College Baseball World Series 2015: Saturday Score and Championship … – Bleacher Report

One last game was needed to decide the second half of the 2015 College World Series championship final. Facing elimination on Friday, Florida forced a second and decisive game to be played on Saturday after defeating Virginia 10-5

The victor would go on to play Vanderbilt in the final bracket of the College World Series. 

Continue below for the winner of Saturday’s game, the upcoming championship schedule and a recap of Florida and Virginia’s tilt. 

Towns’ 3 RBI lifts Virginia to the Championship Final

Virginia is through to the College World Series championship after defeating Florida 5-4. Starting on June 22, the final is a best-of-three series and is a rematch of last year’s championship final. Virginia will look to flip the script and get past Vanderbilt.

Here is the championship schedule.

On Saturday night, Matt Thaiss put Virginia in front with a solo home run in the bottom of the first, but Florida was quick to reply. In the top of the second, Peter Alonso launched a two-run home run to give the Gators a lead. 

Virginia tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Joe McCarthy’s sac-fly brought home Pavin Smith after he clocked a one-out triple. 

Harrison Bader gave Florida the lead once again, delivering his 17th homer of the season to left-center field for a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth. 

These Gators… WOW!

Harrison Bader BLASTS another HR and Florida is back in the lead! #CWS http://t.co/D7bRTvXNDg

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 21, 2015

In the bottom of the inning, a two-out single from Daniel Pinero would be the last batter that Florida starting pitcher Dane Dunning would face.

In came Kirby Snead, who immediately gave up a single to Thaiss that moved Pinero to third. Kenny Towns stepped up and ripped a double down the left field line, clearing the bases for a two-run double, giving Virginia a 4-3 lead.

HOOOOOOOOOS TAKE THE LEAD!

A 2-run double by Kenny Towns gives UVa a 4-3 advantage in the 5th! #CWS pic.twitter.com/dZTAOnu54W

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 21, 2015

The book was closed on Dunning after that, who went 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits.

Virginia’s starting pitcher saw his day end in the top of the sixth. Brandon Waddell held an offense that had scored 88 runs in nine prior games in the College World Series to three runs (four earned) on six hits in five-plus innings.

Josh Sborz came in, walking Alonso to put runners on first and second. Buddy Reed hit a comebacker to Sborz for a Taylor-made double play, but Sborz bobbled it and had to settle to get Reed at first. 

A single to center field from Mike Rivera drove in a run to tie the game at four. The run was charged to Waddell.

Virginia loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. A sac-fly from Towns gave the Cavaliers the lead in what proved to be the game-winner.

WAHOOOWA!!

Virginia leads 5-4 after a Kenny Towns sac fly plates Ernie Clement in the 7th! #CWS http://t.co/3sCqpFvASq

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 21, 2015

Sborz was lights out after the sixth inning, retiring eight consecutive batters while closing out the Gators and securing Virginia’s trip to the championship.

A second-consecutive trip to the championship is the school’s second-ever appearance in the finals. Before 2014, their best finish in the College World Series was third-place in 2011.

In their finals appearance last season, they were beaten by Vanderbilt in a winner-take-all third game by a score of 3-2.

It is the first time since Oregon State and North Carolina in 2006-2007 that there will be a rematch for the College World Series crown.

*Stats courtesy of NCAA.com