Florida and South Carolina don't immediately come to mind when you're talking about Southeastern Conference rivalries — unless it's baseball.
The Gators (53-17) and defending national champion Gamecocks (53-14) will play their biggest series to date when they meet in the College World Series finals beginning tonight.
Last year, the Gators traveled to Columbia, S.C., the final weekend of the regular season and won two of three to edge out the Gamecocks for the SEC title.
"But they got the last laugh," said Florida catcher Mike Zunino, the SEC player of the year. "They got to hold the national championship trophy up."
Three months ago, South Carolina went to Florida and won two of three, and the teams ended up in a three-way tie with Vanderbilt for the best record in the league.
Yes, anticipation for this championship series has been brewing for a while.
"You know, if all you guys went away and there were no fans and we were on the back sandlot, I'm not sure it would be any different," coach Ray Tanner of the Gamecocks said Sunday. "I think they love to play. We love to play. Yeah, there's a lot more at stake now than there ever was before. But it's really genuine baseball. Let's go."
Florida will start sophomore Hudson Randall (11-3) against freshman Forrest Koumas (6-1) in Game 1.
Before coach Kevin O'Sullivan's arrival four years ago, the Gators had failed to make the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 20 years. Zunino, Randall, shortstop Nolan Fontana and third baseman Cody Dent were among the freshmen on the 2010 team that reached the College World Series for the first time since 2005.
Preston Tucker, who has a home run and team-leading six RBIs in the College World Series, said last year's 0-2 finish in Omaha left him and his teammates hungry for more.
"We had a different mindset coming in this year," Tucker said. "Last year was the first time for all the guys getting here, and I guess it was a little overwhelming. I know it was for me. But I think everyone's playing a little more comfortable, more relaxed this year, knowing that we have been there before."
Florida and South Carolina each won three straight to reach the finals. The Gators followed an 8-4 victory over Texas with wins of 3-1 and 6-4 against Vanderbilt.
South Carolina, which has won a record 14 straight NCAA tournament games, has wins of 5-4 against Texas A&M and 7-1 and 3-2 over Virginia, the latter in 13 innings.
Last year, the Gamecocks won six straight after losing their College World Series opener.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement