College World Series
For a state rich in baseball talent, Florida has had little to show for it in terms of NCAA championships since around the turn of the century.
Florida State has never won the College World Series. The University of Miami’s last title came in 2001. The University of Florida had never won the CWS in 10 previous tries.
That drought ended on Tuesday night with Florida’s 6-1 victory over LSU in Omaha, Nebraska. The Gators swept the Tigers in the best-of-three finals, blowing open a taut 2-1 contest with four runs in the eighth inning to earn the first championship in the program’s 103-year history. LSU had the tying run in scoring position in the sixth inning and again in the seventh, both times with one out, but couldn’t score.
While the Gators won the CWS for the first time, LSU lost one for the first time. The Tigers had won the title in each of their previous six appearances.
Florida’s pitching more than compensated all season long for a team weak at the plate (team batting average of .258).
“I don’t think anybody thought we would get to this point,” Gators coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We had our struggles throughout the year offensively. In mid-March we were hitting about .230 as a team. They kept working and believing, and I told them before the season started that we had what it took, the ingredients, to pull this thing off.”
After more than a century of trying, the Gators are champions.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman
JAY-Z Headed On Tour In Fall
-
Famous British Olympian Retires After an illustrious career adorned with numerous accolades, Dame Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female...
-
Manchester City Brings it Home with a 3-1 Victory! Following Manchester City’s impressive 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen in...
-
Murray’s New Goals Before Retirement Andy Murray, the renowned British tennis player and three-time Grand Slam champion, has shared...
-
Kylian Mbappe led Paris Saint-Germain to a resounding 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of their...
-
Klopp acknowledges defensive flaws as Liverpool suffers unexpected defeat against Arsenal. Following Liverpool’s unexpected defeat against Arsenal, manager Jurgen...
-
Ryan Mendes’ Heroic Penalty: Captain Leads Cape Verde to Victory In a historic moment for Cape Verde, the national...
-
Probe Raises Questions About PSG’s 2017 Deal and Political Involvement. French authorities have launched an investigation into allegations...
-
As Ireland faces a back-three injury crisis ahead of the Six Nations, some players have an opportunity to step...
-
16-year-old Luke Littler Makes History as the Youngest Player to Join the Prestigious Premier League Darts Luke Littler, the...
-
Get ready for the electric thrill! In a groundbreaking move, Formula E announces its exclusive broadcasting partnership with TNT...
-
Captain Kohli’s Record-Equalling Century Lights Up World Cup Match Against South Africa. On the occasion of his 35th birthday,...
-
All-Rounder Stokes Aims for Recovery Ahead of Upcoming India Test Series England Test captain Ben Stokes has announced that...