The Gators seek to keep their season alive on Tuesday against Texas in the College World Series. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
College World Series Primer: Florida vs. Texas
Monday, June 18, 2018 | Baseball, Scott Carter
In their first game of the 2018 College World Series, the Gators left the field quietly. The scene provided a drastic contrast to last June when the Gators defeated LSU to win the 2017 CWS and the first national title in school history.
Head coach Kevin O'Sullivan, starting pitcher Brady Singer and outfielder Nelson Maldonado were subdued at the postgame press conference following the 6-3 defeat. They all know the job ahead won't be easy if Florida is to repeat.
It starts on Tuesday afternoon against Texas in an elimination game. The Gators have to win to keep their season alive. And then they must do it again on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to reach the championship series.
There is an old cliché that coaches and players often rely on during times like these: one game at a time.
That's where the Gators are.
Let's take a closer look at the first game -- one the Gators hope isn't also the last -- on that path:
FLORIDA
Record: 47-20, 20-10 in Southeastern Conference
Coach: Kevin O'Sullivan, 11th year (495-228, .685)
NCAA Tournament: 34th appearance all-time (11th consecutive)
Tournament record: 113-75 (12 trips to College World Series)
CWS record: 19-23 (one national title, 2017)
How they got here: Florida lost to Texas Tech, 6-3, on Sunday night as the Red Raiders handed UF starter Brady Singer only his second loss of the season. To advance to Omaha for a fourth consecutive season, the Gators beat Columbia and Jacksonville in the Gainesville Regional before a loss to Florida Atlantic forced a winner-take-all championship game that UF won. Florida then defeated Auburn in three games to take the Gainesville Super Regional title on a walk-off home run by Austin Langworthy in the bottom of the 11th inning.
Player to watch: All eyes will be on Gators starter Jackson Kowar (9-5, 2.30 ERA, 105 2/3 IP, 96 H, 41 BB, 102 SO) as the Gators try to stave off elimination. The 33rd overall pick in the MLB amateur draft, Kowar returns to the mound for the first time in Omaha since recording the final out in Florida's CWS-clinching victory over LSU last June. Kowar was sharp in his Game 2 outing against Auburn in the Gainesville Super Regional, getting a no-decision after limiting the Tigers to three hits and one run over seven innings. Kowar struck out six and walked none.
Quote of note: "We made some other mistakes that don't show up in the box score. We were down four in the seventh. We put a take on, with the leadoff hitter, and we're down four. And we swung out of the zone. And if he gets on, [Nelson Maldonado's] home run is a three-run homer instead of two-run homer. It gets us within one run. Obviously, there in the ninth, we struck out the leadoff hitter and he gets on and reaches on a strikeout, and he ends up scoring. Those little mistakes, they add up, and it cost us a few runs." -- Kevin O'Sullivan on some of his team's uncharacteristic mistakes in the loss to Texas Tech
Buzz: The Gators didn't play their best on Sunday night in a game that started nearly three hours later than scheduled due to weather. They will have to play better against the Longhorns to avoid another two-and-done trip to Omaha as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Gators are now 0-5 all-time as the tournament's top seed in the CWS, Sunday's loss adding to quick visits here as the top seed in 2012 and 2016. Senior JJ Schwarz returned to the lineup Sunday after missing 11 games with a fractured right hand. His return sent first baseman Keenan Bell back to the bench. With Schwarz the more accomplished offensive player and Bell the better defender, it will be interesting to see how the lineup looks Tuesday in the fourth CWS game in school history against Texas. The Gators lost both games to the Longhorns in the 2005 CWS final and defeated them in 2011 in their first game at TD Ameritrade Park, where the CWS moved to starting that year. Meanwhile, Brady Smith replaced struggling catcher Jonah Girand late in Sunday's game and picked up a hit. Girand, the Most Outstanding Player of the Gainesville Regional, is 0-for-13 with 10 strikeouts over his past four games. The Gators stranded eight runners on base and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position in their loss Sunday, so unless those numbers improve, it might not matter how effective Kowar is on the mound. Florida is 11-10 since the start of May with a dip in offensive production and an unusual number of defensive miscues (19 errors in last 14 games) the primary culprits.
TEXAS
Record: 42-22, 17-7 in Big 12 Conference
Coach: David Pierce, second year (81-47, .638)
NCAA Tournament: 59th appearance all-time (second consecutive)
Tournament record: 246-124-1 (NCAA-record 36 trips to CWS)
CWS record: 86-61 (six national titles, last one in 2005)
How they got here: Texas lost to Arkansas, 11-5, on Sunday in its first game in Omaha. The Longhorns advanced to the CWS by sweeping the Austin Regional with victories over Texas Southern, Texas A&M and Indiana. In the Austin Super Regional, Texas lost the first game to Tennessee Tech but came back to win the final two to advance to the CWS for the 37th time since their first appearance in 1947.
Player to watch: Second baseman Kody Clemens was the Big 12 Player of the Year and a first-team All-American. Clemens, the son of former big-league star Roger Clemens, went 1-for-5 in Sunday's loss. He is batting .352 with 24 home runs and 72 RBI. His 24 homers are the most of any player in this year's CWS.
Quote of note: "Super regional, we lost the first game. I mean, we've been here before. I mean, all we can really look forward to is the next game and worry about Game 2 and move on from there." -- Longhorns pitcher Nolan Kingham after loss to Arkansas
Buzz: Texas waited out a 2-hour, 49-minute weather delay Sunday against Arkansas that stopped the game in the sixth inning. When play resumed, Arkansas capped an eight-run outburst in the inning to drop the Longhorns into the losers bracket. Texas is back in Omaha for the first time since 2014, which was legendary coach Augie Garrido's final trip to the CWS. Garrido passed away in March and his spirit looms large over the Longhorns. Texas head coach David Pierce is paying tribute to Garrido by wearing his No. 16 jersey during the CWS. Pierce took over the program in 2017 and led the Longhorns to the Big 12 regular-season title this season. After Sunday's loss, Pierce said he was leaning toward starting sophomore right-hander Blair Henley (6-6, 3.32 ERA, 84 IP, 90 H) with fellow right-hander Chase Shugart (6-3, 4.07 ERA, 90 2/3 IP, 82 H) available early should Henley run into trouble. Besides Clemens, designated hitter Zach Zubia (.280, 11 HR, 45 RBI) is the most productive hitter in the lineup. Shortstop David Hamilton sets the tone at the top of the order. If Hamilton gets on base, he is a threat to steal with a team-high 31 stolen bases.
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