OMAHA — Christian Walker, cleared to play with a broken wrist half an hour before the game, scored from first base on two throwing errors in the 11th inning and defending champion South Carolina beat Florida 2-1 in Game 1 of the College World Series finals Monday night.
In a finish that looked a lot like their 13-inning win over Virginia on Friday, the Gamecocks (54-14) performed defensive magic late, throwing out two runners at home plate in the bottom of the ninth and another in the 10th.
“In close games like that you just try to keep fighting,” said left fielder Jake Williams, whose perfect throw home kept Florida from scoring the winning run in the 10th. “You try to make the plays you can make and get someone to move them over and get them in. You’ve got to do little things in close games like that and hopefully come out in the positive. We’ve been able to do that.”
Game 2 in the best-of-three finals between the Southeastern Conference rivals is tonight.
Walker, who fractured his left wrist in the win over Virginia, singled up the middle to start the 11th. Florida catcher Mike Zunino threw into center field as Walker stole second. Walker took off for third and was awarded home after Bryson Smith’s throw from the outfield bounced away from Cody Dent and into the stands.
South Carolina coach Ray Tanner didn’t put Walker into the lineup until after he had a good showing in batting practice. Walker is batting .355 to lead the Gamecocks.
“I knew it was going to take a lot of pain for me not to play,” Walker said. “For the last half of (Sunday), I didn’t think I was going to be able to play.”
John Taylor (8-1) got the win and Matt Price earned his 19th save. Nick Maronde (0-1) took the loss — Florida’s first in 47 games in which it had led after the seventh inning.
“They’re the defending national champs for a reason,” Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan said of the Gamecocks.
