WHAT HAPPENED: The No. 3-seed Gators struck early against the Big Ten Tournament champions, with leadoff hitter Cade Kurland<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-kurland/16372> homering on the third pitch of the game. The Cornhuskers tied the game in the bottom of the first, but Gators transfer outfielder Ashton Wilson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ashton-wilson/16638> snapped the tie with a two-run double in the third inning as Florida defeated Nebraska, 5-2, on Friday afternoon. The Gators never trailed after Wilson’s double scored Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365> and Tyler Shelnut<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-shelnut/16376> for a 3-1 lead.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Wilson gets this honor after going 4-for-5 with three doubles and a towering home run in the ninth inning that padded the Gators’ lead and hit off the scoreboard high above the left-field wall at O’Brate Stadium. A seldom-used reserve for most of the season, Wilson began playing after injuries sidelined starting outfielders Ty Evans<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ty-evans/16368> and Hayden Yost<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hayden-yost/16633>. Wilson finished with 10 total bases and became the first UF player since Pete Alonso in 2016 to crack three doubles in the same game.
STAGGERING STAT: Nebraska starter Brett Sears, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, entered the game 9-0 and had limited opponents to 5.6 hits per nine innings. The Gators pounded 10 hits in five innings against Sears, who had allowed on 62 hits in 99 innings coming into the game.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Florida freshman right-hander Liam Peterson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/liam-peterson/16631> emerged late in the sesaon as the Gators’ most consistent starter and he did not disappoint on Friday against the Cornhuskers. Peterson tossed 5 1/3 quality innings, giving up four hits and two runs in a 96-pitch outing. He struck out seven and walked three.
KEY MOMENT: Closer Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/16373> did some heavy lifting in the bottom of the eighth with the Gators nursing a two-run lead. With one out, Neely gave up back-to-back hits to Josh Caron and Ben Columbus, then walked Gabe Swansen to load the bases. He retired Tyler Stone on a line drive to center fielder Michael Robertson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/michael-robertson/16375> for the second out, and then struck out Dylan Carey swinging to end the inning and the go-ahead runs on base. The Gators welcomed Neely, who earned a seven-out save, back to the dugout with a hearty celebration.
QUOTE OF NOTE: “Liam was outstanding on the mound,. And obviously Ashton had a career day. You need to have surprise stories at this time of year to kind of make a run.” — Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1752> on the performances of Peterson and Wilson, newcomers who were not with the Gators a season ago.
UP NEXT: The Gators face the winner of Friday night’s Oklahoma State-Niagara game on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET in the winner’s bracket.
NOTABLES
* Friday’s official attendance was 4,709.
* Dating back to April 19, Peterson has made six appearances (five starts) and is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in 24 2/3 innings.
* Caglianone extended his on-base streak to 42-straight contests.
* Caglianone has hit safely in 53 of 56 games while reaching safely in all but one contest.
* He was also intentionally walked twice to bring his season total to 22.
* Caglianone has accounted for 22 of Florida’s 25 intentional walks.
* Kurland hit a leadoff home run to left-center for his 14th long ball of the campaign and first of the 2024 postseason.
* The Gators started out hot in the Regional opener with three hits in the first inning.
* Florida started 4-for-6 at the plate.
* Wilson finished 4-for-5 with career highs in hits, doubles (three) and total bases (10) while launching his first homer as a Gator.
* Wilson doubled in each of his first-three at bats for his first-career, multi-double game.
* Wilson is the first Gator with three doubles in a single game since Pete Alonso on June 12, 2016 vs. Florida State.
* Wilson’s 10 total bases were the most by any Gator this season.
* Neely nailed down his third save of the season.
* Kurland and Wilson both drove in two runs apiece.
* Kurland homered in the first and produced an RBI single to right in the eighth.
* Florida’s scoring streak of 135-consecutive games is the third-longest in program history (May 27, 2022-present).
* The Gators are 130-85 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
* UF wields an 87-51 record across 39 NCAA Regional appearances.
* Florida is now 2-0 all-time vs. Nebraska (all neutral-site).
* The Gators are 1-0 against the Huskers under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan.
###
