The first day of the 2011 College World Series ended with the Florida Gators defeating the Texas Longhorns, 8-4.A strong effort by Hudson Randall and a late offensive surge handed the Gators a victory.
Texas jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning thanks to back-to-back errors by the Gators. A single and two sac flies given up by Hudson Randall scored the runs, but they were all unearned. The Gators answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame, one on a single and the other on a passed ball.
The Gators took the lead in the fourth inning and didn't look back. Back-to-back double put them up, 4-3, which was followed in the fifth inning by an RBI double from Preston Tucker. It was his only hit and RBI of the night. Tucker scored on a double in the seventh after he reached on a fielder's choice. They added one more run in the eighth.
Florida starter Hudson Randall allowed four runs (one earned) in 6.2 innings. He struck out five. Texas' starter, Taylor Jungmann, pitched just 4.1 innings before leaving the game. He allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and four walks. Jungmann was the 12th overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in the draft.
In Game 1 of the CWS, Vanderbilt defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels. Florida and Vanderbilt face off on Monday in the winner's bracket. North Carolina and Texas play for their CWS lives as the loser of their contest goes home.
Here is Bracket 1's remaining schedule:
Game 1: Vanderbilt def. North Carolina, 7-3
Game 2: Florida def. Texas, 8-4
Game 5: North Carolina vs. Texas, 12 p.m. MT, Monday, June 20
Game 6: Vanderbilt vs. Florida, 5 p.m. MT, Monday, June 20
Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser, 5 p.m. MT, Wednesday, June 22
Game 11: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner, 12 p.m. MT, Friday, June 24
Game 13, if necessary: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 11 Loser, 12 p.m. MT, Saturday, June 25
For more on Florida athletics visit Alligator Army, and head on over to SBNation.com's College World Series hub.