Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.Florida looks like it is on a nice growth track toward someday winning a national baseball championship.
Last season, the Gators got to the College World Series for the first time since 2005, exiting after two straight losses. This season, UF came back to Omaha and won three straight to get into the championship series against South Carolina, which claimed the title Tuesday night with a 5-2 win.
Nice theory, Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. But that’s hooey in his mind.
“It’s nice to make steps,’’ he said. “But to be honest with you, the idea is to win this thing. Our goal year in and year out is to win a national championship.
“We have the pieces in place — facilities, etc. — to be one of those teams. We’re going to be back here, and we’re going to finish this thing off.’’
After last year’s two-and-out, Florida catcher Mike Zunino said it was a hollow feeling.
On Tuesday night, despite seeing his team finish with a school-record 53 wins, the Southeastern Conference player of the year said going home without a trophy hurts.
“Unless you come out and win it, you’re always going to have that feeling,’’ Zunino said. “We made good strides this year, but that hollow feeling is still there.’’
Florida (53-19) heads home offering no excuses for falling to South Carolina.
“They were a little better than us in all phases,’’ O’Sullivan said. “They pitched a little bit better. They hit a little bit better. They played a little bit better defense.
“They earned it. There’s nothing more to be said than that.’’
In Monday’s opening game of the title series, the Gators lost 2-1 in 11 innings. They failed to score in the ninth inning after loading the bases with no outs. Then the winning run for South Carolina scored in the 11th when Florida made two errors on the same play.
“Let’s face it, last night was a tough loss for us,’’ O’Sullivan said.
But it didn’t knock the Gators off track Tuesday night.
“I do think they were ready to play today,’’ O’Sullivan said. “Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out the way you want it to. The score doesn’t indicate the preparation you put into it. I felt very good about the mindset of our players today.’’
With South Carolina All-American Michael Roth on the mound, Florida had trouble getting its offense started.
“Roth had something to do with it,’’ O’Sullivan said. “We had base runners. We had opportunities. We put ourselves in good positions.
“We just couldn’t get over the hump. And that was the difference.’’
Contact the writer:
402-444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com
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