Logan Shore's final start at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., was among the best during a standout career at Florida.
The former Coon Rapids star and Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year allowed just four baserunners, two hits and struck out nine, one shy of a career high, through eight shutout innings of a 5-0 victory over Florida State. The impressive effort kept the Gators' season alive and has them one win from the College World Series.
The shutout was the first for the Gators in a Super Regional. Game 3 is Monday night a 6 p.m. on ESPN 2.
Shore, a junior, has been nearly perfect for Florida this season. He improved to 12-0 with Sunday's victory and has won 17 straight decisions dating back to last season. He struck out the first three batters he faced Sunday and celebrated each with dramatic fist pumps. He went on to retire 23 of the final 26 batters he faced and improve his ERA to 2.08.
Shore has 30 career wins in three years with the Gators, just one shy of the all-time school record. He was named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-SEC in May. Last week, Shore was selected in the second round of the MLB draft as the 47th overall pick by the Oakland A's.
Shore was drafted by the Twins in the 29th round out of high school in 2013, but chose to follow his scholarship to Florida. The decision paid off for Shore after three dominant years in arguably the best conference in college baseball.
An announced crowd of 5,326 honored Shore and his standout career when he left in the game in the ninth inning to a standout ovation.
"That was a pretty special moment," Shore said in the team's press release. "That gave me chills running out there for the ninth. That's something I will remember for the rest of my life."
Shore helped lead the Florida to the College World Series last season and won both of his starts in the championship tournament.
