OMAHA, Neb. – Florida’s bats overpowered Virginia to beat the Cavaliers 10-5 in a bracket one final of the 2015 Men’s College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park.
No. 4 seed Florida (52-17) put up 10 runs in 11 hits for its third double-digit-scoring game at the 2015 CWS. Its 35 runs is the most for any CWS team since 2010.
The Gators offense first attacked with four runs in the third. Dalton Guthrie and Ryan Larson hit back-to back singles, and Harrison Bader hit a grounder to second for an RBI. Richie Martin followed with a
double to right that scored Larson, then Josh Tobias followed with an RBI single to end Virginia starter Nathan Kirby’s day. Tobias advanced to third on a single by JJ Schwarz and came home on a passed ball, making it 4-1 Gators.
Florida put the game away with a five-spot in the sixth. The Gators loaded the bases on a hit by pitch, a single and a walk. A fielder’s choice forced an out at home but left the bases loaded. Mike Rivera started the scoring run with a single up the middle. Guthrie followed with a bases-loaded walk, and Larson hit for a fielder’s choice RBI. Bader and Martin then followed with back-to-back singles for an RBI a piece.
Florida tacked on a 10th and final run in the bottom of the seventh. Schwarz reached on a throwing
error by the third baseman, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on Rivera’s
RBI double.
Martin led the Gators with two RBI and three hits, including two doubles. Schwarz came around to score
twice and went 2-for-4.
Virginia kept it competitive, scoring three in the seventh and one in the eighth. In the top of the seventh, Kevin Doherty, Ernie Clement and Daniel Pinero loaded the bases on singles. Matt Thaiss drove in a run on a sac fly to left, and Kenny Towns made it 9-4 with a double into the right-center gap.
Robbie Coman reached second in the eighth after a throwing error by the pitcher, and Doherty hit him
home with a sac fly to deep center.
Towns and Thaiss had two RBI each for the Cavaliers, and Pinero finished 2-for-4.
Kirby (5-3) took the loss in his first outing back after injury. He allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits in 2.2 innings.
Starter Logan Shore (11-6) took home the win for Florida. He held Virginia to four runs on eight hits and struck out four.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday, time TBA, for a chance to reach the CWS Finals.
