Florida stays alive, will face SEC rival
JJ Schwarz hit a two-run homer and Florida built enough cushion to survive Texas Tech’s six-run outburst over the seventh and eighth innings and eliminate the Red Raiders from the College World Series with a 9-6 win Thursday night in Omaha.
The Gators (49-20) have won two straight following a loss to Texas Tech in their CWS opener and moved to the Bracket 2 final against Southeastern Conference rival Arkansas.
The No. 1 national seed would have to beat the Razorbacks on Friday and again Saturday to return to the best-of-three championship round next week.
Florida freshman Jack Leftwich (5-5) gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out five in 61⁄3 innings. He escaped trouble in the second and fourth innings before leaving with two runners on base in the seventh.
That’s when Texas Tech (45-20) and its high-scoring offense started to make trouble for the Gators and their bullpen.
Texas Tech scored three times against four pitchers in the seventh to make it a two-run game. Brady Smith’s triple off the centerfield wall helped the Gators get three runs back in the top of the eighth.
Texas Tech came back with three more runs in the eighth against three relievers to make it 8-6. Florida got one of those runs back in the ninth, and Michael Byrne pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 16th save.
Schwarz broke his right hand May 18 and returned to the lineup for Florida’s first CWS game. He was one for 11 in Omaha before the homer.