So much for that great pitching match-up. Taylor Jungmann lasted just 75 pitches and 4.1 innings, giving up five runs for Texas and Hudson Randall gave up four runs for Florida in their College World Series openers. It was hardly the best of outings for either, but the Gators won’t complain. Those five runs, plus two more in the seventh inning have stretched their lead to 7-4, although they do have a legitimate complaint as to whether they should have one more.
College World Series 2011, Texas Vs. Florida Score: Gators Hold Onto 7-4 Lead After Seven
Jungmann’s last pitch of the game came with one out in the fifth inning when he hit a batter. Augie Garrido had seen enough and pulled his ace, but it didn’t do much good. The first pitch the next batter saw was laced for a RBI double by Preston Tucker and the Gators had themselves a 5-3 lead.
The Longhorns did their part to try and battle back. With two outs in the seventh inning Jacob Felts singled and Jordan Etier followed with a RBI double to cut into that Gator lead. Leading by just one run, Florida pulled Randall, who had given up four runs, but really did pitch well. Only one of his runs were earned as poor defense did him in.
Leading by just a run, the Gators went looking for insurance in the bottom of the seventh and they got it with two outs. Brian Johnson launched one high and deep to right center. It cleared the fence and landed on a flat concrete surface just beyond the fence before bouncing off a further fence to separate the fans from the action. It came back into the field of play and despite replays showing it should have been a home run, the umpires ruled it a double. Two runs did score on the play to make it 7-4, but Florida will undoubtedly be correctly thinking that it should be 8-4.
The favored Gators now just have to hold on for two more innings. With Florida’s very strong bullpen and Texas already working deeper into their bullpen, its tough to see the Longhorns mounting a comeback, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
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