How it Happened: Florida Gators' comeback falls short in CWS opener
OMAHA, Neb. — The Florida Gators came back from a 3-0 hole but fell short of completing the comeback on Saturday night’s College World Series opener. Texas A&M scored three runs in the second and third innings while the Gators were able to plate two in the eighth inning. Florida would get runners on base in each the eighth and ninth innings but weren’t able to plate the tying run.
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Final Scoreboard
Gators 2-8-0
Aggies 3-6-0
9th inning
Top 9
Donay struck out swinging (1-2 SFBFS).
Robertson singled to shortstop (2-1 BBK).
Kurland flied out to rf (1-1 BF).
**Jace LaViolette robbed Kurland of what would have been a two-run home run to take the lead.
Caglianone walked (3-2 KSBFBBB); Robertson advanced to second.
Wilson struck out swinging (1-2 KBKS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
8th inning
Top 8
Caglianone singled to right center (0-0).
Wilson struck out swinging (1-2 BKFS).
Shelton struck out looking (0-2 KFK).
Heyman doubled down the lf line (1-2 KSB); Caglianone advanced to third.
Shelnut walked (3-2 BBKKBFB).
Thomas grounded out to 2b (0-1 K).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
Bottom 8
Sorrell lined out to rf to right center (1-1 BF).
Camarillo struck out swinging (2-2 KKBBS).
Kent struck out swinging (2-2 BSFBS).
TAMU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
7th inning
Top 7
Shelnut doubled down the lf line (2-2 KBBSF).
Thomas doubled down the lf line, ground-rule, RBI (3-2 SSBBB); Shelnut scored. /// (Aggies 3-1)
**Evan Aschenbeck will take over on the mound for Texas A&M. They want him to close this game out.
Donay grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt (0-0); Thomas advanced to third.
Robertson grounded out to ss, RBI (1-2 KKB); Thomas scored. /// (Aggies 3-2)
UF Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Bottom 7
**Brandon Neely will take the rest of the game for the Gators.
Grahovac struck out looking (1-2 KBSK).
Schott singled up the middle (3-1 BKBB).
Burton grounded into double play ss to 1b (0-0); Schott out on the play.
TAMU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
6th inning
Top 6
Kurland hit by pitch (0-0).
** That was 96 mph off the helmet and Cade Kurland smiled as he took first base.
Caglianone doubled down the rf line (3-2 BFBBFFF); Kurland advanced to third.
Wilson struck out swinging (2-2 FBKBS).
**Jake Clemente and Cade Fisher are both up and throwing in the bullpen.
Shelton struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (0-2 KSS).
Heyman flied out to rf down the rf line (0-1 S).
** Massive wasted opportunity there by Florida after getting men on second and third with no outs. Great job by Chris Cortez to throw up a zero.
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB
Bottom 6
Chestnut struck out swinging (1-2 BKSS).
Appel walked (3-2 KBBBSB).
**Cade Fisher takes over on the mound for the Gators.
LaViolette grounded into a double play.
TAMU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
5th inning
Top 5
Shelnut struck out swinging (1-2 FBSS).
Donay struck out swinging (3-2 BBSBSS); Thomas stole second.
Robertson struck out swinging (1-2 KBSS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Bottom 5
Sorrell grounded out to p (1-2 KBF).
Camarillo grounded out to 3b, bunt (1-0 B).
**Dale Thomas made a really nice play on that ball to come in on that and make a strong throw.
Kent flied out to lf to left center (0-1 K).
TAMU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
4th inning
Top 4
**Chris Cortez replaces Justin Lamkin on the mound.
Caglianone hit by pitch (1-0 B).
Wilson walked (3-2 SBBKBB); Caglianone advanced to second.
Shelton struck out swinging (1-2 BFSS).
Heyman grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b (1-1 BS); Wilson out on the play.
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Bottom 4
LaViolette flied out to cf to right center (3-2 BBKSBF).
Grahovac singled through the left side (0-0).
Schott struck out looking (2-2 KFBBK).
Burton fielder’s choice to shortstop (2-2 BKBK); Grahovac out at second ss to 2b.
