Associated Press
College World Series …
OMAHA, Neb. — Virginia’s Kenny Towns thrives on the pressure this time of year. So he was right where he wanted to be in a tie game late in the opener of the College World Series.
Towns delivered a tiebreaking eighth-inning double after Daniel Pinero stole second and third base, and the Cavaliers defeated Arkansas 5-3 on Saturday.
“I feel comfortable in the postseason with games on the line. The past couple years I’ve been here and I’ve gotten used to it,” said Towns, whose 22 RBIs in 26 career NCAA tournament games are a school record. “You want to rise up for your team and give them a better chance to win. I’ve been able to get the opportunity and succeed sometimes.”
The Cavaliers (40-22), the 2014 national runners-up, advanced to a Bracket 1 winners’ game against Florida on Monday night. The Razorbacks (40-24) will meet Miami in an elimination game in the afternoon.
Florida 15, Miami 3
OMAHA, Neb. — Florida scored 11 runs in the fourth inning to tie a College World Series record, and defeated Miami 15-3 on Saturday night, the Hurricanes’ most lopsided loss in their long and proud postseason history.
The Gators’ outburst broke open a surprisingly sloppy game and ended with Florida having turned a 2-1 deficit into a 10-run lead on nine hits off Andrew Suarez and two relievers.
Florida (50-16) advanced to a Bracket 1 winners game against Virginia on Monday night. Miami (49-16) and Arkansas will play an elimination game that afternoon.
Logan Shore (10-6) scattered seven hits and struck out six in five innings.
This was the 241st or 242nd meeting between Florida and Miami — the schools don’t agree on the number — but the first at the CWS.