Florida Gators beat Oral Roberts in Omaha; now 2-0 at College World Series
OMAHA, Neb. — The Florida baseball team is now 2-0 in Omaha.
The Gators held on to beat Oral Roberts 5-4 Sunday night in a thrilling winners bracket game at the College World Series. Starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep threw six dynamite innings. Meanwhile, Josh Rivera, Ty Evans and Luke Heyman each homered.
With Oral Roberts rallying, Cade Fisher came on in relief and ultimately closed it out.
Florida now will have two days to rest and won’t play again until Wednesday night against the winner of TCU and Oral Roberts, who play on Tuesday.
The Gators improved to 52-15.
Here’s a look back at how thing unfolded.
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Score: Florida 4 Oral Roberts 5
9th inning
Evans hit by pitch (0-1 S).
Schiekofer pinch ran for Evans.
Halter flied out to cf (0-0).
Kurland flied out to lf (3-2 BBBKK).
Langford fouled out to 1b (1-0 B).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB
Cox grounded out to 3b (0-1 K).
Hogan doubled down the lf line, ground-rule (1-1 BS).
McCroskey singled to center field (1-2 BFFF); Hogan advanced to third.
Stahl reached on a fielder’s choice to shortstop, RBI (0-0); Breeze out at second ss to 2b; McCroskey advanced to third; Hogan scored.
8th inning
Riopelle hit by pitch (2-0 BB).
Kowalski to p for Widener.
Heyman grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b (1-2 BKK); Riopelle out on the play.
Shelnut struck out swinging (0-2 FFFS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Langford to lf.
Robertson to cf for Shelnut.
Breeze struck out looking (1-2 FBKK).
Stahl grounded out to 2b (0-2 KS).
Godman reached on a fielding error by ss (1-1 KB).
Brothers singled through the left side (1-0 B); Godman advanced to second.
McMurray walked (3-2 BBBKKFB); Brothers advanced to second; Godman advanced to third.
Fisher to p for Neely.
Quinn lined out to lf (3-2 KKBBB).
ORU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 3 LOB
7th inning
Halter singled to left center (2-1 BBK).
Halter advanced to second on a balk.
Kurland flied out to rf to right center (2-2 KFBB); Halter advanced to third.
Langford hit by pitch (0-1 K).
Caglianone fouled out to 3b (0-0).
Rivera grounded out to 2b (1-0 B).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Slater to p for Waldrep.
McMurray grounded out to 3b (0-1 K).
Quinn walked (3-0 BBBB).
Cox flied out to cf (2-2 BBKKF).
Hogan inside the park home run to left center, 2 RBI (2-1 FBB); Quinn scored.
McCroskey grounded out to 2b (1-1 BF).
ORU Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
6th inning
Riopelle struck out swinging (3-2 SKBBBS).
Heyman walked (3-1 BFBBB).
Shelnut struck out looking (1-2 KBFFK).
Evans flied out to cf (0-2 KF).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Breeze struck out swinging (3-2 KKBBBS).
Stahl struck out looking (2-2 BFBFFK).
Godman doubled to right field, ground-rule (1-0 B).
Brothers struck out swinging (1-2 BKFS).
ORU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
5th innings
Kurland struck out swinging (1-2 FBKFS).
Langford walked (3-2 KBBSBB).
Widener to p for Patten.
Caglianone struck out looking (1-2 FBKFK).
Rivera struck out swinging (1-2 BKFS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Cox singled to left field (0-0).
Hogan popped up to ss (2-1 BFB).
McCroskey popped up to rf (2-1 KBB).
Cox picked off, out at second p to 1b to 2b to p, caught stealing.
ORU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
4th inning
Rivera homered to left field, RBI (0-1 K).
Riopelle hit by pitch (0-0).
Heyman homered to left center, 2 RBI (1-2 SKB); Riopelle scored.
Patten to p for Gollert.
Shelnut struck out swinging (3-2 BSFBFBFS).
Evans struck out swinging (0-2 KFFS).
Halter flied out to cf (3-1 BBFB).
UF Inning Summary: 3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Godman struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (0-2 FFS).
Brothers struck out swinging (2-2 BFBSS).
McMurray singled through the right side (1-1 BK).
