Game Notes from GaztorZone.com
- Florida State posted its first win over Florida at the NCAA College World Series after suffering three defeats.
- The Gators dropped four of five meetings to the Seminoles this season, with each contest held in a different city.
- FSU has ended UF’s season twice in the past three years (2008 NCAA Tallahassee Regional; 2010 NCAA College World Series).
- It was just the third time this season that the Gators lost consecutive games (March 26 & 27 at Ole Miss; May 22 & May 26 at South Carolina and versus LSU in the SEC Tournament, respectively).
- Freshman Hudson Randall’s six-game winning streak spanning his last 10 starts came to an end. His last defeat was on April 4 against Vanderbilt.
- Freshman Brian Johnson made his second relief appearance of the year, both against Florida State.

I just want to congratulate the Gator baseball team on a great season – this is their first CWS trip since 2005. They are a young team with a lot of talent. Don’t be surprised if we see them again in 2011.

Also to all you Nole fans — Florida State may have beating Florida in baseball (and lately they’ve been beating us in basketball too), but we still own them in football – what is it now… 6 in a row?

There is double elimination in Bracket Play and it’s a best of 3 series when you reach the National Championship. The Gators start the bracket off against UCLA. On paper, the Bruins appear to have the better team – they have a lower team ERA (2.97) and a higher team batting average than the Gators. It’s going to be a tough game. The Gators don’t need to win it to stay alive, but a win will definitely give them an easier road.

For complete game coverage you can tune into ESPN or check out the NCAA Bracket online.

“First, I want to congratulate Southern Miss,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “They played really, really well. All year long we have played teams who have made mistakes and kicked the ball around a little bit, but they play great defense. Their bullpen again did a heck of a job. We had a solid game plan going against their starter, but once again their bullpen put up six-straight zeroes on the scoreboard. We just couldn’t quite distance ourselves enough from them. If you had told me going into the day that we had a two-run lead with six outs to play and a rested Billy Bullock on the mound, I would have felt pretty good about it. But, you have to tip your caps to them.”

Preston Tucker played well for the Gators again. He was 2-for-2, with three walks and provided the Gators with a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first with his team-leading 15th homer. With two down, the slugger launched a 2-1 pitch that cleared the right field fence and caromed off a light tower to increase his school-record RBI total to 85. Brandon MacArthur, who is leaving UF after this season, also added a homerun in the middle innings.

“Never once will I think that I made the wrong decision by coming back. I wanted to come back because of Coach O’Sullivan. I have a great relationship with him and all of the coaching staff. This has been a great season and it’s a tough way to go out but I’ve had so much fun. My six years here as a Gator have been unbelievable. I will always be a Gator and support this team 100 percent.”

It’s sad to see the Gator baseball team fail to make the College World Series. They would have been a long shot to win it, but still would have come in with a fighting chance.

Making their 25th Regional appearance, the top-seeded Gators (39-20) will face fourth-seeded Bethune-Cookman (32-26) at 6:30 p.m. Every year the Gators have gone to the CWS they have alays done so by playing at home. UF is 64-51 (.557) all-time in NCAA Tournament action and has reached the CWS five times: 1988, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2005.

“We are very excited for the start of Regional play,” second-year head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Playing at home should be a good opportunity for our fans to come and support us. It will be a challenging field and we are looking forward to facing a talented Bethune-Cookman team on Friday.”

These are the best baseball games to go to. If you plan on going, please click here for ticket information.

Go Gators!