The Finals round of the 2011 College World Series begins Monday as defending champion South Carolina faces Florida in the first game of a best of three. Both teams went through their respective brackets unscathed with perfect 3-0 records. Florida beat Texas 8-4 and Vanderbilt twice 3-1 and 6-4. South Carolina beat Texas A&M 5-4 and Virginia twice 7-1 and 3-2.
Both teams represent the SEC and played three times with South Carolina winning two of three at Florida. South Carolina won the first game 9-2, lost the second 2-1, and won the third 4-3. They had a chance to meet again in the SEC tournament but South Carolina was knocked out after a win against Auburn when they had consecutive losses to Vanderbilt and Georgia. Florida won the SEC tournament winning four of five games including the title game against Vanderbilt.
Florida has had a stronger season at the plate with a .309 team average compared to .295 for South Carolina. Florida is a greater long ball threat with Mike Zunino at 18 and Preston Tucker at 15 leading the team total of 68 compared to South Carolina's 45 led by Christian Walker with 10 and Jackie Bradley Jr with six. South Carolina has the edge in pitching with a 2.49 ERA led by 13-3 Michael Roth's microscopic 0.98 compared to Florida's 2.97 led by 11-3 Hudson Randall at 2.24.
After being ousted in the SEC tournament South Carolina is riding an eight game winning streak. Florida is 8-1 over that same stretch and 12-2 including the SEC tournament. The experience of winning the national championship last season is another important factor for South Carolina. In the end I think the experience and their pitching with be enough to allow the Gamecocks to top the Gators and repeat as champs.
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