TAMU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
3rd inning
Top 3
Thomas struck out swinging (1-2 KSFBS).
Donay struck out swinging (1-2 FSBFS).
Robertson singled up the middle (1-0 B).
Robertson advanced to second on a balk
Kurland struck out swinging, grounded out to c unassisted (3-2 BFSBBS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
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Bottom 3
Schott walked (3-1 BBKBB).
**The Gators send Jake Clemente and Fisher Jameson down to the bullpen. Jameson is actively throwing.
Burton flied out to lf (3-2 BKFBB).
Sorrell doubled to center field, RBI (0-2 FS); Schott scored. /// (Aggies 3-0)
**Fisher Jameson replaces Liam Peterson on the mound.
Camarillo walked (3-1 BBBKB).
Kent walked (3-1 BBBKB); Camarillo advanced to second; Sorrell advanced to third.
**Cade Fisher just hustled down to the bullpen and immediately starting throwing for the Gators
Chestnut struck out swinging (0-2 KSS).
Appel grounded out to 2b (1-1 BK).
**That was a really nice snag by Cade Kurland to save a run.
TAMU Inning Summary: 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
2nd inning
Top 2
Shelton grounded out to p, bunt (0-1 K).
Heyman flied out to cf (2-2 KKBB).
Shelnut struck out swinging (2-2 KBKBS).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Bottom 2
Burton grounded out to ss (1-0 B).
Sorrell singled up the middle (1-1 BK).
Camarillo walked (3-2 BKBSBFFB); Sorrell advanced to second.
Kent singled to right field (0-2 KS); Camarillo advanced to second; Sorrell advanced to third.
Chestnut singled to third base, RBI (2-2 KBKBF); Kent advanced to second; Camarillo advanced to third; Sorrell scored. /// (Aggies 1-0)
Chestnut advanced to second on a wild pitch; Kent advanced to third on a wild pitch; Camarillo scored on a wild pitch. /// (Aggies 2-0)
Appel struck out swinging (1-2 KBSFS).
LaViolette intentionally walked.
Grahovac struck out swinging (1-2 KSBS).
TAMU Inning Summary: 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB
1st inning
Top 1
Kurland struck out swinging (1-2 KSBS).
Caglianone grounded out to c unassisted (2-1 BKB).
Wilson struck out looking (1-2 BKFK).
UF Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB
Bottom 1
Appel struck out swinging (1-2 BKSFS).
LaViolette walked (3-2 BKBFBB).
LaViolette stole second.
Grahovac struck out swinging (2-2 KBSBS).
Schott out at first 1b to p (1-1 BK).
TAMU Inning Summary: 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB
Lineups
FLORIDA
2B Cade Kurland
1B Jac Caglianone
RF Ashton Wilson
SS Colby Shelton
C Luke Heyman
LF Tyler Shelnut
3B Dale Thomas
DH Brody Donay
CF Michael Robertson
SP: RHP Liam Peterson
TEXAS A&M
C Jackson Appel
RF Jace LaViolette
3B Gavin Grahovac
DH Hayden Schott
1B Ted Burton
LF Caden Sorrell
SS Ali Camarillo
2B Kaeden Kent
CF Travis Chesnut
SP: LHP Justin Lamkin
Pregame reading about the Florida Gators in Omaha
- COLUMN: The Golden Spikes committee got it wrong, Jac Caglianone was snubbed
- College World Series Preview: Florida Gators vs Texas A&M Aggies
- Florida Gators will start Liam Peterson in game one of the College World Series
- Injury update on two Florida Gators at the College World Series
- Exclusive: Florida President Ben Sasse on the Florida Gators run to Omaha
- Ashton Wilson is living out a story ‘Only God can write’
Texas A&M arrives at the field
The Florida Gators arrive at Charles Schwab Field.
Pitching matchup
| Florida | RHP Liam Peterson (3-4, 5.97 ERA) |
| Texas A&M | LHP Justin Lamkin (2-2, 5.73 ERA) |
How to watch
Who: Florida vs Texas A&M
What: College World Series
Where: Charles Schwab Field, Omaha, Nebraska
When: Saturday, June 14,
First Pitch: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
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.
