Strong pitching by Singer leads Gators over Auburn
GAINESVILLE — UF pitcher Brady Singer received a standing ovation. Auburn’s Casey Mize earned an early exit.
The much-anticipated duel between first-round picks turned out to be a bit of a dud, at least for the Tigers during a 8-2 loss to the Gators in the first game of the NCAA Super Regionals.
Singer fell behind 2-0, but soon found his rhythm and held the Tigers in check before exiting two outs into the seventh inning after throwing 119 pitches and recording nine strikeouts against a lineup responsible for 40 runs in three games during NCAA Regional play.
“Brady being just Brady,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He settled in and battled all the way to the end. He’s a fierce competitor and he needed to be that way.”
The reported crowd of 4,610 at McKethan Stadium appreciated the effort and rose to its feet to shower Singer with applause during his final home start.
“I tried not to think about it, but obviously at the end with the fans cheering for me I kind of soaked it all in,” Singer said. “I’m forever grateful for this place.”
By then, Mize had been settled on the Auburn bench for some time. The Gators (46-18) chased the No. 1 pick in Monday’s MLB draft to the bench after five innings, having allowed seven hits, six earned runs and four walks.
The two teams will meet again at noon today, with UF one win away from a trip to the College World Series to defend its national title.
While Singer (12-1) was much sharper than Mize, the offense for the top-seeded Gators carried the day against Auburn (42-21).
“The biggest message this morning was to compete on every pitch,” O’Sullivan said. “I thought out competitive spirit at the plate was outstanding.”
UF’s roughed up Mize for four runs on four hits and a walk to seize a two-run lead after three innings.
Shortstop Deacon Liput got things going with a one-out single, one of three hits for the junior from Oviedo.
“I think Deacon kind of set the tone,” O’Sullivan said.
A bases-loaded, opposite-field single off the right-field wall by sophomore Wil Dalton scored Liput and designated hitter Nelson Maldonado to tie the game.
Dalton would score on a single by first baseman Keenan Bell to push the Gators’ lead to 4-2.
Following a 1-2-3 fourth inning for the Gators, Auburn came unglued during the fifth to allow two more runs. Dalton opened the inning by drawing a walk, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error. Left fielder Austin Langworthy also reached base on a walk and eventually scored on another Tigers’ throwing error.
Mize’s replacement, sophomore Davis Daniel, fared no better against the Gators’ lineup.
Liput, the first batter he faced, hit a home run. Maldonado added another in the bottom of the eighth inning for the game’s final margin.
The Gators will look to close out the Tigers against freshman righthander Tanner Burns (7-4, 3.12 ERA). UF will counter with Jackson Kowar, who was the No. 33 pick in Monday’s MLB draft but has struggled lately.
egthompson@ orlandosentinel.com