NCAA GAINESVILLE REGIONAL   

FLORIDA 3, JACKSONVILLE 2

WHAT HAPPENED: Jonathan India, Wil Dalton and Jonah Girand homered for the Gators, while Brady Singer and Michael Byrne did the work on the mound as the Gators stayed in the winners bracket on Saturday night before an announced crowd of 3,874 at McKethan Stadium. India and Dalton crushed homers back-to-back in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie. Jacksonville scored a run in the fifth to make it a one-run game. In the seventh, Girand homered for the second consecutive day to put the Gators back up by two. Once again, Jacksonville trimmed the lead to a run in the bottom of the seventh on a solo homer by Cory Garrastazu. Singer left after seven innings with a 3-2 lead and turned the game over to All-American closer Byrne. Jacksonville threatened to tie the game in the eighth on Ruben Someillan's leadoff triple. However, Byrne retired the next three hitters to strand the tying run at third before pitching a scoreless ninth for his 14th save.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Both of Gators outfielder Austin Langworthy's home runs this season came in the final series of the regular season at Mississippi State. That appeared about to change when Langworthy drove a pitch from Jacksonville starter Spencer Stockton deep to right field in the sixth inning. Instead of a 3-1 Florida lead and Langworthy's first home run of the season at McKethan Stadium, Dolphins right fielder Cory Garrastazu made a spectacular play by timing his jump perfectly and reaching over the fence to rob Langworthy.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Singer received a big ovation prior to the game when the starting lineup was announced. Florida fans were glad to see the junior right-hander back on the mound. After missing his final start of the regular season and not pitching at the SEC Tournament due to a hamstring injury, Singer made his first start in 22 days. Singer had not pitched since his outing against Georgia on May 11. Singer earned the win by pitching seven solid innings, allowing five hits and two runs. He struck out six and walked one in a 99-pitch outing.

STANDOUT STAT: 6 -- Florida homered three times off Stockton on Saturday, marking the second time this season they've done that. In a 10-3 home win over the Dolphins on March 21, Florida's JJ Schwarz, Wil Dalton and Blake Reese touched up Stockton for home runs. Here's the oddity of Stockton's season: he has allowed only seven home runs in 92 2/3 innings this season after Saturday. The Gators are responsible for six.

FROM THE COACH: Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan on tonight's game – "Heck of a ball game. I think that's three years in-a-row that the Saturday game has come down to one run. UConn in '16 was a 6-5 ballgame, last year we went extra's with South Florida in a one-run game and obviously tonight. Credit both starting pitchers, they were both outstanding. Michael [Byrne] coming up big with a runner at third and nobody out there in the eighth. I'll take the blame for that when we were guarding the line there. I think we needed to be one step closer to the line so that's on me. But credit Michael Byrne to hold his composure and make some pitches when he needed to when they had their 2, 3, 4 hitters coming up. [Catcher] Jonah Girand has been a huge lift for us this weekend with his second home run, Jonathan [India] and Wil [Dalton] have continued to pick us up with JJ [Schwarz] out. We are excited about playing tomorrow. Whoever we play will be a quality opponent and we are looking forward to getting Jackson [Kowar] on the mound."
 
On guys potentially losing focus before the MLB Draft [begins Monday night]:
"I mean, it's not easy. You're talking about … two guys up here [Jonathan India and Brady Singer] who are going to make maybe five or six million dollars—it's life-changing. Of course, they're human. But, I think they are handling it great—but to sit right here and say they are not thinking about it? I mean, of course they are.
 
"But, I think they are doing a great job kind of focusing on the team and doing the best that they can. Let's face it, Brady had to go out there tonight, and he hadn't pitched in a few weeks--against a really good JU team. I thought he was very efficient. And then Jonathan, he's had a great couple of nights. So, I think their performances kind of speak for themselves, and I think they are handling what is expected of them. At the end of the day, they're all going to get what they want in the Draft. We are very fortunate to have three guys going first round and I think they have done as good as job as they possibly can."
 
On Brady Singer's performance
"I think he was very efficient. I think he kept his temperament and his emotions in check. It's his last start before the draft—I thought he performed great. He's a fearless competitor, and I thought he did really, really good tonight."
 
FROM THE PLAYERS:
Junior RHP Brady Singer
On starting for the first time in three weeks:
"My body felt good. I had to knock a little bit of rust off but, I felt fine especially with the run support and double plays behind me."
 
On the squeeze bunt play:
"I thought it was surprising when they showed bunt and saw it was a squeeze play with the runner taking off. I just got to it as quick as I could. I almost flipped it but, at the last second held on to it."
 
On sitting out with injury:
"I have never missed a start before this injury. The last couple of weeks have been hard but, I still have to help the team the best that I can."
 
Junior C Jonah Girand
On helping out the team:
"It is really great to be able to go out there and help contribute to the team."
 
On going from bullpen catcher to starter:
"It has been a great learning experience for me. I have been able to work with the guys in the bullpen so far. In games, it has felt a lot like it did in bullpens."
 
Junior 3B Jonathan India:
On stepping up for JJ:
"With JJ going down, that is a big bat in the lineup. We know that we had to step up."
 
On hitting the starter the second time around:
"He had a good fastball and slider. We just saw that ball was up and attacked them."

UP NEXT: The Gators return to action on Sunday night at 6 with an opportunity to clinch a Super Regional berth. Florida faces the winner of the elimination game between Jacksonville and Florida Atlantic, which starts at 1 p.m. at McKethan Stadium.