The 2011 College World Series has become an all-SEC affair, as the Florida Gators and the South Carolina Gamecocks both advanced to the championship series on Friday. Neither team lost on their way to the end of the tournament.
In the first game of the day, the Gators took out the Vanderbilt Commodores, 6-4. Rockies draft pick Preston Tucker drove in the first run and the go-ahead run for the Gators. Tied at four in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Gators put together three consecutive singles for Tucker, who then deposited the ball into left field for an RBI single. A wild pitch by Vandy's pitcher put an insurance run on the board. First-round draft pick and Vandy ace Sonny Gray allowed all six runs (two scoring after he left the game), walking five and striking out eight along the way.
The Gamecocks needed 13 innings to defeat the top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers. Virginia ace Danny Hultzen pitched just three innings due to sickness, striking out eight and allowing zero runs. After Brady Thomas doubled in two runs in the bottom of the fourth for the Gamecocks, Virginia went ahead and tied the game in the top of the eighth. So the game continued on until the bottom of the 13th. Brady Thomas started things again with a single to center field, leaving for a pinch runner, Adam Matthews. Virginia pitcher Cody Winiarski failed to properly come up with two bunted balls, and the second one cost him dearly. It allowed the pinch runner, Matthews, to score the winning run.
Here is the championship schedule:
Championship Game 1: Florida vs. South Carolina, 6 p.m. MT, Monday, June 27, ESPN/ESPN3.com
Championship Game 2: Florida vs. South Carolina, 6 p.m. MT, Tuesday, June 28, ESPN/ESPN3.com
Championship Game 3: Florida vs. South Carolina, 6 p.m. MT, Wednesday, June 29, ESPN/ESPN3.com - if necessary