OMAHA, Neb. — Florida carried a five-run lead into the bottom of the seventh inning against Texas Tech. Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan never let himself get comfortable.
"We knew they weren't going away," O'Sullivan said. "They hung in there with us, and we knew it would be a nine-inning ballgame."
It was every bit a nine-inning game Thursday night.
Fortunately for the Gators, they built enough cushion to survive Texas Tech's six-run outburst over the seventh and eighth innings and eliminate the Red Raiders from the College World Series with a 9-6 win.
The Gators (49-20) have won two straight following a loss to Tech in their CWS opener and moved to the Bracket 2 final against Southeastern Conference rival Arkansas.