Friday night’s Gainesville Regional opener between No. 13 national seed Florida and Central Michigan wasn’t the Gators’ prettiest game of the year.
They were outhit 12-8, and they struck out a dozen times offensively. They hit just 3-for-13 with runners on base, and the Chippewas put at least one runner on base in seven innings.
Still, the hosts were able to do enough to exit Condron Ballpark with a comfortable 7-3 win. UF will face Oklahoma in the winners’ bracket game on Saturday at 7. The Sooners blasted Liberty, 16-3, in the first game on Friday.
Gators starter Brandon Sproat had some issues navigating the top part of Central Michigan’s lineup.