Gators chomp the Red Raiders
With their season on the line in a College World Series elimination game, the defending national champions, Florida Gators, defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders 9-6 in front of an electric crowd at Omaha’s TD Ameritrade Park.
The scoring started in the top of the fourth inning when Florida’s Jonathan India was walked during his at-bat. He then advanced to second base on a wild pitch, followed by his third base steal, and subsequently advanced home on another wild pitch from Texas Tech’s Caleb Kilian.
Florida scored two more runs in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI double from Deacon Liput and a sacrifice RBI from Nelson Maldonado. The scoring continued in the top of the sixth, as the Gators’ JJ Schwarz hit a two-run homer to left field, making the score 5-0.
The Red Raiders looked to get back into the game in the bottom of the seventh with RBIs from Brian Klein and Josh Jung. Texas Tech scored another when Gabe Holt advanced home off of a fielding error by Florida, cutting the Gator’s lead to 5-3.
Both teams scored three runs in the eighth inning with Florida getting one last run in the top of the ninth to secure the 9-6 victory. Texas Tech finished the season with a record of 45-20. The Gators will play Arkansas next for a spot in the CWS Championship Series Saturday at 7 p.m.
Written by Harrison Popp
