How it Happened: Florida Gators drub Kentucky to extend their CWS run

OMAHA, Neb. — The Florida Gators emphatically extended their season with a 15-4 win over the Kentucky Wildcats on Wednesday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field. Florida’s win advanced them to play against Texas A&M in another elimination game slated for 8:00 p.m. ET. Florida will serve as the home team.

The Gators jumped out to an early lead over the Kentucky Wildcats with a seven-run first inning where they sent 11 batters to the plate. Brody Donay’s grand slam capped the scoring. The Gators tacked on two more runs in the third, while Kentucky got back on the board in the fourth inning to make it a 9-2 game.

Jac Caglianone homered in the sixth inning to break the all-time career Florida home run record, previously held by Matt LaPorta.

The Gators and Wildcats were slated to play on Tuesday night but the game was postponed to Wednesday morning due to weather. The winner of Wednesday morning’s game will play the Texas A&M Aggies in the nightcap.

**Follow the game on our message board**

Scoreboard:
Kentucky 4-5-1
Florida 15-14-0

9th inning

Top 9
Fawley struck out swinging (0-2 FFS).
Crittenbergr struck out swinging (1-2 SSFBS).
Herrera flied out to cf (2-2 FKBB).
UK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

8th inning

Top 8
**Freshman Alex Philpott is taking over. It’s his first appearance since April 9
Nicholson flied out to cf (1-0 B).
**Gargett pinch hit for Lopez.
Gargett grounded out to 2b (0-0).
Daly struck out swinging (3-2 KBBSFFFBS).
UK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Bottom 8

Thomas flied out to rf (2-0 BB).
Donay struck out looking (2-2 SKFFBBFK).

7th inning

Top 7
**Herrera pinch hit for McCoy.
Herrera lined out to rf to right center (1-0 B).
Small pinch hit for Smith, G..
Small struck out looking (3-2 KBFBFBK).
Waldschmidt walked (3-2 KKBBFBB).
Pitre struck out looking (1-2 KBFK).
UK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

Bottom 7
Shelnut struck out looking (1-2 SBSK).
Shelton struck out swinging (1-2 FSBS).
Heyman doubled down the lf line (0-1 S).

6th inning

Top 6

**Jake Clemente is taking over on the mound for Florida.
Lopez struck out swinging (1-2 BSSS).
Daly singled to center field (1-0 B).
Burkes struck out swinging (1-2 BSSS).
Crittenbergr reached on a fielder’s choice to shortstop (0-0); Daly out at second ss to 2b.
UK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

Bottom 6
**Johnny Hummel takes over on the mound for Kentucky.
Donay struck out swinging (1-2 KKBS).
Robertson flied out to lf to left center (1-2 KBKF).
Caglianone homered to right field, RBI (3-2 KBFBFB). /// (Florida 15-4)

THE GATOR HOME RUN KING 👑🐊#GoGators // 📺ESPN pic.twitter.com/bbhFGQCz44

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 19, 2024

Kurland popped up to 3b (0-0).
UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

5th Inning

Top 5
McCoy struck out swinging (2-2 BFFBS).
Smith, G. struck out swinging (2-2 BFFBS).
**That’s a career-high for both innings pitched (4.2) and for strikeouts.
Waldschmidt walked (3-2 SFBFBBFFFB).
Pitre homered to right center, 2 RBI (1-2 KBK); Waldschmidt scored. /// (Florida 9-4)
Nicholson struck out swinging (3-2 KBSBBS).
UK Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Bottom 5
Donay homered down the lf line, RBI (1-1 BS). /// (Florida 10-4)

**Jackson Nove takes over on the mound for Kentucky
Robertson grounded out to ss (2-1 BKB).
Caglianone walked (3-0 BBBB).
Caglianone advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Kurland struck out looking (1-2 BFSFK); Caglianone stole third.
Shelnut singled to third base, bunt, RBI (0-1 K); Caglianone scored. /// (Florida 11-4)

BUNT BRINGS RUNNER HOME 🏠#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/e0L9NOJoYQ

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 19, 2024

Shelnut advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Shelnut advanced to second on a passed ball.
Shelton walked (3-2 BBKFBB).
**Ryan Hagenow will be the fifth pitcher of the afternoon for the Wildcats.
Heyman doubled through the left side, RBI (1-1 BS); Shelton advanced to third; Shelnut scored. /// (Florida 12-4)
Wilson singled to right field, 2 RBI (1-1 BK); Heyman scored; Shelton scored. /// (Florida 13-4)
Thomas struck out looking (0-2 KKK).
UF Inning Summary: 5 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

4th Inning

Top 4
Pitre singled up the middle (0-0).
Nicholson grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-1 KB); Pitre advanced to second.
Lopez singled to center field, RBI (1-2 BSF); Pitre scored. /// (Florida 9-2)
Daly hit by pitch (0-2 SKF); Lopez advanced to second.
Burkes struck out swinging (1-2 KSFBS).
**Fisher Jameson is up and throwing in the bullpen for the Gators.
McCarthy struck out swinging (1-2 FBKS).
UK Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

Bottom 4
Shelton singled to right center (2-2 BFBK).
Heyman struck out looking (0-2 FKK).
Wilson struck out swinging (3-2 BBSFBS); Shelton stole second.
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

3rd Inning

Top 3
McCoy walked (3-1 BSBBB).
Smith, G. struck out swinging (1-2 KSBS).
Waldschmidt grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b (2-2 BKKB); McCoy out on the play, interference.
UK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Bottom 3
Wilson hit by pitch (3-2 SBBBK).
**Robert Hogan will take over on the mound for Kentucky.
Thomas flied out to lf to left center (2-2 KFBB).
Robertson struck out swinging (0-2 KSS).
Caglianone intentionally walked; Donay advanced to second; Wilson advanced to third.
Kurland singled to center field, advanced to second on the throw, 2 RBI (0-1 S); Caglianone advanced to third; Donay scored; Wilson scored. /// (Florida 9-1)
Shelnut struck out looking (3-2 BFSBFBK).

