The kids in purple looked royal on Saturday at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium. In the opening game of the 2010 College World Series, TCU made quick work of Florida St., putting a five spot on the board in the first inning and then cruising to a 8-1 win. With the victory, TCU advances to the winner’s bracket in the double elimination format to play the winner of tonight’s UCLA vs. Florida game on Monday. Meanwhile, Florida St. will get the loser of that contest in an elimination game with their season on the line.
2010 College World Series: TCU Takes Down Florida St., 8-1
With one of the nation’s top offenses, a crooked number wasn’t unexpected for the Horned Frogs, but the surprise came in their ability to jump on the Seminoles early in their first ever College World Series appearance. Jason Coats continued his stellar season with a 2-3, three RBI effort and Bryan Holoday hit the game’s only home run as part of a 3-5, two run, RBI afternoon.
For all of the talk about the TCU offense, another storyline was playing out on the mound, where Matt Purke put the clamps on the Florida St. offense. Purke, a first-round pick of the Texas Rangers, showed no freshman jitters in his seven innings of work. After allowing an unearned run on three hits in the first inning, Purke did not allow another hit until the seventh inning. When his day finally came to an end, the bespectacled, crooked hat southpaw had struck out seven and allowed just one unearned run on four hits to improve to 15-0 on the season.
For all the accomplishments of the Horned Frogs and positive outlook they have going into Monday’s winner’s bracket game, Florida St. has as many questions. Armed with a solid, but not spectacular offense, the Seminoles cannot count on an offensive outburst. They also lack depth in their pitching staff and after Sean Gilmartin managed just three innings in his start today, the Seminoles had to go to five different relievers. Now, the unspectacular offense, thin pitching Noles are not only facing elimination, but doing so after putting their bullpen to work.
Next up tonight is the other match-up in bracket one between UCLA and Florida. The number three national seed Gators and number six national seed Bruins give Omaha probably the most intriguing opening round game and it all gets underway at 7 pm EDT.
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