Jac Caglianone went 2 for 4 with a homer, double and 4 RBIs and Florida baseball belted four home runs to stave off elimination with a 17-11 win over Nebraska on Sunday in the Stillwater Regional.
The Florida Gators (30-28) will move on to face Oklahoma State tonight at O'Brate Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., (8:36 p.m., ET, ESPN+) needing two straight wins against the Cowboys to advance to the Super Regionals.
Caglianone put Florida ahead to stay 6-4 in the second inning with a three-run homer that rocketed off the bat at 119 miles per hour over the right field. Colby Shelton added a three-run homer during a six-run seventh inning that broke the game open, with Luke Heyman and Dale Thomas adding solo shots to put the Gators up 17-6.
Lefty Pierce Coppola pitched a season-high 4 1/3 innings. Righty Ryan Slater (5-2) was credited with the win after pitching a scoreless sixth inning but left the game with side tightness, forcing Florida to use seven different pitchers to finish off the game.
After a two-hour weather delay, Nebraska cut Florida's lead to 7-6 in the top of the sixth on a two-RBI double by shortstop Dylan Carey. But Florida answered with five runs in the bottom of the sixth, an inning that included an RBI double by Caglianone and RBI singles by Thomas and Tyler Shelnut, to go back up 11-6.
Caglianone extended his on base streak to 44 straight games with his 31st homer of the season and moved within three home runs of the UF career record, set by Matt LaPorta (74 home runs).
Florida scored its most runs in an NCAA Regional game since beating Florida A&M 19-0 at McKethan Stadium in 2015.
What channel is Florida baseball vs Nebraska playing today?
TV:SEC Network
Streaming:Watch ESPN;with FUBO(free trial); streaming link:https://go.web.plus.espn.com/g1x9ZA
Florida baseball vs Nebraska in 2024 NCAA Stillwater Regional: Live score updates
Final: Florida baseball 17, Nebraska 11
The Gators (30-28) sock four home runs and hold off Nebraska to keep its season alive for one more game. Florida will face Oklahoma State tonight in the Stillwater Regional finals, needing two wins over the Cowboys to advance to the Super Regional
Nebraska baseball scores three runs in the 8th
Nebraska scores three runs in the eighth inning on an RBI double by pinch hitter Clay Bradford and two-RBI single by Joshua Overbeek. But Hunter Jones, making just his second appearance of the season for UF, gets out of the inning after Blake Purnell lasts just 1/3 of an inning. Gators 17, Nebraska 9 mid-8th.
Florida baseball breaks it open with another big inning
Florida sends nine batters to the plate, scoring six more runs to take a 17-6 lead. The big blows included a three-run homer by Colby Shelton and solo home runs by Luke Heyman and Dale Thomas. Ashton Wilson also contributed with an RBI single. Gators 17, Nebraska 6.
Florida baseball reponds with big inning
Florida responds with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, taking an 11-6 lead over Nebraska. Cade Kurland led off the inning with a walk and scored on an RBI double by Jac Caglianone, putting Florida up 8-6. Tyler Shelnut then belted an RBI single, scoring Caglianone, and a misplay in center field allowed Colby Shelton to score from first place, giving UF a 10-6 lead. Third baseman Dale Thomas then followed with an RBI single, scoring Thomas to put Florida up 11-6. Florida 11, Nebraska 6 end 6th.
Nebraska baseball inches closer
Nebraska cuts Florida's lead to 7-6 on a two-RBI double by shortstop Dylan Carey, but Slater keeps Carey, the tying run, stranded at third base, getting a ground ball to get out of the inning. Florida 7, Nebraska 6 mid 6th.
Florida baseball vs Nebraska broadcast change
The Florida baseball vs. Nebraska game is switching over from SEC Network to ESPN3 due to the weather delay going into the 6 p.m. TV window for Knoxville Regional. Nebraska has runners on first and second with none out with Florida ahead 7-4. The Gators have just made a pitching change, bringing in Ryan Slater for Fisher Jameson.
Florida baseball vs Nebraska to resume at 5:40 p.m.
Florida baseball's regional game vs. Nebraska is set to resume at 5:40 p.m. after close to a two-hour weather delay. Fisher Jameson will return to the mound for the Gators with two outs in the top of the fifth.
Florida baseball vs Nebraska in a weather delay
Florida baseball's game vs. Nebraska is currently in a weather delay due to lightning in the Stillwater area. The Gators remain up 7-4 with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Florida had just pulled starter Pierce Coppola, who allowed 4 runs on 4 hits in 4 1/3 innings with 3 walks and 8 strikeouts. Reliever Fisher Jameson got a ground out with a runner in scoring position before umpires called for the delay due to lightning.
Jac Caglianone sparks big inning as Florida baseball takes the lead
Florida baseball sends 10 players to the plate, scoring five runs to take a 7-4 lead. After a Michael Robertson RBI single cut Nebraska's lead to 4-3, Jac Caglianone delivered the big blow, a towering, three-run homer to right that left the bat at 119 miles per hour, putting Florida up 6-4. Luke Heyman then lined an RBI single to extend UF's lead to 7-4, knocking Nebraska starter Jackson Brockett out of the game. Caglianone now has 31 home runs and 62 RBIs on the season and is three home runs shy of Matt LaPorta's school career record (74). Gators 7, Nebraska 4 end 2.
Nebraska baseball jumps back ahead
Nebraska goes back up 4-2 on Florida with a two-out, two-run homer from Joshua Overbeek, Coppola struggling with his command, 2 IP, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. Of his 47 pitches only 27 have been for strikes.
Florida baseball evens it up
Florida answers with two runs in the bottom of the first, tying the score at 2 with Nebraska. Cade Kurland scored on a wild pitch, then Colby Shelton laced an RBI single to right, scoring Jac Caglianone.
Nebraska baseball jumps to early lead
Nebraska jumps to an early 2-0 on a two-run home run by left fielder Gabe Swansen, his third of the regional and second against the Gators. Florida starter Piece Coppola allows two runs on two hits in the top of the first with a walk and two strikeouts.
Nebraska baseball lineup
Overbeek 3B, Sanderson DH, Caron C, Swansen LF, Columbus 1B, Stokes 2B, Carey SS, Evans RF, Silva CF. SP Brockett.
Florida baseball lineup
Kurland 2B, Caglianone 1B, Wilson RF, Shelton SS, Heyman C, Shelnut LF, Thomas 3B, Donay DH, Robertson CF. SP Coppola.
