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Kent State pitcher Josh Pierce reacts to Kent State's dramatic 5-4 win over the Florida Gators Monday, June 18, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.
Kent State pitcher Josh Pierce reacts to Kent State's dramatic 5-4 win over the Florida Gators Monday, June 18, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.
Kent State players (left to right) George Roberts, Jimmy Rider and Sawyer Polen celebrate just after beating the Florida Gators in the College World Series.
Kent State players (left to right) George Roberts, Jimmy Rider and Sawyer Polen celebrate just after beating the Florida Gators in the College World Series.
Kent State winning pitcher Ryan Bores fires a pitch to the Florida Gators.
Kent State winning pitcher Ryan Bores fires a pitch to the Florida Gators.
Kent State's Jimmy Rider scores on a wild pitch by Florida Gator Hudson Randall during the fourth inning.
Kent State's Jimmy Rider scores on a wild pitch by Florida Gator Hudson Randall during the fourth inning.
Kent State fans cheer on the team as they enter the dugout.
Kent State fans cheer on the team as they enter the dugout.
Kent State Coach Scott Stricklin discusses the win over the Florida Gators.
Kent State Coach Scott Stricklin discusses the win over the Florida Gators.
Kent State player Jimmy Rider laughs during a post-game press conference.
Kent State player Jimmy Rider laughs during a post-game press conference.
  • Kent State pitcher Josh Pierce reacts to Kent State's dramatic 5-4 win over the Florida Gators Monday, June 18, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Kent State players (left to right) George Roberts, Jimmy Rider and Sawyer Polen celebrate just after beating the Florida Gators in the College World Series.
  • Kent State winning pitcher Ryan Bores fires a pitch to the Florida Gators.
  • Kent State's Jimmy Rider scores on a wild pitch by Florida Gator Hudson Randall during the fourth inning.
  • Kent State fans cheer on the team as they enter the dugout.
  • Kent State Coach Scott Stricklin discusses the win over the Florida Gators.
  • Kent State player Jimmy Rider laughs during a post-game press conference.

Kent State Edges
Top-Ranked Florida, 5-4

Intercollegiate Athletics | 06/19/2012
After taking a 4-0 lead, the Golden Flashes hold on to eliminate the top-seeded Gators.

The Kent State baseball team (47-19) fended off a late Florida rally Monday evening in its elimination game at the 2012 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park, as the Golden Flashes tallied a 5-4 victory over the Gators to remain alive in the national championship.
 
The Kent State Golden Flashes Baseball Team Advances in the College World Series"Kent State did a little more today, and they deserved to win," said Florida head coach Kevin O'Sullivan in the post-game press conference.
 
Kent State's victory eliminates Florida (47-20), who entered the 2012 NCAA Baseball Championship as the No. 1 seed.
 
After a three-run second inning aided Kent State in taking a 4-0 lead, Florida answered with a run in the top of the third inning. Kent State added another run in the fourth, but Florida pulled within one run after scoring once in the sixth and twice in the seventh.

In the top of the ninth inning, Florida worked Kent State's pitchers, and after back-to-back walks to lead off the inning, the Gators sacrificed both runners to scoring position – the possible game-tying and game-leading runs.
 
After a hit batsman loaded the bases and elevated the tension, Kent State pitcher Josh Pierce got Florida's Casey Turgeon to strike out swinging and Justin Shafer to pop up to T.J. Sutton in right field on the ensuing pitch to end the game.
 
Jimmy Rider led the way with a 2-for-5 day with three runs scored, while George Roberts was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
 
Ryan Bores' six innings of work earned him his 10th victory of the season, while Pierce tallied the save.

Read more about Kent State's victory on the Athletic department's website.

 

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