This is the first-ever meeting between Florida and South Carolina in the Regional or Super Regional rounds.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 2 Florida baseball embarks on its first Super Regional since 2018 with a best-of-three series against No. 15-national seed South Carolina at Condron Family Ballpark this upcoming weekend.
Friday night’s series opener is scheduled to air on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. Game two is on the books for Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.
Playing in the program’s 11th Super Regional, Florida (48-15, 20-10 SEC) eyes a rematch with South Carolina (42-19, 16-13 SEC) after being swept by the Gamecocks in Columbia earlier this season (L 3-13, L 2-5, L 5-7). Despite dropping all three games, Florida is 16-11 vs. South Carolina across the previous 27 matchups and have won 12 of the last 15 meetings in Gainesville. The Gators own a 29-22 mark in the series under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1551>, which includes a robust 16-5 record at home.
Although the Gators and Gamecocks have never faced off in Super Regionals, South Carolina is 3-0 against Florida in the NCAA Tournament, all of which took place in the College World Series, most recently in 2012. South Carolina leads the all-time series, 54-51, but Florida holds a 29-16 edge in Gainesville.
Pitching Matchups
Friday | 6 p.m. (ESPN2) Saturday | 3 p.m. (ESPN2) Sunday | TBD | IF NECESSARY
South Carolina RHP James Hicks (8-1, 3.32 ERA) RHP Jack Mahoney (7-3, 4.05 ERA) TBA
Florida RHP Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> (7-3, 4.70 ERA) RHP Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> (8-3, 4.54 ERA) LHP Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/15489> (6-3, 4.14 ERA
Links WATCH<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=599895a6-5ae4-4309-bd01-4cc8f4a9e5f2> | LISTEN<https://floridagators.com/showcase?Live=5182> WATCH<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=3cec0a50-9a85-4187-994c-9cfd4516b04e> | LISTEN<https://floridagators.com/showcase?Live=5183>
Florida is ranked at No. 2 in the D1Baseball Top-25 after going 2-1 at the SEC Tournament and earning a share of the SEC Regular Season Title. The Gators are ranked No. 2 by every major poll for the first time all year heading into the postseason.
GET TO KNOW THE GAMECOCKS
South Carolina enters with a 42-19 record on the season including a 16-13 mark in SEC play. The Gamecocks are hitting .275/.412/.504 as a team with 115 home runs while pitching to a 4.17 ERA in 425 frames. Defensively, South Carolina wields a .974 fielding percentage.
STAFF INFLECTION
Entering Regionals with a 4.87 team ERA and .237 batting average against in 495 innings, the UF pitching staff dominated across a five-game stretch at the NCAA Gainesville Regional. In 44 innings pitched, Gators hurlers went 4-1 with a 1.64 ERA, .205 batting average against and 48 strikeouts against 13 walks. Florida starters were even more dominant, posting a 4-0 record, 1.45 ERA, .186 BAA and 3.7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 31 innings of work.
REGIONAL REP
At the Gainesville Regional, Florida opened with a 3-0 win over Florida A&M but dropped a 6-5 decision to Texas Tech to fall to the loser’s bracket. Florida went 3-0 over the next two days to win its 15th Regional Title including the program’s ninth in the O’Sullivan era, marking the first time since 1998 that UF won three-straight do-or-die games to win a Regional. It started with an 8-2 win over No. 10 UConn, followed by consecutive victories vs. Texas Tech (W 7-1, W 6-0) to earn UF its first Super Regional berth since 2018.
UNUSUAL SUSPECTS
While mounting the team’s Regional comeback from the loser’s bracket, the Gators were carried by three unlikely starting pitchers for the final trio of games, outscoring their competition, 21-3. Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517>, Cade Fisher<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-fisher/15513> and Ryan Slater<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ryan-slater/15506> combined for a 0.95 ERA, .188 batting average against and 19 strikeouts against just four walks (1.9 BB/9) in 19 innings.
IRREGULAR SEASON
Florida’s 42 wins in the regular season were the second-most in program history. The 2023 campaign represents the 28th 40-win season time in team history, 11 of which have come under O’Sullivan. The 2016 squad (44-11, 19-10 SEC) holds the record for regular-season wins at UF.
SEC CHAMPS
Finishing the season with a 20-10 SEC record, Florida won its 16th SEC Regular Season Championship in program history including the team’s sixth under O’Sullivan. After being swept on the road at then-No. 6 South Carolina, the Gators went 11-3 including 9-3 in SEC play down the stretch to win the University of Florida’s sixth overall conference title in 2023, which leads the SEC.
SULLY SUPERLATIVES
Since the start of the O’Sullivan Era at Florida (2008-present), Florida has earned more top-eight national seeds (10) than any program in the nation. The Gators have also hosted 12 NCAA Regionals out of a possible 15 during O’Sullivan’s tenure (no NCAA Tournament in 2020), which is also tops in the sport. UF has now made 15-straight NCAA Tournament appearances under O’Sullivan, a streak that ranks second nationally.
SUPER SIZE ME
Florida is hosting its ninth Super Regional since 2008, which leads the nation.
AWARDS CENTRAL
Pick a position on the diamond, and there’s a good chance there’s a Gator vying for a postseason honor there. Second baseman Cade Kurland<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-kurland/15514> was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball on Wednesday while first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/15489> was named one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award. That same day, righty Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/15499> was announced as a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award. Last week, Caglianone was picked as one of five finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year while Josh Rivera<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-rivera/15504> was named one of five finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, which goes to the nation’s top shortstop.
