Drew Carlton pitched a two-hitter, Taylor Walls had an RBI double and Florida State beat rival Florida 3-0 in the opening game of an NCAA super regional Saturday night.
The Seminoles (41-20), who had lost five in a row and 10 of 12 against the Gators, can clinch a spot in the College World Series with a victory Sunday or Monday. No one should count out Florida (50-14) in the best-of-three series, though. The Gators will have their ace on the mound for Game 2 and one of the top picks in the Major League Baseball draft _ 6-foot-7 left-hander A.J. Puk _ waiting to start a potential deciding game.
Still, Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan opting to go with sophomore right-hander Alex Faedo over No. 1 starter Logan Shore raised eyebrows. Faedo (13-2), who had won his last seven starts, walked three and allowed three hits and two earned runs in four innings _ his shortest outing of the season.
Carlton (8-3), meanwhile, was dominant. He retired the final 19 batters.