College World Series Preview and Game Thread: Texas Tech vs. Florida

College World Series

Dates: Tuesday, June 21st
Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (46-19, 19-5)
Bad Guys: Florida Gators (52-15, 19-10)
Location: Ameritrade Park | Omaha, Nebraska
Game Notes: Preview | PDF
TV/Stream: ESPN2
Radio/Stream: Broadcast Affiliates

The presumptive #1 team in the nation, Florida, lost to Costal Carolina in the first game and now, it’s win or go home for either Texas Tech or Florida. Florida isn’t the best hitting team, but they can pitch and play defense. Faedo is one of two double-digit winners for Florida and Faedo has 124 strikeouts to just 21 walks on the year. That’s just all sorts of outstanding. For Texas Tech to win, they’ll have to be patient and aggressive all at the same time. No easy task. Texas Tech has always done this as a team and Texas Tech cannot deviate from that plan. Water that tree. Everyone does just a little bit. The pitching staff will have to be a collective group of players and they’ll have to shake off Robert Dugger’s 3 run home run to end the TCU game. This team is resiliant and I hope they continue that for just one more day.

* LAJ’s Krista Pirtle writes that Hunter Hargrove is an example of Texas Tech’s depth:

It’s a smart move to intentionally walk an All-American and conference player of the year with runners on base, momentum and scoring opportunities on the line.

Except against this Texas Tech lineup.

Maybe we should call it “Hargroving” — not as religious as Tim Tebow “Tebowing” as he prays on the field but, let’s be real, every Red Raider fan at this point in the season is praying for Hunter Hargrove to keep doing Hunter Hargrove things when the opposing pitcher gives Eric Gutierrez a free pass thinking he has a better chance against the junior whose stance takes up every inch of the batter’s box.

* Omaha’s Patrick Donohue writes that Texas Tech isn’t hanging their head after losing to TCU on Sunday:

The Red Raiders were poised to pull off a one-run victory over TCU on Sunday, but a ninth-inning, three-run homer by Horned Frogs freshman Luken Baker instead sent Texas Tech into an elimination game Tuesday against No. 1 national seed Florida. The Gators suffered a 2-1 loss to Coastal Carolina.

“The ball didn’t bounce our way,” Tech coach Tim Tadlock said. “Baker made a good swing on probably a pitch that wasn’t executed. That’s baseball. He’s a hell of a college baseball player, that’s for sure.

“It’s a double-elimination tournament for a reason. So we’ll show up Tuesday and be ready to go.”

* LAJ’s Krista Pirtle writes that Florida is ready to bounce back after losing to Costa Carolina:

The Gators’ mantra “This is our year” — after going two and out in 2010, 2012 and coming up short in the College World Series finals in 2005, 2011 — sums up Florida’s mentality as it faces an early elimination.

“There’s a lot of people disappointed,” Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan said after the Gators dropped their CWS opening game to Coastal Carolina 2-1 on Sunday. “I’m disappointed, to be honest with you. I think that’s a really good team. We just ran across a guy that was just really good tonight. And but we’ll bounce back. We’ll have a good practice tomorrow.

“And we’ve got no choice. We’ve got Alex on the mound, and we’ll do whatever we need to do Tuesday and hopefully win and then move on. Just take it one game at a time. That’s all we could do at this point.”

Stats

TEXAS TECH
FLORIDA
Avg .293 .279
OBP .399 .371
SLG .448 .420
ERA 4.15 2.92
OAvg .261 .226
SO/9 6.11 9.86
BB/9 3.85 2.47
FLD% .974 .983

Probable Starter:

Game 1: Tuesday, June 21st @ 4:00 pm
Texas Tech Starting Pitcher: RHP Davis Martin (9-1, 2.73)
Florida Starting Pitcher: RHP Alex Faedo (13-2, 3.25)
Final Score & Box Score:

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