Posted on 06/18/2012 6:08:32 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
Kent State scored four unearned runs and another on a wild pitch, then held off Florida's comeback bid in the ninth to eliminate the top-seeded Gators from the College World Series with a 5-4 victory Monday.
The Gators (47-20), who reached the CWS finals last year, committed five errors in two games after coming to Omaha seventh in the nation in fielding.
Florida's Hudson Randall (9-3) left after the first inning because of heat-related symptoms. Ryan Bores (10-3) got the win for Kent State (47-19), making its first CWS appearance. Pierce earned his third save.
Kent State had 12 hits against four pitchers, but it was Florida's continuing problems in the field that allowed the Flashes to build a 5-1 lead.
George Roberts drove in runs each of the first two innings after shortstop Nolan Fontana and third baseman Josh Tobias committed errors.
Florida scored in the sixth and added two more runs in the seventh to make it 5-4.
Three outs away from a pulling the upset, Clark walked Preston Tucker on four straight pitches to start the ninth. He was 2-0 against Mike Zunino when Kent State coach Scott Stricklin called on Pierce, who also struggled with his control and put Zunino on.
After pinch hitter Cody Dent moved over the runners with a sacrifice, Pierce hit Daniel Pigott in the shoulder to load the bases.
Pierce fell behind 3-0 to Turgeon before throwing a strike. It looked like Turgeon would walk -- TV replays indicated strike two was outside -- but he couldn't hold back on his check swing on the next pitch and third base umpire Jeff Henrichs called him out.
Shafer put a good swing on Pierce's next pitch, but Sutton was able to chase down the fly to end the game.
(Excerpt) Read more at scores.espn.go.com ...
Florida played 67 games? Wow.
That’s what makes college sports what it is ... gotta love midmajors.
I’ll take it!
Go Flashes!
What happened was...
Huge win for that college program. Congrats to those guys knocking off the #1-WOW...some are Junior College transfers, some Sr’s...I noticed the right fielder put the baseball in his back pocket. Nice trophy case piece.
Can’t Read...Can’t Write..Kent State
Excuse me?
I know millionaires that were educated at Kent.
No one that went there was rich.
A step up from YSU LOL
Go Flashers! Kent State University. Class of 1977 !
Go Flashers! Kent State University. Class of 1977 !
As an FSU grad, I find that anyone who knocks off the Gators is my favorite team. Go Kent!!
Epic choke job, just like the basketball team.
;0)
Yours is coming...UCLA is no pushover
Sully needs more experience at big game management...Randall should have started against USCe...and he should have pulled the starter against the Cocks after the rain delay.
One of my friends, a UF grad and big time baseball lover, said something about an assistant that is having a lot of trouble with the players and it was very disruptive this season.
But it still was a bad choke job
0-2 & BBQ
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