After a 16-hour delay due to storms Monday night, the Florida Gators defeated Vanderbilt 3-1 Tuesday, earning them a spot in the winners bracket and two days rest at the College World Series.

Florida sophomore Steven Rodriguez, a left-hander from Miami, Fla., came in to pitch for starter Karsten Whitsen – 4 1/3 innings of hitless ball – to earn a win for the Gators.

Ten days prior to the Vanderbilt-Florida match-up, Rodriguez pitched in the Gainesville Super Regional against Mississippi State but was taken deep by Nick Vickerson in game two of the series, forcing a decisive third game.

However, Monday night, Rodriguez was redeemed by his throwing, shutting down the Commandeers.

“[The MSU game] didn’t come out in my favor,” Rodriguez said. “But I had to forget about it and go on to the next game.”

This was Vanderbilt’s fourth loss to Florida. Of Vanderbilt’s 12 losses during the season, one third of them have come at the hands of the Gators. The loss now places Vanderbilt into an elimination rematch with North Carolina on Wednesday, with the winner facing Florida on Friday.