2nd Inning

Top 2
Daly struck out swinging (2-2 KBKBS).
Burkes struck out swinging (2-2 BKBSS).
McCarthy grounded out to 3b (1-2 KBKF).
UK Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Bottom 2
Shelnut struck out swinging (2-2 BBKSS).
Shelton struck out swinging (3-2 SBFBFFBFFS).
Heyman popped up to 2b (3-2 BBKFB).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

1st Inning

Top 1
Waldschmidt walked (3-1 KBBBB).
Pitre struck out swinging (1-2 BFKS).
Nicholson flied out to lf to left center (0-1 K).
Waldschmidt stole second.
Lopez singled to right center, RBI (1-2 SBF); Waldschmidt scored. /// (Kentucky 1-0)
Lopez out at second c to 2b, caught stealing.
UK Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Bottom 1
Caglianone singled to right center, advanced to second on a fielding error by rf (1-0 B).
Kurland hit by pitch (2-2 SBFBF).
Shelnut struck out looking (2-2 KBKBK).
Shelton doubled down the rf line, RBI (1-0 B); Kurland advanced to third; Caglianone scored. /// (1-1)
Heyman singled to left field, 2 RBI (0-1 S); Shelton scored; Kurland scored. /// (Florida 3-1)
Wilson hit by pitch (3-2 BFBBK); Heyman advanced to second.
**Dominic Niman’s day is done. Cameron O’Brien takes over. This is his 36th appearance on the season a UK record.
Thomas singled to right field (1-2 SSBF); Wilson advanced to second; Heyman advanced to third.
Donay homered to right field, 4 RBI (0-0); Thomas scored; Wilson scored; Heyman scored. /// (Florida 7-1)

4-RUN BRO💣#GoGators // 📺ESPN pic.twitter.com/QlOGiOuOzo

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 19, 2024

Robertson grounded out to ss (1-1 KB).
Kurland struck out swinging (1-2 KKBS).
UF Inning Summary: 7 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB

Lineups

Kentucky
LF Ryan Waldschmidt
2B Emilien Pitre
1B Ryan Nicholson
DH Nick Lopez
3B Mitchell Daly
C Devin Burkes
CF Nolan McCarthy
RF James McCoy
SS Grant Smith
SP: LHP Dominic Niman

Florida
1B Jac Caglianone
2B Cade Kurland
LF Tyler Shelnut
SS Colby Shelton
C Luke Heyman
RF Ashton Wilson
3B Dale Thomas
DH Brody Donay
CF Michael Robertson
SP: LHP Pierce Coppola

Game Notes

SULLY SUPERLATIVES
Since O’Sullivan’s 2008 arrival, no college program has more CWS trips (nine), Super Regionals hosted (nine), top-eight national seeds (10) and NCAA Tournament bids (16) than Florida. O’Sullivan has navigated the Gators to Omaha in nine of the last 14 postseasons. Overall, Florida’s 16-straight NCAA bids represent the second-longest active streak in the sport.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES
Texas A&M kickstarts the CWS with a 49-13 record and 19-11 mark in SEC play. As a team, the Aggies are slashing .300/.420/.557 with 132 home runs. On the mound, A&M wields a 3.94 ERA with 643 strikeouts in 539 innings. Defensively, the Aggies sport a .978 fielding percentage.

RELENTLESS REPTILES
By winning three-straight elimination games to claim the Stillwater Regional, the Gators have now won seven of their last eight NCAA Tournament elimination games dating back to last season. This year alone, Florida boasts 19 come-from-behind wins, with 12 of the team’s 13 SEC victories occurring in comeback fashion. The Gators wield four walk-off victories this year.

NATIONAL LEADERBOARDS
Florida ranks fifth nationally and fourth in the SEC with 131 home runs (2.1 per game). Meanwhile, the Gators sit ninth in the country and fourth in the SEC in strikeouts per nine (10.6). At .981, Florida paces the SEC and sits fifth in the NCAA in fielding percentage.

DOUBLE-DIGIT DING DONGS
For the first time since the 1998 season, Florida has seven different hitters with double-digit home runs: first baseman Jac Caglianone (33), shortstop Colby Shelton (20), catcher Luke Heyman (16), infielder/outfielder Tyler Shelnut (15), second baseman Cade Kurland (14), outfielder Ty Evans (13), and catcher/desginated hitter Brody Donay (12). Those seven players have accounted for 123 of the Gators’ 131 home runs this season (93.9%). In 1998, Florida was led by Brad Wilkerson with 23 home runs, followed by David Ross (19), Jason Dill (16), Derek Nicholson (15), Mark Ellis (14), Greg Catalanotte (13) and Casey Smith (12). Last year’s SEC Championship team had six players hit 10-plus homers highlighted by five with 17-plus.

IT ALL FILTERS THRU AW30
On May 10, with just five regular-season games remaining, outfielder Ashton Wilson was 0-for-6 on the year. In the 14 games since, his .367 average is second on the team behind Caglianone (.408) as he has racked up 13 games, 11 starts, 18 hits and 49 at bats. Wilson has earned the No. 3 spot by posting a .597 OBP, .633 SLG, two homers, 14 RBI and 11 runs in that span. He has hits in nine of his 11 starts. In the 2024 postseason, Wilson leads UF in batting with a .414/.471/.759 slash line, two homers and nine RBI.