In Omaha, Neb., Alex Faedo was dominant again against No. 6 TCU, allowing three hits in 7.1 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts as third-seeded Florida posted a 3-0 victory Saturday evening to advance to the championship series of the College World Series.
The Gators (50-19) will meet fourth-seeded LSU in a best-of-three series beginning on Monday at 7 p.m. CT. The teams met in an SEC series in Gainesville in late March, with Florida taking two of three from the Tigers.
Faedo (9-2) beat the Horned Frogs (50-18) for the second time in Omaha. This past Sunday, Faedo allowed two hits and two walks in seven innings with 11 strikeouts in a 3-0 first-round victory for UF.
Florida got on the board in the top of the second. Austin Langworthy had a one-out double and scored on a base hit by Jonathan India as the Gators took a 1-0 lead.
In the fifth, Mike Rivera was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and came around to score on a double by Christian Hicks (2 for 3) to give UF a 2-0 edge.
Hicks had a one-out triple and scored when Deacon Liput’s bouncer hit the first base bag, giving Liput a hit and driving in Hicks as the Gators took a 3-0 lead.
Faedo allowed a one-out single in the eighth and departed after throwing 113 pitches. Michael Byrne entered and retired five of the six batters he faced. Byrne allowed one hit and struck out three in recording his 18th save.
Connor Wanhanen went 1 for 3 with a walk for TCU.