Finally, a little bit of excitement in the 2011 CWS championship opener. Hudson Randall has been all but unhittable all night, and pretty much remains so, though he did walk Peter Mooney to begin the eighth inning, with Florida up 1-0. Robert Beary and Evan Marzilli each sacrificed along the basepaths before Scott Wingo chopped a ball up the middle to put the South Carolina Gamecocks on the board.
And with that, Randall was forced from the game, having given up only three hits through eight and two-thirds. Sorta-sidearmer Steven Rodriguez took over for the Florida Gators, fanning Jackie Bradley Jr.
Tyler Webb remained on the mound for Carolina, popping Cody Dent into the wilderness that is TD Ameritrade's centerfield. Nolan Fontana then fouled out to left, where Jake Williams made a great hustle play. Bryson Smith accepted a base on balls, but Preston Tucker ground out to send the 1-1 game into the ninth.
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