Inside No. 1 Florida Gators hosting surging Auburn Tigers in NCAA Super Regionals.
GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators next step in the defense of their national title could be the most challenging.
After slipping by FAU to reach the Gainesville Super Regional, the Gators (45-18) now host the surging Auburn Tigers (42-21) beginning at noon today. The first game will air on ESPN. The winner of this weekend’s best-of-three Super Regional will advance to the College World Series. Check out three things to watch during the matchup:
PAIR OF ACES:
Pitching duels do not get much higher profile or higher stakes than Saturday’s between UF’s Brady Singer and Auburn’s Casey Mize.
Both are flame-throwing, first-round draft picks who have split their two headto-head meetings. The winner of the rubber match will put his team within one game of a trip to Omaha.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Mize was the No. 1 pick during Monday’s MLB draft because of his superb command of four pitches, including a fastball in the mid-90s. Mize (10-5, 2.95 ERA) has struck out an SEC-leading 151 batters in 2018. In the past two seasons, he has 260 Ks and has issued only 21 walks.
“You don’t see a guy that polished that much at this level,” UF right fielder Wil Dalton said. “His stuff is so refined and so consistent.”
Dalton and the Gators, though, have full faith in Singer (11-1, 2.27 ERA). The Eustis native was Baseball America’s National Player of the Year and the No. 18 pick in the draft after leading the SEC in wins and ERA. A fastball in the mid-90s and a nasty slide anchor the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder’s repertoire.
Singer’s grit and competitiveness separate him from most pitchers.
“I’m sure he’ll come out and be the Brady Singer we all know,” Dalton said.
CATCHING ON:
Jonah Girand was out of baseball two years ago and at Sanford’s Seminole State Community College last spring. He spent this past regular season as UF’s a bullpen catcher.
But when starter JJ Schwarz broke his hand, Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan opted for the 23-year-old Girand over promising freshman Cal Greenfield and began one of the most-improbable tales of the postseason.
“You make a decision, you have a hunch and he makes you look good,” O’Sullivan said.
Girand made O’Sullivan look like a genius. The 6-foot, 200-pound junior homered three times in four games — twice to put UF ahead for good — and earned Most Outstanding Player honors during the Gainesville Regional.
“It’s been crazy, having been out a year to playing in the regionals with the Florida Gators,” Girand said. “It has been an amazing opportunity.”
Girand spent the 2015 season at Gainesville’s Santa Fe Community College, hitting just .186 in 19 games. A year back in Orlando working in retail, followed by a stint at Seminole led him back to Gainesville.
O’Sullivan said the Gators might not still be on the road to Omaha without Girand. “It’s amazing these stories that happen this time of year,” O’Sullivan said.
WAKE-UP CALL:
UF felt fortunate to get by FAU following a uncharacteristically sloppy day for the topseeded team.
The Gators are unlikely to be so lucky against Auburn.
During two games Monday against FAU, UF recorded five errors that would have been more if not for generous score-keeping. Third baseman Jonathan India, the No. 5 pick in the draft, had two throwing errors during the deciding game, a 5-2 Gators’ win. He also pulled first baseman Brady Smith off the bag on other throws that weren’t scored as errors.
“We played really sloppy,” India said. “We’re better than that.”