How it Happened: Florida Gators win walk-off thriller to beat Virginia at College World Series
OMAHA, Neb. — Florida wasn’t quite dead yet, but to say the least things weren’t looking good entering the bottom of the ninth in Friday night’s opening-round game at the College World Series.
Then, the Gators produced some magic.
Trailing 5-3, Florida rallied in a remarkable way. Solo homers from Ty Evans and Wyatt Langford tied it. Then, the Gators won the game on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Luke Heyman with the bases loaded.
Florida (51-15) is now 1-0 in Omaha and will next play Oral Roberts in the winners bracket.
Here’s how it all unfolded Friday night ….
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FINAL: Florida 6 Virginia 5
9th inning
Saucke walked (3-2 BBBKKB).
Stephan grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt (0-0); Saucke advanced to second.
Godbout flied out to rf (2-1 BBS).
Didawick tripled to right field, RBI (2-2 KSBB); Saucke scored.
VA Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Evans homered to left field, RBI (2-1 KBB).
Kurland struck out looking (1-2 SBSK).
Langford homered to left field, RBI (1-0 B).
Caglianone singled to right center (1-1 SB).
Tuft to lf for Didawick.
Rivera walked (3-2 BBBKFB); Caglianone advanced to second.
Riopelle hit by pitch (0-0); J. Rivera advanced to second; Caglianone advanced to third.
Woolfolk to p for Berry.
Heyman flied out to cf, SF, RBI (2-0 BB); Caglianone scored.
8th inning
Shelnut to lf.
Thomas to 3b.
Evans to rf.
Gelof flied out to rf to right center (0-1 F).
Teel grounded out to ss (0-0).
Anderson struck out swinging (3-2 BKBBSFS).
VA Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Riopelle homered to left center, RBI (1-0 B).
Heyman grounded out to 2b (2-0 BB).
Shelnut struck out swinging (1-2 SBSS).
Thomas flied out to cf (3-2 KBBFFB).
UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
7th inning
Anderson walked (3-2 BKFBBB).
Saucke singled through the right side (1-2 KKBFF); Anderson advanced to third.
Stephan grounded out to 3b, RBI (0-0); Saucke advanced to second; Anderson scored.
Godbout singled to center field (3-2 BKBFBFF); Saucke advanced to third.
Fisher to p for Sproat.
Didawick reached on a fielder’s choice to third base (0-2 SF); Godbout advanced to second; Saucke out at home 3b to c.
O’Ferrall doubled down the lf line, 2 RBI (1-1 KB); Didawick scored; Godbout scored.
O’Donnell singled to center field, RBI (0-2 FKF); O’Ferrall scored.
O’Donnell out at second c to 2b, caught stealing.
VA Inning Summary: 4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Blanco to p for Parker.
Shelnut flied out to cf (0-0).
Thomas pinch hit for Halter.
Thomas walked (3-1 BKBBB).
Evans pinch hit for Schiekofer.
O’Connor to p for Blanco.
Evans doubled down the rf line (3-2 BBKBKF); Thomas advanced to third.
Kurland grounded out to 3b, RBI (1-1 BF); Thomas scored.
Langford reached on a fielding error by ss (0-1 K); Evans advanced to third.
Berry to p for O’Connor.
Caglianone walked (3-1 BBBKB); Langford advanced to second.
Rivera grounded out to p (1-2 FBFF).
UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 3 LOB
6th inning
O’Donnell struck out swinging (0-2 KSFFFS).
Gelof grounded out to 3b (0-0).
Teel struck out swinging (2-2 SSFBBFS).
VA Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Rivera flied out to cf (1-0 B).
Riopelle flied out to cf (1-0 B).
Heyman grounded out to 3b (3-2 BBBKFF).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
5th inning
Stephan struck out swinging (1-2 FSBS).
Godbout struck out looking (1-2 BKFFFK).
Didawick hit by pitch (0-2 KF).
O’Ferrall struck out swinging (2-2 BBFFS).
VA Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Kurland flied out to rf (0-0).
Langford flied out to cf (1-2 BFS).
Caglianone grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-0).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
4th inning
Gelof walked (3-1 FBBBB).
Teel grounded into double play ss to 1b (1-0 B); Gelof out on the play.
Anderson doubled down the lf line (2-0 BB).
Saucke grounded out to 3b (2-2 BFFFB).
VA Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Riopelle doubled to left center (3-1 BBKB).
Heyman flied into double play rf to 3b (1-2 FBS); Riopelle out on the play.
Shelnut singled to shortstop (1-2 BFF).
Halter walked (3-2 BBFFBB); Shelnut advanced to second.
Schiekofer flied out to cf to right center (0-2 KK).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
3rd inning
Didawick grounded out to ss (0-0).
O’Ferrall grounded out to ss (1-2 FBF).
O’Donnell hit by pitch (3-2 BFBBFF).
O’Donnell picked off, out at second p to 1b to ss, caught stealing.
VA Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Langford popped up to 2b (1-0 B).
Caglianone fouled out to c (2-2 BFBF).
Rivera lined out to lf (0-0).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
2nd inning
Anderson grounded out to p (1-2 KBS).
Saucke struck out looking (0-2 FSFK).
Stephan singled up the middle (0-1 F).
Godbout popped up to ss (0-1 K).
VA Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Riopelle walked (3-2 FBBFBB).
Heyman singled through the left side (1-0 B); Riopelle advanced to second.
Shelnut reached on a fielder’s choice to second base (0-1 F); Heyman out at second 2b to ss; Riopelle advanced to third.
Halter singled to left center, RBI (3-2 BBFBK); Shelnut advanced to second; Riopelle scored.
Schiekofer flied out to lf (2-0 BB).
Kurland out at first ss to 2b (2-2 KKBB).
UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
1st inning
O’Ferrall singled through the left side (0-0).
O’Donnell struck out swinging (0-2 KSS).
Gelof popped up to ss (0-1 K).
Teel walked (3-2 BSBBFB); O’Ferrall advanced to second, out at third c to 3b.
VA Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Kurland struck out swinging (3-2 BBKSFBS).
Langford walked (3-1 BBFBB).
Caglianone flied out to cf (0-1 F).
Rivera flied out to cf (2-2 KBBK).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Lineups:
Florida
2B Cade Kurland
CF Wyatt Langford
1B Jac Caglianone
SS Josh Rivera
C BT Riopelle
DH Luke Heyman
RF Tyler Shelnut
3B Colby Halter
LF Richie Schiekofer
SP: Brandon Sproat
Virginia
SS Griff O’Ferrall
CF Ethan O’Donnell
3B Jake Gelof
C Kyle Teel
1B Ethan Anderson
RF Casey Saucke
DH Anthony Stephan
2B Henry Godbout
LF Harrison Didawick
SP: Nick Parker
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.
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.
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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.
CHASING THE HR RECORD
The Gators have blasted 129 home runs through 65 games, which ranks fourth nationally alongside Wake Forest and second in program history behind the 1998 team (132). Five players have 16-plus home runs while six have double-digit jacks, both of which are team records.