GOLDEN CAGS
Caglianone joins LSU’s Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes as one of three finalists for the 2023 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award in addition to being a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy. Caglianone’s 31 home runs lead the nation and set a new program record, as he is the first SEC player to eclipse 30 homers since 2003. Caglianone is also chasing UF’s single-season RBI record, as his 84 (T-fifth in NCAA) are one from tying Preston Tucker’s record of 85 set in 2009. On the mound, Caglianone sports a team-low .184 BAA and is 3-1 with a team-best 1.61 ERA and .178 ERA across his last six starts.
LOADED UP THE MIDDLE
Each of Florida’s starting middle infielders have blasted more home runs this season than any other Gator in the history of their positions: Rivera with 16 at shortstop and Kurland with 16 at second base.
LANG BANGS
Two-time All-American Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> leads UF in every slash category (.387/.511/.799) and has drawn 12 more walks (50) than strikeouts (38). Despite missing seven games to injury, Langford has totaled 18 home runs, 24 doubles, a team-high 75 runs, 48 RBI and eight steals. With 44 career home runs, Langford is three from tying Mike Zunino for sixth all-time at UF while his 24 doubles in 2023 are the second-most in a season at Florida behind Zunino’s 28 in 2012. He has never committed an error across 217 career chances.
GATOR TATERS
The Gators enter Super Regional play with 126 home runs across 63 games this season, which ranks second in a single season in program history behind the 1998 squad (132). The 2022 team blasted 121 homers in 66 games, which ranks third all-time.
ALL-SEC CLEANUP
Florida led the conference with seven All-SEC honorees as well as a league-high five First Team players. Caglianone, Kurland, Rivera, Langford and Neely were named to the All-SEC First Team while Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> received a Second Team nod. Kurland and catcher/designated hitter Luke Heyman<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/luke-heyman/15522> were both honored on the Freshman All-SEC Team.
BT = BIG TIME
Florida catcher BT Riopelle<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/bt-riopelle/15503> has already swatted five postseason home runs in just eight games, leaving the yard three times to tie a program record at the SEC Tournament in Hoover. His 10 RBI in Hoover also set a new team record. At Regionals, Riopelle busted out of an 0-for-15 slump in the Game 7 winner-take-all, homering twice and driving in hour runs to send the Gators to Supers. Five of Riopelle’s six postseason hits are homers.
HIGHLY OFFENSIVE
Backed by double-digit runs in 22 games and 10-plus knocks in 34 contests, Florida ranks top-10 nationally in home runs (third – 126) and slugging (sixth – .549) while ranking 12th with 512 runs scored. Through 63 games, the Gators have scored in 44.1% of their batted innings (226 of 513) and are averaging 9.7 hits/game. UF ranks top-three in the SEC in homers (T-first), triples (first), slugging (second), runs (second), RBI (second), total bases (second), batting average (third), hits (third) and doubles (third).
DOUBLE-DIGIT DING DONGS
Six different Gators have blasted 10 or more home runs this season, which is a program record. Five of those players have 15-plus jacks.
RELENTLESS REPTILES
19 of UF’s wins have been comeback dubs (39.6%), more than last year’s 66-game total of 13 (30.1%). After going 0-20 last season when trailing after six innings, Florida has four wins in that scenario and is 6-2 when tied after six. Even more impressively, the Gators are 15-7 when the opponent scores first, compared to 11-15 last year.
100-STRIKEOUT DUO
Sproat and Waldrep are the ninth 100-strikeout duo in program history, and the first since Jackson Kowar (115) and Brady Singer (114) accomplished the feat in 2018. Florida is 17-5 in Sproat’s last 22 starts and the right-hander has gone five innings in all but one start in that span.
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
TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON GAME DAY
Those visiting Condron Family Ballpark on game day should be aware of updated traffic patterns surrounding the ballpark. Fans are advised to utilize Ballpark Way, which will serve as a connecting route to the ballpark from Archer Road. For departures, a postgame traffic flow pattern guide can be found here.<https://floridagators.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=0&image_path=/images/2022/4/22/BB_Post_Game_Traffic_20220421.png>
PARKING/SHUTTLES
General Parking is available in the west Condron Family Ballpark baseball lot and the Fifield parking lot located directly across Hull Road. Disabled parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Condron Family Ballpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard. Click HERE<https://floridagators.com/documents/2023/1/31/2023_BB_Parking_Map.pdf> for a Parking map.
There will be a free shuttle service provided to and from the Fifield parking lot each day of the weekend series.
MOBILE TICKETING & FLORIDA GATORS APP
As a reminder, mobile ticketing is required. There will be two ways to access your tickets:
1) through the Florida Gators app<http://s1445136311.t.en25.com/e/er?s=1445136311&lid=1301&elqTrackId=F42DAD870CD1B888DE14DCC3F8C8916F&elq=f69e4978773d47758819914b4936bd42&elqaid=3046&elqat=1> from your mobile device or
2) through FloridaGators.com/myaccount<http://s1445136311.t.en25.com/e/er?s=1445136311&lid=1324&elqTrackId=E19038CB8FD63F3F29DC57131044A028&elq=f69e4978773d47758819914b4936bd42&elqaid=3046&elqat=1>. Fans will also be able to transfer or donate their tickets easily within the app or online.
2023 GAINESVILLE SUPER REGIONAL TICKET INFORMATION
Visit the Florida Gators Baseball ticket page for complete details.<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_baseball_.aspx>
###
