Florida slipped by Florida Atlantic in the wee hours of Tuesday morning to advance to the NCAA Baseball Super Regionals.
The Gators seemed in the driver’s seat of their Gainesville Regional when they swatted Columbia 13-5 Friday, and nipped Jacksonville 3-2 Saturday, to await whomever came out of the loser’s bracket.
The Owls were that team. And they were on a roll after eliminating Columbia and Jacksonville to reach the finals that were postponed until Monday due to weather problems. FAU stayed hot Monday whipping Florida 7-4 to force the if-necessary game.
The Owls jumped ahead 2-0 in that game before the Gator pitching stiffened. Home runs by Jonathan India, Wil Dalton and Jonah Girand got Florida a lead that closer Michael Byrne protected with three scoreless innings of work and now the Gators get to host a Super Regional.
That show starts Saturday at noon on ESPN with Auburn coming in. The winner in the two-of-three series advances to the World Series in Omaha the following week. Florida State also hosted a regional and got behind the eight-ball early, losing to Samford 8-7 Friday.
Elijah MacNamee then ended the Seminoles’ season with a two-out walk-off three-run homer Saturday, giving Mississippi State a 3-2 win.
By Joe Ferolito
sports@prioritynews.net