Gators are Omaha-Bound

By Ben Jones

Special to CollegeBaseballInsider.com

@warchantben

(photo by Tim Casey)

 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Harrison Bader took the final out and pocketed the baseball when Florida State's DJ Stewart launched a fly ball to left field to end Saturday's win at McKethan Stadium. The Gators' junior left fielder thought about keeping it for himself, but he had a better plan for it.

 

As soon as he could, he gave it to Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan.

 

"The ball kind of has some sentimental value to an extent," Bader said. "I thought he deserved having the ball. I wanted to give it to the person who deserved it the most."

 

Florida (49-16) beat Florida State 11-4 to advance to the College World Series for the ninth time in school history. This is the fourth time in the past six years the Gators have advanced to Omaha, but the first time for most of the roster. Florida hasn't been to the College World Series since 2012.

 

"It's hard. The first three times we went in 2010, 2011 and 2012, you don't really realize how difficult it is to get there," O'Sullivan said. "You just kind of get some momentum and some really good teams. Then you miss in 2013 and then you miss in 2014 and you start thinking 'Boy, this is not easy' … I think this one, I probably appreciate a little bit more."

                    

Florida State (44-21) got the start it wanted. But the Gators got the finish they were hoping for. FSU took a 2-0 lead in the first inning over its rivals, but the Gators came back to take a 9-2 lead before finishing off the Seminoles.

 

FSU had been on a seven-game win streak to enter the game and was undefeated in the postseason, but was bludgeoned in two games. Florida outscored FSU 25-9 in the Super Regional.

 

"We ran into a buzz saw," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "Very impressed with the way Florida played, and they're certainly a team that can take this momentum to Omaha and certainly come back with a championship."

 

Even after falling behind 2-0 in the first, largely because of a pair of errors, Florida barely trailed in the win. The Gators scored three runs in the top of the second inning, including two on a home run that cleared the bleachers in left field from freshman catcher JJ Schwarz. Florida didn't look back from there, scoring in third, fourth, fifth and six innings as well to strangle whatever life remained in the Seminoles.

 

As in Friday night's opener, Florida made short work of Florida State's starter. Junior righty Mike Compton lasted 2.2 innings, giving up six runs. Florida State's two starters on the weekend combined to give up 12 runs (10 earned) while mustering 14 outs.

 

Schwarz can take some credit for that. He went 2 for 3 with two home runs and three RBI in the weekend series to continue his postseason tear. He's now 12 for 20 with four home runs and 11 RBI in the NCAA tournament. His sister Taylor, a junior first baseman on Florida's softball team, helped the Gators win their second straight national championship earlier in the week.

 

"This weekend has been indescribable," Schwarz said. "My sister winning a national championship, that's such an accomplishment. I'm so excited for her and my parents are happy for her. I think it's our turn now. We're really excited to get out to Omaha and hopefully take one home."

 

Junior left fielder DJ Stewart, a possible first round pick in next week's MLB draft, was one of the lone bright spots for Florida State on the weekend. He had a two-run homer to end Friday's shutout, then launched another two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning on Saturday.

 

Florida's defense returned to form after the first inning and the lineup took command. Starter A.J. Puk gave up four runs in four innings, but senior Bobby Poyner came on and shut FSU down in the final five innings. Poyner, one of the few players remaining from Florida's last team to reach Omaha, gave up just three hits.

 

That was the final touch Florida needed to finish off its rival and return to the College World Series. Bader's last memento went to O'Sullivan as the Gators returned to Omaha.

 

"The stage was obviously set this weekend, but you can't make the stage bigger than the game itself," Bader said. "To go out there against a program like that and handle our business is a testament to the level that we're performing at right now."