After falling short in the College World Series final last season, Florida will get another chance at the crown. The Gators walked off Clemson by a score of 11-10 in extra innings on Sunday to claim the Super Regional victory and secure their spot in Omaha.
Clemson appeared to pull away in the 13th inning when Alden Mathes stepped up to the plate with two outs. He had yet to record a hit on the day but connected at the perfect time on a solo shot to right field for the go-ahead score.
However, Florida had an answer in the bottom of the inning to quickly get two runners on. They would later go on to score when Michael Robertson hit a double to left center that brought both home.
It marked the second time this postseason that Florida, which was not a national seed, came out victorious on the road after making it out of Regional play against Oklahoma State. The CWS appearance is the 14th in program history for the Gators, who have won one championship.
Tigers coach Erik Bakich and assistant Jack Leggett were both ejected after a heated discussion with the umpires following Mathes’ home run. Bakich followed the umpires onto the field in protest and pumped his fist to the home crowd as he walked off the field. Both coaches will be suspended for two games.
Clemson entered the ninth inning trailing 9-6 and desperately needing a big play to keep its season alive. They got it after two runners reached and Cannarella stepped to the plate as the potential game-tying run. He immediately connected on a pitch, blasting the ball to deep right field and over the fence to even things up.
The Tigers defense was ready in the bottom of the inning, forcing the Gators to go three up, three down and send the contest to extra innings. Cannarella later came up with a game-saving catch in the 10th inning, corralling the ball to his chest to keep the Tigers’ season alive.
Jac Caglianone got the game started off the game with a two-run bomb in the bottom of the first to give Florida the early lead. Things quickly got chippy from there as tempers flared in the second inning. Gators pitcher Jac Caglianone collided with Tigers designated hitter Nolan Nawrocki to tag him out as he ran to first base. That resulted in a shoving match between the two as the benches cleared.
Clemson first baseman Jack Crighton was the only player ejected as a result of the scuffle. The reason given was that he ran into an umpire while jogging back from third base. Both benches were issued a warning as well.
The Tigers responded to plate three runs in the top of the third and take a 3-2 lead. That included a solo home run from Blake Wright to center field that marked his 22nd long ball of the season.
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