How it Happened: Florida Gators beat South Carolina 5-3

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 2 Florida Gators used the long ball to slug their way past the South Carolina Gamecocks to take game one of the Gainesville Super Regional. Florida scored all four runs off of the long ball with Josh Rivera, Tyler Shelnut, and BT Riopelle going yard. The 5-4 win puts Florida just one game away from the College World Series.

The announced crowd of 8,439 was the largest crowd ever assembled to watch a college baseball game on campus, per the University of Florida. 

The start was less than ideal for Brandon Sproat. The second pitch that left the junior’s hand was deposited deep into the muggy night and onto the left field berm by Will McGillis. He would give up three runs in the first two frames before settling in. Sproat lasted six innings giving up nine hits, three runs (all earned), and struck out seven batters. The last pitch he threw on the mound at Condron Family Ballpark resulted in his 120th strikeout of the season. 

The duo of Cade Fisher and Brandon Neely finished the game. Neely gave up a solo home run to Will McGillis, his second of the game in the ninth, which made the game 5-4.

Florida will send Hurston Waldrep to the mound on Saturday at 3:00 pm with a chance to advance to the College World Series. 

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SCORE: Gators 5 Gamecocks 4

9th inning

Neely to p for Fisher.

Brewer struck out swinging (0-2 SKS).

Hornung pinch hit for Tippett.

Hornung struck out looking (2-2 BKKBFFK).

McGillis homered to left field, RBI (0-0).

Wimmer grounded out to 3b (2-2 BBKF).

SC Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

8th inning

LeCroy flied out to lf (3-2 BBKFB).

Casas grounded out to 3b (0-1 K).

Braswell grounded out to 2b (2-2 KFBB).

SC Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Caglianone hit by pitch (0-1 F).

Caglianone out at second c to 2b, caught stealing.

Rivera walked (3-0 BBBB).

Proctor to p for Sanders.

Riopelle popped up to 2b down the rf line (2-2 BSFB).

Heyman singled down the 3b line (3-1 BKBB); J. Rivera advanced to second.

Shelnut singled to left field, RBI (2-0 BB); Heyman advanced to second; J. Rivera scored.

Robertson pinch ran for Shelnut.

Halter struck out swinging (1-2 BKKS).

UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

7th inning

Fisher to p for Sproat.

McGillis struck out swinging (2-2 KBSBS).

Wimmer flied out to cf (2-2 BKKBF).

Petry doubled down the rf line (0-1 S).

Messina grounded out to p (1-0 B).

SC Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

Halter lined out to cf (2-2 FBSFBF).

Schiekofer grounded out to 1b unassisted (2-0 BB).

Kurland singled up the middle (2-0 BB).

Kurland advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Langford grounded out to 3b (3-2 SBKFBFFB).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

6th inning

Casas grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-0).

Braswell singled down the rf line (2-1 BBK).

Brewer popped up to ss to left field (3-2 FBBSB).

Tippett struck out looking (1-2 KKFBK).

SC Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

Caglianone struck out swinging (0-2 SFS).

Riopelle homered to center field, RBI (0-1 K).

Heyman singled through the left side (3-1 BBSB).

Shelnut struck out swinging (1-2 SBSS).

UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

5th inning

Wimmer reached on a throwing error by p, out at second rf to ss (1-2 KBS).

Petry singled through the right side (2-0 BB).

Petry out at second c to 2b, caught stealing.

Messina walked (3-2 BSBSFBB).

Messina stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by c.

LeCroy struck out swinging (2-2 FFBBS).

SC Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 2 Errors, 1 LOB

Shelnut homered to left field, RBI (0-0).

Halter doubled to right field (1-2 BSFF).

Schiekofer grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-1 S); Halter advanced to third.

Kurland struck out swinging (3-2 SBBKBS).

Langford lined out to p (1-1 BK).

UF Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

4th inning

Brewer grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-0).

Tippett struck out swinging (1-2 KBSS).

McGillis struck out looking (3-2 BKSBFBFK).

SC Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Rivera grounded out to 2b (0-1 K).

Riopelle flied out to cf (0-0).

Heyman grounded out to 3b (2-2 KBFFB).

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

3rd inning

LeCroy flied out to rf to right center (2-2 KBFB).

Casas struck out swinging (0-2 SSS).

Braswell grounded out to 3b down the 3b line (3-2 BSKBBFFF).

SC Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Kurland singled to center field (0-0).

Langford flied out to lf to left center (0-0).

Caglianone grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b (1-0 B); Kurland out on the play.

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

2nd inning

Brewer singled to right field (1-1 BS).

Tippett grounded out to 1b unassisted, SAC, bunt (1-2 BKS); Brewer advanced to second.

McGillis singled to left center, RBI (1-1 KB); Brewer scored.

Wimmer doubled down the lf line (1-1 SB); McGillis advanced to third.

Petry intentionally walked.

Messina grounded into double play p to c to 1b (0-1 K); McGillis out on the play.

SC Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

Heyman grounded out to ss (2-0 BB).

Shelnut flied out to cf (0-0).

Halter singled to second base (1-2 KBF).

Schiekofer fielder’s choice (0-0); Halter out at second 2b to ss.

UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB

1st inning

McGillis homered down the lf line, RBI (0-1 S).

Wimmer singled to center field (1-2 KSB).

Petry struck out swinging (0-2 FKFS).

Messina singled to center field (2-2 KBKB); Wimmer advanced to second.

LeCroy flied out to rf (1-2 KSB).

Casas singled to right center, RBI (0-0); Messina advanced to third; Wimmer scored.

Braswell struck out swinging (2-2 BKFBS).

SC Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB

Kurland struck out looking (2-2 KBKBFFK).

Langford flied out to rf (1-0 B).

Caglianone singled to right center (2-1 BKB)

Rivera homered to left field, 2 RBI (2-0 BB); Caglianone scored.

Riopelle grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-0).

Riopelle grounded out to 1b unassisted (0-0).

UF Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB

Lineups

South Carolina

DH Will McGillis

SS Braylen Wimmer

RF Ethan Petry

C Cole Messina

3B Talmadge LeCroy

1B Gavin Casas

2B Michael Braswell

LF Dylan Brewer

CF Will Tippett

SP: RHP James Hicks

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: RHP Brandon Sproat

Gainesville Super Regional Schedule

2023 GAINESVILLE SUPER REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, June 9
Game One – 6 p.m. – ESPN2

Saturday, June 10
Game Two – 3 p.m. – ESPN2

*Sunday, June 11
Game Three – TBD
*If necessary