Either No. 1 national seed Florida or Florida State will watch its season end Monday at the hand of its most bitter rival. After more than a 3-hour rain delay, the Gators prolonged their season on Sunday with 5-0 a win over FSU in the second game of a best-of-three Super Regional.
One night after Florida State’s Drew Carlton tossed a 2-hit shutout, Florida starter Logan Shore was downright dominant, working eight shutout innings. Monday’s winner will advance to Omaha for the College World Series. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. and will air on ESPN2.
The Good: Florida’s Logan Shore wasn’t just good. He was great. Shore gave up just two hits and two walks in eight shutout innings while striking out nine. Starting pitching was also good on the other side as FSU starter Tyler Holton yielded just two runs, one earned, on six hits in six innings pitched while striking out six.
The Bad: The FSU offense had yet another pedestrian night in Sunday’s loss. The Seminoles managed just two hits throughout the contest and had just two runners reach scoring position. FSU’s bullpen also had a tough night, giving up three runs in three innings.
The Ugly: Early on, the Florida State defense gave Florida extra outs and it came back to bite. Florida’s Dalton Guthrie scored the game’s first run after reaching on an error by Florida State shortstop Taylor Walls to start the game. Guthrie scored Florida’s second run in the third inning after FSU first baseman Dylan Busby misplayed a pop-up in foul territory that allowed him to single later in the at-bat.
Studs of the Game: In addition to Shore, who was outstanding, Florida first baseman Peter Alonso was 3-for-4 with three doubles, two runs and two RBIs. Guthrie was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs.
Duds of the Game: FSU’s No. 3 and 4 hitters, Jackson Lueck and Cal Raleigh were a combined 0-for-8 with five strikeouts. Raleigh grounded into a double play to end the contest. Third baseman Jonathan India was 0-for-5 for Florida in the loss.
Extra Innings: Sunday’s contest did have one moment of controversy. FSU shortstop Taylor Walls threw high on a ground ball off the bat of Mike Rivera in the sixth. FSU first baseman Dylan Busby leaped to make the catch and was hit in the ribs by Rivera on the Florida catcher’s way to first. No call was made, but replay suggested that Rivera may have taken a cheap shot.
wlpearce.com/FSU athletics
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