June 21, 2010

Game 5 Notes

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Seminoles send Gators back to Sunshine State

By Phil Stanton

CollegeBaseballInsider.com Co-Founder

OMAHA, Neb. – The big guns delivered.

Tyler Holt went 3 for 4 with a homer and three runs, and Mike McGee (left) drove in four and recorded the save as Florida State defeated third-seeded Florida 8-5 in Game 5 of the 2010 College World Series Monday afternoon in front of 19,841 fans at Rosenblatt Stadium.

The Seminoles (48-19) will meet the loser of the UCLA-TCU game on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. CT.

The Gators finished the season with a record of 47-17.

Florida got on the board in the top of the first as Nolan Fontana drew a leadoff walk and scored on a base hit by Austin Maddox.

Holt crushed a homer to center, his 13th, to lead off the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 1.

Two walks and a three-run homer by McGee, his 16th, in the third put FSU on top 4-1.

Holt singled and was squeezed home by McGee in the fourth as the Seminoles extended the lead to 5-1.

"These two guys have been the backbone of our ball club all year," said FSU head coach Mike Martin. "Tyler got us off to a big start, and Michael did such a good job, not only of hitting the home run, but of executing a very good safety squeeze to get us another run."

Jonathan Pigott went deep in the fifth for the third time for the Gators to narrow the margin to 5-2.

FSU added two in the seventh and one in the eighth before Preston Tucker’s three-run double in the ninth made it 8-5.

McGee then took over on the mound. He gave up a single and hit a batter to load the bases with one away. Mike Zunino hit a hard liner to Stephen Cardullo at short, who stepped on second to double off Maddox and end the contest. McGee recorded his 13th save.

When asked about homers vs. saves, McGee said "As far as the most fun? Definitely the home run. I definitely like to hit. It's great to end the game. It's great when you get the save. I like to be in control at the end. But hitting the home run, it's the best feeling there is."

Boyd finished with three hits for the Seminoles.

Fontana had two hits and two runs for the Gators.

"Any time you come to your last game, it's awfully hard," said Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan. "We're disappointed, but we accomplished more than most teams did, to be one of the eight teams to get to the College World Series. Hopefully we'll be fortunate enough to come back next year."

(photo by Jimmy Jones)