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Alex Faedo, Florida win College World Series opener; FSU in do-or-die game Monday

 
Published June 19, 2017

OMAHA, Neb. — Alex Faedo held TCU to two singles and struck out 11 in seven innings to set a Gator College World Series record, and Florida posted its first CWS shutout in 26 years with a 3-0 win Sunday. UF beat Florida State 5-0 in the 1991 CWS.

Faedo, a former Alonso High standout, retired 10 in a row before turning the game over to closer Michael Byrne to start the eighth. In 20 postseason innings, Faedo has 33 strikeouts and has allowed one run.

Faedo (8-2) has been part of seven of the Gators' nine shutouts this season. JJ Schwarz, Christian Hicks and Nelson Maldonado each drove in runs for the Gators (48-18).

Rightfielder Maldonado, a former Jefferson standout, was hobbling late in the game after rolling an ankle running to first. He stayed in the game for a few innings, then was taken out. His status is unclear.

L'VILLE 8, TEXAS A&M 4: Colby Fitch drove in four, Sam Bordner shut down the Aggies after they cut a five-run lead to one, and the Cardinals won their opener. Texas A&M chipped away against national player of the year Brendan McKay (11-3), the Rays' first-round pick who got the win, to make it 5-4 before Bord­ner entered. McKay, who also played DH and first and went 1-for-5 with a run scored, pitched five innings, matching his shortest outing this season. He allowed four runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out six. "I worked out of a lot of jams," he said. "It's hard to pitch effectively when you're in jams like that."

DO OR DIE FOR FSU: The Seminoles face Cal State Fullerton today, facing elimination after a loss to LSU on Saturday. "I'll take this bunch and go to battle," coach Mike Martin said. Shortstop Taylor Walls, a Rays pick, broke Paul Sorrento's 1985 FSU record by reaching base on 14 straight plate appearances. =