Florida baseball beats TCU to advance to College World Series Final
OMAHA, Neb. — The Florida baseball team is headed to the College World Series Final.
The Gators beat the TCU Horned Frogs 3-2 on Wednesday afternoon to become one of the last two programs standing in 2023. Florida (53-15) and will play either Wake Forest or LSU for a National Championship beginning Saturday.
Josh Rivera got Florida on the board in the first inning with a two-run home run. Starting pitcher Jac Caglianone gave up one run in the bottom of the first.
From there, the teams traded zeroes until TCU tied it at 2-all in the eighth.
The Gators went back ahead for good on an infield single by Cade Kurland with two out in the top of the ninth that plated Michael Robertson.
With two outs in the bottom half of the inning, Robertson made a leaping grab in centerfield to end it.
The CWS final is a best two-out-of-three series.
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Score: Florida 2 TCU 2
9th inning
Shelnut doubled to right center (3-2 BFSBBF).
Robertson pinch ran for Shelnut.
Wright to p for Abeldt.
Thomas pinch hit for Evans.
Thomas lined out to 1b, bunt (1-1 KB).
Halter flied out to rf to right center (0-1 S); Robertson advanced to third.
Kurland singled to shortstop, RBI (0-2 SSF); Robertson scored.
Langford struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (0-2 SSS).
UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Nunez struck out swinging (1-2 KFBS).
Bowen grounded out to ss (1-1 KB).
Taylor flied out to cf (0-2 KK).
TCU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
8th inning
Caglianone popped up to 2b (0-1 K).
Rivera doubled to left center (1-2 BKS).
Riopelle struck out looking (2-2 KBBKK).
Heyman flied out to cf (1-1 KB).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Fontenelle grounded out to ss (1-1 FB).
Neely to p for Fisher.
Richardson singled through the left side (1-1 KB).
Byrne grounded out to p (1-2 KSFB); Richardson advanced to second.
Silva doubled to left center, RBI (0-0); Richardson scored.
Maxwell hit by pitch (1-1 BF).
Davis struck out looking (1-2 KSBK).
7th inning
Halter struck out looking (1-2 SKBK).
Kurland struck out looking (2-2 KBBKFK).
Langford flied out to cf (3-2 KBBKB).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Fisher to p for Slater.
Nunez struck out swinging (1-2 KKBS).
Bowen out at first ss to 2b (0-1 K).
Taylor fouled out to c (2-1 BBK).
TCU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
6th inning
Rivera singled to right field (3-2 BBBKS).
Abeldt to p for Klecker.
Riopelle struck out swinging (3-2 KBBBFFS).
Heyman singled to left field (1-2 KKBFFF); J. Rivera advanced to second.
Shelnut struck out swinging (1-2 SKBS).
Evans grounded out to 3b (0-2 KF).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Silva grounded out to 3b (2-2 BFFB).
Maxwell lined out to cf (1-2 BFF).
Davis grounded out to 3b (1-0 B).
TCU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
5th inning
Halter struck out swinging (1-2 KFBS).
Kurland flied out to cf (0-1 F).
Langford doubled to right center (2-0 BB).
Caglianone grounded out to 2b (0-0).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Nunez grounded out to 2b (1-0 B).
Bowen singled to right field (0-0).
Caglianone to dh.
Slater to p.
Taylor singled through the right side (0-1 K); Bowen advanced to second.
Fontenelle walked (3-2 FBBBFB); Taylor advanced to second; Bowen advanced to third.
Richardson struck out swinging (1-2 BFFS).
Byrne popped up to 2b (1-0 B).
TCU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
4th inning
Riopelle out at first 1b to p (0-1 F).
Heyman flied out to lf to left center (1-1 FB).
Shelnut singled to left field (1-0 B).
Evans lined out to ss (0-0).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Byrne hit by pitch (2-2 BFFB).
Silva grounded out to 2b (2-1 BKB); Byrne advanced to second.
Maxwell singled to right field, advanced to second on the throw (2-2 KFBFBF); Byrne advanced to third, out at home rf to ss to c.
Davis flied out to lf to left center (3-1 BKBB).
TCU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
3rd inning
Langford fouled out to 1b (1-1 BK).
Caglianone out at first 1b to p (1-1 FB).
Rivera grounded out to ss (0-1 S).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Taylor flied out to lf (2-2 FBSB).
