Bruins & Luna Help Longhorns Eliminate Gators, Advance in WCWS

After yesterday's disastrous outing against Big 12 rival Oklahoma Sooners, the Texas Longhorns responded with an impressive victory in the Women's College World Series this afternoon.  The nation's #4 team shutout and eliminated the #2 Florida Gators 3-0 to advance to play the #7 Tennessee Volunteers this evening in Oklahoma City.  Texas only had five hits in the game, but were very efficient with runners in scoring position.  Kim Bruins' three-run home run in the top of the third inning put a stamp on the game and they never looked back.  Starting pitcher Blaire Luna had her 13th shutout of the season and struck out fourteen batters in her complete game, one-hit outing.  She was clutch in the most difficult situations of the game, including bases loaded in the bottom of the third and runners on first and second in the fourth.  Florida batters struggled mightily against the dominant Luna with runners in scoring position, as they did throughout this year's Women's College World Series.  They stranded eight base runners in today's game and thirty-five in their three games against Tennessee, Nebraska and Texas in the Women's College World Series.

2012 TAXSLAYER.com Gator Bowl Preview

Match-up: Ohio State vs. Florida

Date/Time: January 2, 2012/noon CT

Location: Jacksonville, FL (EverBank Field)

Bowl Life: 67 years

Line: Florida by 2

National TV/Radio: ESPN2 (HD)/SiriusXM 91

Breaking Down the Teams:

Ohio State Buckeyes-

2011 Record: 6-6 (3-5 Big Ten)

School Bowl Record: 19-23

Appearances at the Gator Bowl (0-1: Last: 1978)

Last Bowl Game: 2011 Sugar Bowl (Ohio State 31, Arkansas 26)

Florida Gators-

2011 Record: 6-6 (3-5 SEC)

School Bowl Record: 19-19

Appearances at the Gator Bowl (6-2; Last: 1992)

Last Bowl Game: 2010 Outback Bowl (Florida 37, Penn State 24)

Game Notes: Rematch of the 2007 BCS National Championship

Prediction: Florida