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College baseball: Florida, JU fall, FSU wins in opening game of regional play

Gators can’t get past USF; Florida State beats Southern Miss; JU falls to ODU

Florida infielder and Providence graduate Nathan Hickey (11) fields a hit during an NCAA baseball game against Florida A&M on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough) (Gary McCullough, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It was a big day for college baseball teams from the region.

Florida, Florida State and Jacksonville University began regional play Friday, but only the Seminoles managed to win their first-round game.

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JU pressed top-seeded Old Dominion in the Columbia Regional, but came up short in a tough 4-3 loss. The Dolphins (16-33) had the go-ahead run on second base in the top of the ninth but stranded runners in scoring position to wind up going into Saturday’s loser’s bracket game.

JU scored all three of its runs in the first inning but ODU caught up by the next inning and overtook the Dolphins. The loss spoiled an excellent game by senior hurler Tyler Santana, who went the distance and struck out nine. The Dolphins next face Virginia in a win-or-go-home game Saturday at noon.

The top-seeded Gators (38-21) struggled and fell flat against South Florida (29-27), dropping a 5-3 game to the Bulls. They now head into the loser’s bracket on Saturday against South Alabama at noon. The Jaguars lost to Miami, 1-0.

Providence grad Nathan Hickey had a pair of hits and two RBI. Ponte Vedra product Jacob Young had a hit and Bishop Kenny grad Colby Halter had a pinch hit double in the bottom of the ninth to put the tying run at the plate. But the Gators couldn’t do anything with it.

Second-seeded Florida State (31-22) used a three-run sixth inning to overtake No. 2 Southern Miss (37-20) in the Oxford Regional, moving on with a 5-2 win in the Oxford Regional. Logan Lacey, Elijah Cabell and Matheu Nelson all homered for Florida State.

Suwannee High grad Jackson Greene had a hit for the Seminoles. Parker Messick earned the win with six innings of five-K ball. Messick didn’t all an earned run. The Seminoles will face either Ole Miss or Southeast Missouri State on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Jacksonville head coach Chris Hayes during an NCAA baseball game against North Florida on Sunday, March 28, 2021 in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough) (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Gainesville Regional

Friday

Game One: Noon, South Florida 5, Florida 3

Game Two: 5 p.m., Miami 1, South Alabama 0

Saturday

Game Three: Noon, Florida vs. vs. South Alabama

Game Four: 4 p.m., South Florida vs. Miami

Sunday

Game Five: Noon, Loser Game Four vs. Winner Game Three

Game Six: 6 p.m., Winner Game Four vs. Winner Game Five

Monday

Game Seven (if necessary): 1 p.m., Winner Game Six vs. Loser Game Six

Columbia Regional

Friday

Game One: Noon, South Carolina 4, Virginia 3

Game Two: 7 p.m., Old Dominion 4, Jacksonville 3

Saturday

Game Three: Noon, Jacksonville vs. Virginia

Game Four: 7 p.m., South Carolina vs. Old Dominion

Sunday

Game Five: Noon, Loser Game Four vs. Winner Game Three

Game Six: 6 p.m., Winner Game Four vs. Winner Game Five

Monday

Game Seven (if necessary): 7 p.m., Winner Game Six vs. Loser Game Six

Oxford Regional

Friday

Game One: 3 p.m., Florida State 5, Southern Miss 2

Game Two: 7 p.m., Ole Miss vs. Southeast Missouri State (ESPN3)

Saturday

Game Three: Noon, Southern Miss vs. Ole Miss/Southeast Missouri State loser

Game Four: 6 p.m., Florida State vs. Ole Miss/Southeast Missouri State winner

Sunday

Game Five: 2 p.m., Loser Game Four vs. Winner Game Three

Game Six: 6 p.m., Winner Game Four vs. Winner Game Five

Monday

Game Seven (if necessary): 7 p.m., Winner Game Six vs. Loser Game Six


About the Author
Justin Barney headshot

Justin Barney joined News4Jax in February 2019, but he’s been covering sports on the First Coast for more than 20 years.

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