Fontenelle walked (3-2 BBSSBB).
Richardson grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b (1-0 B); Fontenelle out on the play.
TCU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
2nd inning
Heyman singled to right field (1-2 KBS).
Shelnut flied out to rf (0-0).
Evans reached on a fielder’s choice to third base (2-1 BFB); Heyman out at second 3b to 2b.
Halter singled up the middle (1-0 B); Evans advanced to second.
Kurland reached on a fielder’s choice to shortstop (0-2 FF); Halter out at second ss to 2b.
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Maxwell hit by pitch (0-0).
Davis grounded out to p, SAC, bunt (0-1 K); Maxwell advanced to second.
Nunez grounded out to p (2-2 BBKK); Maxwell advanced to third.
Bowen struck out swinging (0-2 KSS).
TCU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
1st inning
Kurland grounded out to ss (1-1 BK).
Langford walked (3-2 BBKBSFB).
Caglianone out at first 1b to 2b to 1b (0-1 S); Langford advanced to second.
Rivera homered to left field, 2 RBI (1-0 B); Langford scored.
Riopelle struck out swinging (1-2 BFKS).
UF Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Nunez struck out looking (3-2 BKKBBK).
Bowen walked (3-1 KBBBB).
Bowen advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Taylor singled to right center, RBI (3-2 BBBKK); Bowen scored.
Fontenelle struck out swinging (2-2 BSBSS).
Taylor advanced to second on a passed ball.
Richardson walked (3-2 BSBBKFB); Taylor advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Byrne hit by pitch (0-0); Richardson advanced to second.
Silva struck out swinging (2-2 KBSBS).
TCU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
Lineups
Florida
2B Cade Kurland
CF Wyatt Langford
P/DH Jac Caglianone
SS Josh Rivera
C BT Riopelle
1B Luke Heyman
LF Tyler Shelnut
RF Ty Evans
3B Colby Halter
SP: Jac Caglianone
TCU
CF Elijah Nunez
C Karson Bowen
3B Brayden Taylor
1B Cole Fontenelle
2B Tre Richardson
DH Kurtis Byrne
SS Anthony Silva
LF Logan Maxwell
RF Austin Davis
SP: Kole Klecker
Florida Baseball Notes
TCU PREVIEW: Playing in the program’s 13th College World Series including the eighth under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan, the SEC Regular-Season Champion Gators have started 2-0 in Omaha for the fourth time in team history and the first time since 2017 when UF won it all. UF began with a come-from-behind, walk-off win over No. 11 Virginia (6-5, first walk-off win in CWS in team history) before beating ORU, 5-4. Florida takes a seven-game, postseason winning streak into Wednesday’s matchup against TCU. Florida is 2-1 all-time vs, TCU, all of which took place at the 2017 CWS.
FLOMAHA: Florida is 23-24 all-time at the College World Series, having made a nation-leading eight trips out of a possible 15 since 2008: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2023.
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THE BIG PITCH: In nine NCAA Tournament games, Florida has pitched three shutouts and held opposing teams to 21 total runs on 66 hits, equating to a 2.36 ERA and .224 batting average against in 80 innings. In that span, UF pitchers have a 3.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio, having fanned 93 against 27 free passes. Florida has now pitched eight shutouts on the season, which is tied for fourth nationally.
WALLY’S WORLD: In three NCAA Tournament starts, right-hander Hurston Waldrep is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA and .195 BAA in 21 innings. He has struck out 37 batters against seven walks, striking out at least 12 in all three starts. Waldrep now has 154 strikeouts on the season, which ranks second all-time in a single season at Florida behind Alex Faedo (157 in 2017). The soon-to-be first-rounder has seven dou- ble-digit strikeout outings this season.
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. The 2016 squad (44-11, 19-10 SEC) holds the record for regular season wins.
HIGHLY OFFENSIVE: Backed by double-digit runs in 22 games and 10-plus knocks in 35 contests, Florida ranks top-10 nationally in home runs (second – 135) and slugging (eighth – .545) while ranking 10th with 532 runs scored. The Gators have scored in 43.6% of their batted innings (239 of 548).
RELENTLESS REPTILES: Florida has posted 21 come-from-behind wins this season, equating to 33.9% of the team’s win total. UF has four wins when trailing after six, five when trailing after seven, and is 16-7 when the opponent scores first.
