FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
Sophomore Mike Zunino (Cape Coral, Fla.) drove in three runs and Florida (49-16) scored in each of the first five innings to defeat Mississippi State (37-24), 11-1, in the opening game of the best-of-three NCAA Gainesville Super Regional on Friday afternoon at McKethan Stadium. Game two will be on Saturday at noon and be shown nationally on ESPN, with the Gators needing one more victory to punch the program’s seventh ticket to the NCAA College World Series.
Sophomore right-hander Hudson Randall (Atlanta, Ga.) (10-3) held the Bulldogs scoreless into the seventh inning and was supported by a balanced offense that plated four runs in the first, two in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth to build a 10-run cushion. Over eight full innings, his longest stint in NCAA play, Randall registered a season-high eight strikeouts, scattered six hits and permitted one run.
“This time of the year, it’s all about momentum and how you handle momentum, how you gain momentum and hold onto it,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “I am really proud of the way we played today offensively; it might have been one of our better offensive days in awhile. I know we have been swinging the bat really good but to not have any giveaway innings was key. I thought we were just outstanding. Hudson Randall just did what he has been doing all year long and pitched deep into the ballgame, saving our (bull)pen.”
Postgame Press Conference
Florida Recap
Mississippi State Recap
