I don't think there is one area of this game where you cannot be good at and still advance.
"That's why I feel so good about this team."
That's why Gator Nation should, too. This is a team that has all the pieces to win it all. Two more wins and they'll get that opportunity.
