OMAHA, Neb. — Florida sophomore righty Brady Singer had success against LSU during the regular season.
Now, Singer is looking to duplicate that feat on college baseball’s biggest stage.
Singer will start for the Gators tonight in Game 1 of the College World Series finals series against the Tigers at TD Ameritrade Park (7 p.m., ESPN).
Florida (50-19) is vying for its first baseball national title in school history. The Gators have reached the College World Series Finals series twice before, losing to South Carolina in two games in 2011 and Texas in two games in 2006.
Singer picked up a complete game win when he faced LSU during the regular season, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out four in 109 pitches in a game the Gators won 8-1 on March 25.
“I kept the ball low and threw to both sides of the plate and had the slider and changeup working,” Singer said. “And, honestly, pitched to my strength, got a lot of ground balls.”
Singer (8-5) was outstanding in his first career College World Series start, allowing just a run on six hits with nine strikeouts over seven innings to pick up the win in UF’s 5-1 win over Louisville last Tuesday.
LSU will counter tonight with redshirt senior righty Russell Reynolds, who is 1-1 with an 8.59 ERA this season. The Tigers could go the bullpen early if Reynolds struggles.
Florida lost the coin flip and will be the visiting team tonight.
The Gators enter the College World Series a banged up bunch. Starting shortstop Dalton Guthrie had to leave Saturday’s win over TCU due to back spasms. Guthrie did not practice Sunday and is questionable for today’s game. Starting right fielder Nelson Maldonado is dealing with a shoulder injury that has limited his ability to throw, but played in right field in Saturday’s TCU win after being the designated hitter the night before.
Contact Kevin Brockway at 352-374-5054 or kevin.brockway@gvillesun.com. Also check out Brockway’s blog at Gatorsports.com.
