—NCAA Super Regional at Gainesville
Mississippi State (37-23, Swept Atlanta regional) vs. Florida (48-16, Swept Gainesville regional)
Game time (11 a.m. CDT)
Broadcast: ESPN2
Florida won three of four games against the Bulldogs this season, including a come-from-behind 7-5 win in the SEC tournament. Two of MSU”s losses to Florida have come by two runs.
—Starting Pitchers:
—MSU: Freshman RH Evan Mitchell (6-1, 3.47 ERA)
After the freshman pitched eight innings and giving up three earned runs in a 8-3 win over Austin Peay, Mitchell gets the start against Florida.
More of a factor in the decision to start Mitchell is his performance against Florida at the SEC tournament, when he gave up two runs in five innings. In all, Mitchell has pitched a total of eight innings and given up four earned runs on nine hits against the Gators this season.
What makes Mitchell so effective against the Gators?
Ironically, the fact their lineup is so balanced and consistent.
“I wouldn”t say it makes it easier, but it definitely causes you to focus the whole game,” Mitchell said. “You can”t take a batter off or anything. If you make three great pitches, the next guy can hit a homerun or a double in the gap. You can”t slack off at all.”
—Florida: Sophomore RH Hudson Randall (9-3, 2.38 ERA)
Randall, a former freshman all-American, leads the Gators starters in ERA and has been the Friday starter this season.
Though he”s been just as consistent as he was during his freshman season, there”s one game he”d like to have back: the 7-5 loss at Mississippi State.
It”s the only game of the four the Gators have lost to MSU this season.
Randall Randall gave up six earned runs on nine hits in 2 1/3 innings, his worst start of the season.
“I got a sour taste in my mouth from the last start I had against them,” Randall said. “They were really aggressive swinging at two of the first three pitches, knowing I wasn”t going to walk them. I was leaving the ball up that game, so I”m looking forward to this weekend, pitching to the corners a little bit more, expand the zone and maybe get them to chase to the corners.”
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