Three-run third lifts Texas to win against Florida at Lamade Stadium
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest short stop Jett Matthews fields a ground ball for a force at second base then turned two at first base in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest second baseman Aiden Munoz tags out Southeast's Jacob Bibaud as he tries to stretch a single into a double in the second inning. Making the call is second base umpire David Noegel.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest short stop Jeff Matthews comes up empty on a single Southeast's Jaes Feliciano in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southeast's James Feliciano celebrates after scoring on a single by DeMarcos Mieses in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent 9 on 25 single Southwest third baseman Dylan Burke comes up empty handed on a line drive down the third base line on a single by Southeast's DeMarcos Mieses in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southeast's James Feliciano heads for home on a single by DeMarcos Miesis in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest short stop Jett Matthews fields a ground ball for a force at second base then turned two at first base in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest second baseman Aiden Munoz tags out Southeast's Jacob Bibaud as he tries to stretch a single into a double in the second inning. Making the call is second base umpire David Noegel.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southwest short stop Jeff Matthews comes up empty on a single Southeast's Jaes Feliciano in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southeast's James Feliciano celebrates after scoring on a single by DeMarcos Mieses in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent 9 on 25 single Southwest third baseman Dylan Burke comes up empty handed on a line drive down the third base line on a single by Southeast's DeMarcos Mieses in the first inning.
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Southeast's James Feliciano heads for home on a single by DeMarcos Miesis in the first inning.
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A closer look at the 4-1 Boerne, Texas win over Lake Mary, Florida, Monday at Lamade Stadium
PLAY OF THE GAME -- Doc Mogford's two-out single: Texas already had scored twice in the third inning, but Florida nearly left the bases loaded with one out. Instead, Mogford delivered his latest clutch hit this summer and scorched an RBI single into left field. The hit seemed to take some juice from Florida, keep the momentum with Texas and pave the way to victory.
TEXAS PLAYER OF THE GAME -- Julian Hurst: As dominant as he was against Pennsylvania when he threw four no-hit innings in relief, Hurst may have been even better against another previously powerful unbeaten opponent. Hurst threw a three-hit complete game and struck out 10, while walking none.
FLORIDA PLAYER OF THE GAME -- DJ Mieses: The first baseman rocked a long RBI double to the center field wall in the first inning, putting Florida up, 1-0. He had a huge performance at the Southeast Regional and Mieses getting a big hit against a tremendous pitcher could signal strong things coming in South Williamsport.
BIG INNING--Texas third: The Southwest champions broke a 1-1 tie when they scored three runs in the bottom of the third. Texas actually scored its first two runs without a hit before Mogford capped the rally in impressive fashion. Texas took advantage of two hit batters and scored the second and third runs on wild pitches. The way Hurst was throwing, that 4-1 advantage looked more like 24-1.
BEST EFFORT--Hurst's pitching: Florida has pummeled a lot of opponents this season, but Hurst just kept growing more dominant as the game progressed. No runner advanced past first base after the first inning and only one more reached base, period. The tall right-hander retired the final 14 batters he faced and pounded the zone, throwing 56 of his 78 pitches for strikes. Hurst struck out two or more batters in four of his last five innings as well.
FLASHING LEATHER--Texas shortstop Jett Matthews continued his strong defensive Series in the first inning, saving a run by making an excellent play in the hole. Matthews raced up the middle and stopped a hard Garrett Rohozen grounder before ripping off a strong throw to first and stranding a runner at second. Center fielder Liam Morrisey kept Florida within striking distance when he made a hustling, running catch in no-man's land to leave the bases loaded for the final out in the third inning. An inning later, shortstop JJ Feliciano started a strong defensive inning when he stuck with a hard grounder hit off the third baseman's glove. He fielded it deep in the hole and made a quick throw to second for a force out. He then made another excellent stop on a sharp grounder two batters later, concluding the inning with a third force out at second base. Matthews did it again in the fifth inning. A shortstop compiling quite a highlight reel in two Series games made his best one yet to close the fifth. This time, Matthews jumped high into the sky and snared a line drive which looked like a sure Garrett Rohozen single. Instead, it produced the third out and put Texas three outs from victory.
WHAT IT MEANS--Texas improves to 2-0 at the Series and moves on to Wednesday's winner's bracket final where it will play Nevada. A win there would put the Southwest champions in the U.S. Final. It can finish no worse than third in the country. Florida remains alive at the Series after losing its first game this summer. The Southeast champions play again tomorrow night when they face New York.