Steven Rodriguez pitched 41/3 innings of no-hit relief over two days, and Florida finished a 3-1 victory over Vanderbilt on Tuesday in the completion of a game suspended because of inclement weather.
Rodriguez, a sophomore left-hander, retired three batters Monday night before high winds and heavy rain disrupted the game in the bottom of the sixth. He struck out six of the 11 batters he faced Tuesday and finished with seven strikeouts and a walk. It took only 44 minutes to play the last 31/3 innings.
"Yesterday, when the sirens went off, I was kind of upset because I was dealing and I felt really good. I thought, 'God, I don't need this to happen right now,'" Rodriguez said. "It was super perfect today and things came out in my favor."
Florida (52-17) defeated Vandy, a Southeastern Conference rival, for the fourth time in five games this season and needs a win over Vanderbilt or North Carolina on Friday to advance to the best-of-three finals. Vandy and UNC will play tonight at 7, with the loser eliminated.
Preston Tucker's three-run homer off starter Grayson Garvin (13-2) gave the Gators a 3-0 lead in the fourth.
California 7, Texas A&M 3: No. 9 batter Derek Campbell drove in two runs, closer Matt Flemer pitched scoreless ball after freshman Kyle Porter's solid start, and California won an elimination game.
California (38-22) will play South Carolina in another elimination game Thursday. The Aggies (47-22) went 0-2 and are now 2-10 in five CWS appearances.
The Bears led 6-1 after scoring three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Campbell, a .255 hitter who came in with five RBIs in 22 games, delivered RBI singles in each inning.
Porter (6-0) allowed three runs in six innings, and Flemer finished for his sixth save.
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