Kevin O'Sullivan shares key to shutting down TCU's running game

In Wednesday afternoon’s matchup between the Florida Gators and the TCU Horned Frogs, Florida was able to keep TCU’s offense in check. One of the most significant contributors to the Horned Frogs high scoring affair during their postseason play has been their base running ability. Against the Gators, that was nonexistent. Following their 3-2 victory over TCU, Florida skipper, Kevin O’Sullivan shared his team’s key to shutting down TCU ‘s running game.

“Well, that’s one of the parts of the game that Jack’s tried to work on extremely hard is holding runners at first,” said O’Sullivan. “And he’s a lot quicker to the plate now than he was the first half of the year. He’s worked hard on his pickoff move. We knew they liked to run the ball, steal. So we’ve got a different pick for that. But overall, our pitchers just did a really nice job today.”

The Florida pitchers were able to limit TCU to just six hits in the game. The Horned Frogs had made a living against opposing pitchers stealing bases during this postseason, but O’Sullivan had his pitchers focus on limiting the Horned Frogs’ base-stealing abilities. Thanks to that, Florida has secured the first spot in the men’s College World Series final.

Still, the play that secured the win for Florida by pinch-runner, Michael Robertson, was the biggest play of the game. And according to the numbers, that was an improbable catch.

Creighton Baseball Analytics reveals stat about final out in Florida vs. TCU

With his Horned Frogs trailing 3-2 on Wednesday evening with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Florida Gators, TCU slugger Brayden Taylor blasted the ball about as good as he possibly could have. Taylor launched the deep shot to center field 407 feet, which would have been a home run in nearly every other park in America. But not the super spacious Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.

The ball was caught at the warning track by Florida outfielder Michael Robertson and the Gators officially advanced to the 2023 CWS Final. Following the game, the Creighton Baseball Analytics team revealed that the ball hit by Taylor would have been a home run in 97 percent of the baseball stadiums across America. Not only that, but it would also have been a hit 1.000 of the time.