Florida got out to a lousy start against Texas A&M in a College World Series elimination game on Wednesday evening, surrendering a pair of runs in the first inning without giving up a hit.
Starting pitcher Liam Peterson didn’t have control and seemed to be affected by a tight early strike zone, a lethal combination for the Gators.
He was lifted before the first inning was over, and Florida was staring down a 2-0 deficit.
The good news? Replacement Fisher Jameson was dealing early on against Texas A&M and was able to limit a bases-loaded situation in the first inning to just two runs.
“Well he’s throwing the ball across the plate, and that’s what kind of got us in trouble there in the first inning,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We just weren’t throwing enough strikes, and he did a really nice job to minimize the damage.”
The trouble on the mound early wasn’t the only problem for the Gators, though. They were having extreme difficulty figuring out Aggies starter Justin Lamkin through the first four innings.
Lamkin had struck out eight through four frames, while giving up only three hits and one walk. He worked his way out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the third inning for Texas A&M.
O’Sullivan detailed what his guys need to do differently at the plate.
“Six of our first nine hitters struck out,” he said. “I think we probably, you know, need to have a two-strike approach in the beginning. It’s a really tough night to hit. The wind, there’s a really stiff wind from left to right. Anything hit in the air to left is going to have a really hard time getting out of here. So just shorten up our strokes, have some good at-bats, cut down our swings a bit.”
Florida is on its second game of the day after dispatching Kentucky 15-4 earlier in the afternoon during an elimination game. Texas A&M is playing its first game of the day.
If the Gators hope to stay alive they’ll have to beat the Aggies twice to advance to the College World Series final. Down 2-0 in the top of the fifth, there’s a long way to go.
O’Sullivan downplayed the challenge of having to play a double-header, though.
“There’s not really a challenge, we’re just happy we’re playing still, to be honest with you,” he said.
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