Sun Sentinel Broward Edition

Gators lament missed opportunit­ies in loss

- By Mike Malloy Correspond­ent

OMAHA, Neb. — Missed chances, missed plays.

The what-ifs were plentiful following Florida’s season-ending 5-4 loss to Virginia Saturday at the College World Series. Virginia (42-23) moves on to Monday’s final against Vanderbilt, while the Gators go home.

Florida (52-18) ends the year one win shy of both a school record for victories and its third appearance in the CWS championsh­ip series.

“The end of the season is so abrupt. It’s like a runaway train,” Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.

The Gators’ explosive offense could not break through against Virginia relief pitcher Josh Sborz. He did not allow a run in the final four innings, extending his scoreless streak to 23 innings.

“They’re so good hitting, you just try to spread out their hits as much as possible,” Sborz said.

Florida’s Harrison Bader was 4-for-5 and came through with a two-strike, two-out single in the top of the ninth but Richie Martin grounded out to second to end the game.

Virginia beat Florida twice in three tries, delivering a 1-0 win Monday, a 10-5 loss Friday and the big 5-4 win Saturday.

The Cavaliers, who lost to Vanderbilt during last year’s final series, went ahead for good against UF in the seventh inning late Saturday. A single and two walks loaded the bases with one out and Kenny Towns put Virginia ahead with a sacrifice fly.

“The way [Sborz] is pitching, you’ve just got to get that one-run lead anyway you can,” Towns said.

Towns had three runs batted-in.

For the second straight day, Virginia scored in the first inning, this time on Matt Thaiss’ no-doubt home run to right field.

It would not be the night’s only long ball.

Peter Alonso launched a change-up into the opening beyond the center field fence — a 429-foot shot that was the longest in TD Ame- ritrade Park history — following a walk to JJ Schwarz.

It was a breakthrou­gh against Virginia’s Brandon Waddell, who shut out the Gators in seven innings Monday. Florida managed four runs and six hits off Waddell Saturday.

“We did a good job of choosing one side of the plate. He mixes well, goes in-and-out pretty well,” Bader said.

After Alonso’s homer, Waddell walked Buddy Reed, then caught a break. Mike Rivera was hit with a pitch but not awarded first base. Home plate umpire Mike Morris shouted “stays here” as Rivera jogged toward first. He then hit into a double play.

“I’ve got to be careful of what I say,” O’Sullivan said. “The rule says you have to make an attempt to get out of the way. That’s all I can say.”

The Gators had two hits and a walk in the third inning, but a runner caught stealing stunted a rally.

“It was a hit-and-run and we missed a sign,” O’Sullivan said. “Little mistakes can come back to help you or haunt you. First and second and we weren’t able to get a bunt down. Third and third with one out and we don’t get the run in.”

Pavin Smith tripled with one out in the Virginia fourth and scored on Joe McCarthy’s sacrifice fly, tying the game, 2-2. Bader quickly untied things with his 17th home run in the top of the fifth.

Towns’ double just inside the left field line drove-in two, capping a rally that started with two outs and the bases clear in the fifth. O’Sullivan lamented falling behind in the count to Thaiss and Towns in that inning.

“We just didn’t play the cleanest game,” O’Sullivan said.

Rivera delivered two runscoring singles Friday and did so again Saturday, tying the game 4-4 in the sixth. The Gators had a chance to add on but could not break through against Sborz with runners at first and third with one out.

“He had a good fastball, but his main pitch was a slider. It had a pretty sharp break,” Alonso said.

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