Kevin O'Sullivan credits bottom of Florida lineup after reaching Omaha

Florida has advanced to the College World Series for the second straight season, though few saw this one coming after the Gators only narrowly snuck into the NCAA Tournament field with a record barely above .500 on the season.

Someone apparently forgot to inform the bottom of the lineup.

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The Gators have been absolutely lethal in the bottom half of the order in NCAA Tournament play, including in a thrilling Super Regional showdown against Clemson over the weekend.

And that’s just how coach Kevin O’Sullivan would draw it up.

“Yeah I mean in order to have a good offense you have to have production up and down,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve had years where we’ve been maybe a little light at the bottom half of the order, seven, eight and nine, and you almost feel like you’re playing offense for six or seven innings, rather than all nine.

“So that’s the goal, to have length in your lineup so you have an opportunity to score every inning.”

Florida has gotten that so far in the postseason. Nowhere was that highlighted more than in a tense 11-10 extra-innings win over Clemson in the second and deciding game of the Super Regional.

Luke Heyman and Tyler Shelnut, batting fifth and sixth respectively, led things off with a pair of singles in the bottom of the 13th inning in a tie game. Dale Thomas, the seven-hole hitter, then moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt.

After Brody Donay was intentionally walked — a walk to the eight-hole hitter because he had demonstrated home run power previously in the series — nine-hole hitter Michael Robertson stepped to the plate.

He saw one pitch, then roped a two-RBI, game-winning double to left center field, securing an 11-10 win and a trip to Omaha.

“Obviously Michael’s been swinging the bat as good as anybody we’ve had over the last few weeks,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s done a really good job of turning the lineup over and for us to get back to the top with Cade (Kurland).”

The bottom line: The bottom of Florida’s order has gotten hot at the right time. The Gators will be hoping that carries over to Omaha, where they’ll be looking to return to the championship series after falling to LSU in three games last year.

Florida will open College World Series play on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET with a game against Texas A&M.