The Gators outlasted host Clemson on Sunday in Game 2 of the Clemson Super Regional to advance to the College World Series for the 14th time in program history.
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Postgame Press Conference
Florida 11, Clemson 10 (13 innings)
WHAT HAPPENED: The Gators are headed to the College World Series for the second consecutive season, that’s what. Florida homered three times on Sunday, but its biggest hit came from the No. 9-hole hitter. Michael Robertson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/michael-robertson/16375> stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and the Gators trailing by a run in the bottom of the 13th inning. He sliced a two-run double to left field to give the Gators an 11-10 win over Clemson in Game 2 of the Clemson Super Regional at Kingsmore Stadium. The Gators immediately rushed from their dugout and mobbed Robertson not far from the spot where his hit landed to stun the sold-out crowd.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Robertson gets the nod for his clutch at-bat to end a game that lasted 5 hours, 4 minutes. An excellent defensive player in center field, Robertson’s lack of offensive punch puts him at the bottom of the order. He went 2-for-6 on Sunday and delivered the biggest hit of the season for a Gators team that won its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament game.
KEY MOMENT: Where do you start? The game featured more twists and turns than a roller coaster at Universal Studios. But in the top of the 13th Clemson’s Ty Olenchuk was hit by a pitch from Gators reliever Luke McNeillie<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/luke-mcneillie/16629> to start the inning. Clemson inserted freshman pinch-runner Devin Parks for his speed. However, McNeillie picked Parks off for the first out of the inning. Two batters later, Alden Mathes hit a solo homer instead of a two-run homer to put the Tigers ahead, 10-9. The pickoff loomed large considering how the bottom of the 13th played out.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators improved to 36-0 in their last 36 NCAA Tournament games in which they have owned a multi-run lead in the seventh inning or later according to ESPN. That lead vanish in the ninth inning Sunday on Cam Cannarella’s three-run homer, but the Gators came back to keep the streak intact.
PLAY OF THE GAME: The Gators appeared about ready to win the game in the bottom of the 10th when Austin Wilson crushed a ball to deep center field with two men on base and two out. But Tigers center fielder Cannarella made a Willie Mays-style catch at the wall to end the inning. Gators coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1752> said it may have been the best catch he’s ever witnessed in person. You can judge for yourself since it’s certain to be replayed countless times on TV and social media.
FROM THE COACH: “First of all, I’d like to congratulate Clemson on a terrific year. We all go through this, how difficult it is to win your last game and obviously they have an outstanding team. Unfortunately, just one team gets to win the last game of the year. But awfully proud of our players. The atmosphere this weekend was incredible. As everybody knows, I spent nine years here and I can’t remember the electricity and the energy in the stadium the last two days. Fortunate to move on and looking forward to playing next Saturday.” — head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1752>
UP NEXT: Florida is headed to Omaha for the 14th time in program history and advanced for only second time away from home. The Gators had to win the Stillwater Regional and Clemson Super Regional, marking the first time since 1988 (NCAA East Regional in Tallahassee) that Florida won away from campus to punch its ticket to the CWS.
NOTABLES
* Florida is headed to Omaha for the College World Series for the 14th time in program history and ninth time under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1752> (1988, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024).
* O’Sullivan has navigated the Gators to Omaha in nine of the last 14 postseasons.
* The Gators played in a Super Regional for the 12th time in program history and 10th time of the O’Sullivan era.
* This is Florida’s second-straight Supers berth.
* Florida delivered its 19th come-from-behind win of the campaign and fourth of the postseason.
* The Gators claimed their fourth walk-off victory.
* The Gators have won five-straight games, tying the team’s season high.
* Florida competed in its seventh extra-inning contest of the season.
* Today’s game was the longest of Florida’s season by innings (13).
* Shelton went 2-for-7 with a pair of run-scoring singles, finishing with a team-high three RBI.
* Caglianone extended his on-base streak to 48-straight contests.
* Caglianone has hit safely in 58 of 62 games while reaching safely in all but one contest.
* Caglianone hit his 33rd homer of the campaign and fourth of the postseason to tie his own single-season program home run record.
* Caglianone is one home run away (73) from tying Matt LaPorta’s all-time program record (74).
* In the 2024 postseason, Neely has made four appearances with 16 innings pitched, three runs allowed, 10 hits allowed and 23 strikeouts.
* Donay connected for his 12th homer of the campaign and first of the postseason with a two-run shot in the sixth inning.
* Wilson blasted his second homer of the year (both postseason) in the eighth and has now driven in nine runs this postseason.
* Florida’s scoring streak of 141-consecutive games is the third-longest in program history (May 27, 2022-present).
* The Gators are 135-86 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
* UF wields an 20-8 record across 12 NCAA Super Regional appearances.
* Florida has won a record nine-straight Super Regionals.
* Florida is now 20-12 all-time vs. Clemson (3-1 away).
* The Gators are 2-0 against the Tigers under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1752>.
* First baseman Jack Crighton was ejected following the final out of the top of the second inning.
* Sunday’s official attendance was 6,423.
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