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Josh Rivera reveals Florida's comfort level with Charles Schwab Field in Omaha

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•06/23/23
Josh Rivera, Florida Gators shortstop
Florida shortstop Josh Rivera celebrates at the plate after hitting a home run against TCU in the College World Series on June 21, 2023. (Steven Branscombe / USA TODAY Sports)

Florida is the only team that has yet to lose a game at Charles Schwab Field in this year’s College World Series, a perfect 3-0 as it cruised into the championship series to take on LSU.

Despite playing fewer games than the Tigers, the Gators are beginning to feel right at home at Charles Schwab Field.

“I’d say over the past three games we’ve definitely grown more comfortable, especially with our practice days,” shortstop Josh Rivera said. “The ones that we’ve had here, it’s helped out a lot from outfielders getting fly ball reps in the outfield to infielders getting infield reps.”

Florida has squeezed by so far in Omaha, winning each of its three games by just one run.

Though the Gators haven’t exactly been dominant, their ability to get through unscathed means their entire lineup will be well rested and the team can use its normal weekend rotation on the mound in the championship series. The Tigers won’t have that luxury after having to throw ace Paul Skenes on Thursday night in a must-win game against Wake Forest.

Throw in Florida’s growing familiarity with the ballpark at Charles Schwab Field and it should make for a fun final.

“It’s been great to just kind of get familiar with the field over this time period,” Rivera said. “And we’re just very excited to get ready to go.”

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Florida excited to take on SEC foe

The College World Series final at Charles Schwab Field will pit Florida against LSU, an SEC foe that often shows up on the regular season schedule.

Of course, the two didn’t meet this year, not during the regular season or during the conference tournament. So it’ll be a new matchup, even if there’s some degree of familiarity from previous years’ meetings.

And at least one person is very much looking forward to it.

““It excites me a lot,” star Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford said. “Being a part of the SEC, we’re the best conference in baseball. And I believe that all the way. So just to match up with them kind of makes sense for all the fans out there and everyone that knows baseball. So we’re all excited to play.”

Florida and LSU will open the championship action at Charles Schwab Field on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.