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Florida baseball: If game one is any indication, Gators-Canes will thrill

By Matthew Clark

OMAHA, NE - JUNE 27: Left fielder Austin Langworthy #44 of the Florida Gators makes a running catch against the LSU Tigers in the ninth inning during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 27, 2017 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 27: Left fielder Austin Langworthy #44 of the Florida Gators makes a running catch against the LSU Tigers in the ninth inning during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 27, 2017 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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It’s early in the Florida baseball season, but there has been plenty of excitement already. The Gators didn’t even have to leave Florida to find it either.

With two runners on and one out in the top of the 11th inning, Florida baseball outfielder Jacob Young made it count.

He delivered an RBI single which proved to be the game-winner Friday night as No. 2 Florida baseball topped No. 1 Miami, 2-1 in Coral Gables.

While the end was plenty exciting, pitcher Tommy Mace’s performance stole the show.

The first-of-three series at Alex Rodriguez Park provided all the thrills of a late-season super-regional final. But we’re just six games into a long baseball season.

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If Friday night is any indication, the next two games — 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday — will be just as exciting, or at least provide some pretty stellar baseball.

But, for now, back to Mace.

The junior right-handed pitcher threw a stellar game against a highly-potent Miami Hurricane lineup.

Mace provided Florida baseball with seven strong innings — giving up just two hits while striking out eight. The eight strikeouts were one shy of his career record.

With the game tied 1-1, Mace gave way to the Florida baseball bullpen, and that worked out well. Christian Scott, Ben Specht and Nick Pogue combined to throw four shutout innings of baseball — allowing just one hit.

For Specht, he picked up the win and extended his number of consecutive scoreless innings to 9 2/3 — going back to last season’s post-season loss to Dallas Baptist.

Despite being early in the season, this is just what Florida baseball needed to get the long, grueling 2020 baseball season off to a solid start. It’s easy to play patsies to build up the schedule, but this season has been fortunate enough to give us a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup so early in the season.

Neither Florida baseball nor Miami disappointed in the first game. That can suggest the rest of this series is going to be stellar to watch.

Florida baseball will attempt to win its sixth consecutive regular-season game against the Hurricanes and start 7-0 on the season for just the third time in head coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s 13 years with Florida baseball. First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Coral Gables.

Next. Gators' bubble on the line now. dark

Unfortunately, the series is sold out and you will have to either find a radio station or watch on ACC Network Extra.

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