Gators Have Stayed on Course on Way to Super Regional
Friday, June 5, 2015 | Baseball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- These two have done this before, but it's been awhile.
Florida and Florida State face off starting Friday for a berth in the College World Series. The last time the Gators and Seminoles met in a Super Regional with a trip to Omaha on the line, the players who will be in uniform this weekend at McKethan Stadium were in Little League.
In 2005 the Gators hosted FSU and swept the best-of-three series. That was Florida's first trip to the CWS in seven years.
The Gators have been back three times since in eight seasons under head coach Kevin O'Sullivan.
After two years away, the Gators are playing like a team determined to make it back.
“We've talked about that,'' O'Sullivan said Thursday. "Our goal is to win a national championship. It's very, very hard to do, but we've tried to stay the course.”
Florida (47-16) advanced Sunday by defeating Florida Atlantic to win the Gainesville Regional. The week before, the Gators rallied to win four consecutive games at the SEC Tournament to claim its first title in four years.
Despite a roster with only two players who were active the last time the Gators hosted a Super Regional in 2012, the Gators showed poise in the regional by allowing only three runs and not committing an error.
"Players know what's at stake,'' O'Sullivan said. "We have been playing really well. I'm just trying to stay out of their way. We've got a nice little mix and we've got a good mojo going right now.”
Florida has won seven consecutive games and is brimming with confidence.
Still, the Gators know that any time the Seminoles (44-19) are in the other dugout, the intensity turns up and the outcome usually in doubt until the final out.
"The stage is set,'' Gators outfielder Harrison Bader said. "I can't wait."
Apparently, neither can fans.
The Super Regional is sold out with the stakes high for the in-state rivals.
“I heard it was sold out in 20 minutes,'' O'Sullivan said. "I'm excited. I know the players are awfully excited, too. It should be a really, really good atmosphere. They've talked about it. They are pumped. I hope our crowd plays a part in it.”
Florida State hasn't played in a Super Regional away from Dick Howser Stadium since that visit to Gainesville a decade ago.
The Seminoles limped toward the end of the regular season, losing their last five games and getting outscored 33-12.
However, much like the Gators, they woke up once the postseason arrived. FSU went 4-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament to win the championship, and then defeated Mercer and College of Charleston twice during last weekend's Tallahassee Regional to earn a meeting with the Gators.
Several Gators downplayed the rivalry factor on Friday. They prefer to keep the focus on Florida, and for good reason considering what they have done of late.
"It's been my dream [to get to Omaha]," junior shortstop Richie Martin said. "It's that close. Two wins. I've never wanted to win this bad in my life.”
Sophomore right-hander Logan Shore gets the start on Friday in Game 1; sophomore right-hander Boomer Biegalski is starting for FSU.
Shore and fellow starters A.J. Puk and Alex Faedo have been clutch this postseason, a primary reason many pundits have predicted the No. 4 overall seed Gators to advance.
"I think this is what we've been waiting on all year, three starters to step up and start throwing the ball well,'' said Shore, who pitched five scoreless innings against Florida A&M in his first career NCAA Tournament start. "It just gives you a little more confidence.”
During O'Sullivan's tenure, the Gators have been built around a strong starting rotation, a deep bullpen, and defense.
This year's team fits the bill, as does a lineup that is hitting .298 with 55 home runs, 29 more than the Gators hit a season ago.
The Gators were in contention for the SEC title until the final weekend of the regular season. Still, they had not peaked.
They have of late, which is perfect timing with FSU coming to town.
"This one is kind of a unique team in terms of we have played consistent the whole year,'' O'Sullivan said. “We won 40 games in the regular season but I think the general consensus was that we hadn't played our best baseball yet.
“I still felt like we had our best baseball left to play. I think in the SEC Tournament we kind of turned it on a little bit. That's what good teams do.”
