Florida Baseball: With season on the line, Gators win in extras over Georgia
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For some teams, the final weekend of the regular season is a mere formality as they jockey for position heading into their conference tournament. For Florida Baseball, they are down to their final out with their backs firmly against the wall.
Needing a series win against Georgia to keep their at-large hopes alive for the NCAA Tournament, the Gators were able to flip the script from their extra-inning disappointments last week to set up a marquee showcase game on Saturday.
Florida Baseball: Survive And Advance
Entering the game with a record of 26-26 after dropping game one against Georgia, Florida needed a win to have any realistic chance of finishing the season above .500. Teams have to have a winning record in order to be considered for an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.
The Gators were battling, with RBI doubles from Jac Caglianone and Michael Robertson giving Florida two runs, but with two-outs in the top of the 8th, time was about to run out on the Gators as they were down 4-2.
Enter Cade Kurland, now batting 5th in the lineup.
Game-tying Cader tater! ππ₯#GoGators // πΊ SECN+ pic.twitter.com/86roofoH1n
β Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 17, 2024
A two run home run tied the game at 4-4 and Brandon Neely, who entered in the 6th inning, continued to hold the fort down as the two teams headed off to extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, it was Luke Heyman to the rescue with a three run home run that plated Ashton Wilson and Caglianone.
β Third homer of the series
β Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 17, 2024
β Fifth homer in the last week
β Gators lead in extras#GoGators // πΊ SECN+ pic.twitter.com/h23djNMvTX
Scoring in extra innings wasn't the problem for Florida against Kentucky, it was keeping runs off the board. Neely continued his outstanding outing, which was 4.2 innings with just one run allowed on two hits, and closed out the game to give Florida the much needed victory.
Neels closed it out. π#GoGators // πΊ SECN+ pic.twitter.com/cc94P6ZgJJ
β Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 17, 2024
With the win, the Gators are now 27-26. Caglianone will take the mound today in a highly anticipated match-up with Georgia star Charlie Condon. If Florida wins today, it would move them to 28-26 and guarantee the Gators a winning season no matter what happens in the SEC Tournament. A loss today moves Florida back to 27-27 and would require a run at the SEC Tournament to finish north of .500.
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