Florida baseball's pursuit of an NCAA championship got off to an effective start at the 2011 College World Series in Omaha. The Gators got a good start from Hudson Randall and rallied from an early deficit for an 8-4 win over Texas in their first CWS game.
After giving up a 3-0 lead with errors that turned likely outs into base-runners that turned into runs, Florida baseball did what it does best: Score runs. Bryson Smith drove in his first run of the night in the third inning after two Taylor Jungmann walks put runners on, and a passed ball permitted another Gators run.
Florida added two more runs in the fourth, a run in the fifth, two in the seventh after Texas closed to 5-4 (on what should have been a three-run homer by Brian Johnson), and one in the eighth (on Smith's second RBI single of the night) to finish the scoring, and did it all against one of the nation's best starters and a bullpen that helped Texas dominate the Big 12.
Randall worked 6.2 innings, gave up two earned runs, and earned his 11th win; Smith, who never made an out in the game, was likely the Gators' offensive MVP.
Next up for the diamond Gators: SEC rival Vanderbilt, at 7 p.m. on Monday. Florida took three of four from Vandy in the regular season and SEC Tournament.