The No. 1 Florida baseball team is just nine solid innings away from another patented dogpile and euphoric plane ride to Omaha, Neb.
The No. 2 national seed Gators walloped Mississippi State 11-1 Friday afternoon in Game 1 of the best-of-three NCAA Super Regional series.
After wasting little time in thrashing the Bulldogs, the Gators are just one win away from achieving consecutive College World Series appearances for the first time in school history.
"This time of year it's all about momentum," UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "How you handle momentum and how you hang on to it. I'm really proud of the way we played today. Offensively, it might have been one of our better days in a while."
Florida jumped on MSU freshman Evan Mitchell early, plating four runs in the first inning. Facing the Gators for the third time this season, the Bulldogs' right-hander had control issues during his brief outing.
UF roughed up Mitchell for seven runs on five hits and three walks, while its starter — Hudson Randall — frustrated Mississippi State's bats for eight impressive innings.
The Gators loaded the bases in the first before Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Mike Zunino poked a two-run single to left. The sophomore catcher was jammed with an inside fastball, but he muscled a hit over short to launch UF's scoring barrage.
Two batters later, outfielder Tyler Thompson stroked a two-run double, splitting the right-center gap.
"We have to throw the ball in the strike zone immediately," MSU coach John Cohen said. "Instantly two walks in the first inning score. If you give up solo homers that's not going to kill you but walks hurt."
Mitchell had yet to surrender a long ball all season before Nolan Fontana ripped a two-run dinger in the second. The shortstop's fifth homer of the season barely cleared the right field fence, but it continued a relentless approach Florida never let up.
In the third inning, Zunino ambushed a first-pitch fastball for his team-leading 17th round-tripper of the year, chasing Mitchell from the ballgame after recording just six outs.
Because the freshman couldn't throw his slider for strikes, the Gators sat on fastballs — waiting to launch them.
"Most of my pitches were up and you just can't win if you're doing that," Mitchell said.
For the fourth straight postseason contest, the Gators plated the first run. They are outscoring their opponents 34-1 in the opening three frames of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
"We try to grind out at-bats and see a lot of pitches," Zunino said of Florida's approach at the plate early on. "When we get [runners] on, we really get going."
While Florida's bats have heated up during the postseason, its redheaded ace seems impervious to the brutal temperatures. In 98-degree heat, Randall (10-3, 2.21 ERA) tossed eight sharp innings, scattering six hits and allowing just a single run on an RBI groundout.
The right-hander punched out a season-high eight while throwing a career-high 115 pitches — just the second time all year a UF pitcher has reached the century mark.
"He did what he's been doing all year long," O'Sullivan said. "He pitched deep into the ball game and saved our pen."
After the Bulldogs battered Randall for six runs in just 2.1 innings — the second shortest start of his career — earlier this season, the sophomore bounced back and pitched Florida one step closer to the CWS.
"They tattooed me over in Starkville," he said. "I missed pitching against them in the SEC Tournament, so I was really excited to come out and give it another go."
The All-SEC second-teamer pitched at least six innings for the 13th time in 17 starts, effectively mixing his sinker, slider and curveball.
The right-hander had impeccable command, throwing 21 of 32 first-pitch strikes — including 10 in a row to start the game.
"He pitched like it was a one-run game," O'Sullivan said. "He didn't give in a whole lot. He kept his intensity and focus which was huge for us to keep our other guys down in the ‘pen."
The Gators and Bulldogs square off tomorrow at noon in a must-win game for MSU.
Injury updates:
In the postgame press conference, O'Sullivan admitted he accidently misinformed the media on the status of injured pitcher/designated hitter Brian Johnson. On Thursday, UF's manager said it was "likely" Johnson would play, but after meeting with team doctors again Friday, the sophomore was ruled out for at least one more day. O'Sullivan said he is still, "day-to-day." First baseman/closer Austin Maddox was not in uniform for the third straight game, and his return this weekend is doubtful.
Florida right-handed pitcher Hudson Randall, who will start tonight's game against Cal State Fullerton, said he will be taking an aggressive approach against the small-ball prone Titans.
