Florida Gators stick-and-ball teams have been exceedingly unkind to their conference fellows lately -- the Mississippi St. Bulldogs were the latest victim, dropping an 11-1 contest to open the 2011 NCAA baseball championship's Super Regionals round. The Gators will need to win either Saturday or Sunday to advance to the College World Series in Omama for the seventh time.
Florida leapt out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning thanks to two-RBI hits by Mike Zunino and Tyler Thompson. Zunino added a homer two innings later, with Nolan Fontana and Daniel Pigott also adding round-trippers. Hudson Randall hurled eight innings, mowing down eight and giving up just six hits.
Evan Mitchell withstands the loss, having surrendered seven earned runs in two innings while walking three.
The complete TV schedule for the Gainesville Super Regional (all times ET):
Florida vs. Mississippi State: Game 1 (Florida wins, 11-1); Game 2, June 11 at noon, ESPN; Game 3, June 12 at 1, ESPN
For live updates throughout the 2011 CWS Championship Series, click here. For more SEC, join Team Speed Kills. For more Florida join Alligator Army and SB Nation Tampa Bay and for more Mississippi State join For Whom The Cowbell Tolls.