Florida Gators advanced to third straight College World Series

GAINESVILLE — JJ Schwarz hit a towering, two-run homer, Tyler Dyson followed with five scoreless innings of relief and Florida beat Wake Forest 3-0 Monday night to earn the final spot in the College World Series.

Right-handed ace Alex Faedo, an Alonso High graduate selected by the Detroit Tigers with the 18th overall pick in the MLB draft early in the game, tossed the final two innings for his first career save.

Faedo had made 43 starts since his previous relief appearance in April 2015. But with four weather delays totaling nearly 10 hours during the best-of-three series, Faedo was in the bullpen for the decisive game. And he delivered, helping the Gators (47-18) return to Omaha, Neb., for the third consecutive season and for the sixth time in the past eight years.

Wake Forest, which hit five home runs in an 11-inning, 8-6 Game 2 victory to force the deciding game, was held to four hits and shut out for the fourth time this season. The game had a rain delay of three hours and 14 minutes.

In Game 2, Ben Breazeale homered twice, including a walkoff shot in the 11th inning. He launched a 3-2 pitch off closer Michael Byrne that cleared the 35-foot scoreboard in rightfield to end the game that was suspended Sunday night after a lengthy rain delay.

The Demon Deacons scored all their runs on homers, no surprise considering they lead the nation in homers with 106.

Gavin Sheets got the scoring started with a three-run homer in the first inning Sunday. Breazeale followed with his first of the game. Johnny Aiello hit solo shots in consecutive plate appearances Sunday and Monday.

CWS schedule: No. 1 national seed Oregon State plays Cal State Fullerton in the College World Series opener Saturday in Omaha, Neb. The night game pits No. 4 seed LSU, winner of 16 in a row, against Florida State. Bracket 2 games Sunday have No. 7 seed Louisville playing Texas A&M in the afternoon and No. 6 seed TCU facing either No. 3 seed Florida at night.