Quinn struck out swinging (2-2 KBBKFS).
ORU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
3rd inning
Kurland grounded out to ss (0-1 K).
Langford struck out swinging (2-2 FBKBS).
Caglianone struck out swinging (2-2 KBBFFS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Hogan struck out swinging (0-2 KSS).
McCroskey singled up the middle (3-2 BKBBKF).
Breeze struck out looking (0-2 KSK).
Breeze struck out looking (0-2 KSK).
Stahl struck out swinging (0-2 SSS).
2nd inning
Riopelle struck out swinging (3-2 BBKBSS).
Heyman flied out to cf (1-1 BK).
Shelnut walked (3-2 BBSSFFBB).
Halter struck out looking (3-2 BBSBKK).
UF Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Breeze singled to shortstop (0-1 K).
Stahl lined out to 3b (0-0).
Godman walked (3-1 BBSBB); Breeze advanced to second.
Brothers struck out swinging (2-2 KFFBBS).
McMurray walked (3-2 BKBBFB); Godman advanced to second; Breeze advanced to third.
Quinn singled to pitcher, RBI (1-2 BFK); McMurray advanced to second; Godman advanced to third; Breeze scored.
Cox struck out swinging (0-2 KFS).
ORU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
1st inning
Kurland singled to third base (0-0).
Langford flied out to lf (1-0 B).
Caglianone struck out swinging (3-2 BBSBKS).
Rivera struck out swinging (2-2 BFBFS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
McMurray singled to right field (1-1 FB).
Quinn walked (3-1 BBBKB); McMurray advanced to second.
Cox struck out swinging (0-2 SFFS).
Hogan grounded out to 2b (0-0); Quinn advanced to second; McMurray advanced to third.
McCroskey grounded out to ss (0-1 K).
ORU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Lineups
Florida
2B Cade Kurland
CF Wyatt Langford
1B Jac Caglianone
SS Josh Rivera
C BT Riopelle
DH Luke Heyman
LF Tyler Shelnut
RF Ty Evans
3B Colby Halter
SP: Hurston Waldrep
Oral Roberts
1B Jake McMurray
LF Justin Quinn
CF Jonah Cox
RF Matt Hogan
SS Mac McCroskey
3B Holden Breeze
DH Drew Stahl
C Jacob Goodman
2B Blaze Brothers
SP: LHP Harley Gollert
Florida Baseball notes:
FLOMAHA
Florida is 21-24 all-time at the College World series, having made a nation-leading eight trips since 2008: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023.
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50-WIN CHAMPS
By defeating South Carolina for the program’s ninth Super Regional Title in 10 attempts, Florida won 50 games for the seventh time in team history (50-15). Before O’Sullivan’s 2008 arrival, the Gators had two: 1991 and 1996. Since then, five have been added: 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2023. Florida’s 42 wins in the regular season were the second-most in program history. TThe 2016 squad (44-11, 19-10 SEC) holds the record for regular-season wins at UF.
THE GATORS ARE HOT
Since facing elmination in the loser’s bracket of the Gainesville Regional, Florida has rattled off five-straight wins to reach the CWS. During the team’s five-game winning streak, Florida has outscored opponents, 30-7, while hammering eight homers and allowing just two long balls. The Gators have batted .268/.387/.459 with a 1.40 ERA across the streak, while opponents have slashed .202/.264/.270 with a 6.21 ERA.
SEC’S FINEST
Finishing the season with a 20-10 SEC record, Florida won its 16th SEC Regular Season Championship in program history including the team’s sixth under O’Sullivan. After being swept on the road at then-No. 6 South Carolina, the Gators went 11-3 including 9-3 in SEC play down the stretch to win the University of Florida’s sixth overall conference title in 2023, which leads the SEC.
SULLY SUPERLATIVES
Since the start of the O’Sullivan Era at Florida (2008-present), Florida has earned more top-eight national seeds (10) than any program in the nation. The Gators have also hosted 12 NCAA Regionals out of a possible 15 during O’Sullivan’s tenure (no NCAA Tournament in 2020), which is also tops in the sport. UF has now made 15-straight NCAA Tournament appearances under O’Sullivan, a streak that ranks second nationally.
