OMAHA, Neb. — Florida baseball faces another win or go home game on Wednesday against Kentucky in the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field.
The Florida Gators (35-29) have responded well with their backs against the wall, going 7-1 in their last eight NCAA Tournament elimination games dating back to 2023. That included Monday, when UF advanced in the losers bracket by edging North Carolina State 5-4 behind an early three-run homer from Jac Caglianone and three scoreless innings out of the bullpen from Brandon Neely, who picked up his fifth save of the season.
"Obviously everybody knows when you get in the elimination brackets it's about emotion and keeping your energy going and we did that," Florida baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan said.
Kentucky (46-15) fell into the losers bracket with a 5-1 loss to Texas A&M on Wednesday night. The Wildcats took 2 of 3 from UF in the regular season, with both of the wins against Florida coming in extra inning.
Kentucky hasn't named a starter yet but will likely throw lefty Dominic Niman (8-4, 6.24), who has yet to start for the Wildcats in Omaha. Florida will counter with lefty Pierce Coppola (0-4, 9.16 ERA)
What channel is Florida baseball vs Kentucky playing on today?
TV:ESPN
Time:11 a.m. ET
Streaming:Watch ESPN;with FUBO(free trial); streaming link:https://go.web.plus.espn.com/g1x9ZA
Florida baseball vs Kentucky in 2024 College World Series: Live score updates
Gators tame Wildcats, advance to CWS Semifinals
Florida baseball improves to 2-0 in elimination games in the College World Series and 5-0 in postseason elimination games with a 15-4 thrashing of Kentucky in Omaha. Pierce Coppola delivered the best start of his career, going five innings and earning his first career win with nine Ks. The Gator offense produced a seven-run first inning and a five-run fifth inning, while Jac Caglianone became the Gators all-time home run king with his 75th career homer in the sixth. UF moves onto the semifinals and a rematch with Texas A&M. The Gators fell to the Aggies 3-2 to open the CWS Sunday morning. First pitch is set for now at 7 p.m. on ESPN from the Chuck in Omaha.
Jac Caglianone becomes Florida baseball's new home run king
The Wildcats finally pitch to Cags after three walks, and the Gators legend makes them pay. He takes a 3-2 pitch into the Kentucky bullpen in right field to put Florida ahead 15-4 in the sixth inning. It's his 35th homer of the season, and his 75th in a Gators uniform. He officially passes Matt LaPorta for most in program history. LaPorta, who is at the game in Omaha, gave Cags a standing ovation as he rounded the bases.
Kevin O'Sullivan goes to the bullpen
Pierce Coppola's day is over as Jake Clemente enters for the sixth inning. Coppola goes five innings and allows four runs.
Ashton Wilson becomes sixth Gator to drive in run
The sophom*ore hits a fly ball to right, and after some UK confusion, it drops. Shelton and Heyman score, and the Gators have blown this game open fully. Dale Thomas strikes out to end the inning, but Florida tallies five in the fifth and now leads Kentucky 14-4 with four innings to go in Omaha.
Second RBI of the day for Luke Heyman
The Gators catcher hits a ground ball to third, which takes a mean hop. Shelnut scores from second, and Colby Shelton moves to third on the Heyman double.
A Shelnut squeeze!
Tyler Shelnut got out of his hitting drought, sort of. The Lake City native and Fort White HS alum lays down a bunt with Jac Caglianone on third. It's a perfect one down the third base line, scoring Cags without a throw and putting Shelnut at first. Florida leads now 11-4 over Kentucky in the bottom of the fifth.
Donay goes yard for the second time today
Gators respond back in a big way in the bottom of the fifth as Brody Donay hits a solo shot down the left field line. Donay hit a grand slam in the first to put Florida ahead 7-1. After beginning the CWS 0-6 vs Texas A&M and NC State, the Lakeland native is now 3-3 with five RBIs, three runs and two HRs. Florida leads UK 10-4 with no outs in the fifth.
Wildcats further cut into Florida's lead
Quebec native Emilien Pitre helps the 'Cats form a two out rally as he blasts a two run homer to right-center. This scores Ryan Waldschmidt, who had walked with two outs. Pierce Coppola ends the inning with a K, but UK has now scored three unanswered. Florida leads 9-4 in the middle of the 5th.
Kentucky baseball gets a run in the fourth inning
Nick Lopez's second RBI single of the game for Kentucky cuts the Florida lead to 9-2. But Pierce Coppola works out of a first and second jam by striking out two straight batters to end the inning. Coppola at 68 pitches through 4 innings. Florida 9, Kentucky 2 mid 4th.
Florida baseball tacks on two more runs in the third inning
Florida tacks on two more runs, as Kentucky elects to walk Jac Caglianone to load the bases, and Cade Kurland makes them play. Kurland gets his first hit of the CWS, blooping a two-RBI single to extend the Florida lead to 9-1. Gators 9, Kentucky 1 end 3rd.
Lineup change sparks seven-run inning for Florida baseball
To say that the Florida lineup change worked is an understatement. The Gators sent 11 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs to take a 7-1 lead. Jac Caglianone led off the game with a single, moved to second on an error, and scored on an RBI double by Colby Shelton, tying the score at 1. Luke Heyman followed with a two-RBI single, giving the Gators a 3-1 lead. Then, later in the inning, Brody Donay delivered the big blow, a grand slam extending UF's lead to 7-1. Florida 7, Kentucky 1 end 1.
Kentucky baseball jumps to an early lead
Kentucky jumps to an early 1-0 lead as Ryan Waldschmidt walks to lead off the game and scores on an RBI single by Nick Lopez. Florida had a chance to get out of the inning without a run as pitcher Pierce Coppola had Waldschmidt picked off going from first to second, but the throw from from first baseman Caglianone to try to get Waldschmidt at second base hit off of his back, allowing Waldschmidt to steal second and score on the Lopez single. Kentucky 1, Florida 0 mid-1st.
Kentucky baseball lineup
Waldschmidt LF, Pitre 2B, Nicholson 1B, Lopez DH, Daly 3B, Burkes C, McCarthy CF. McCoy RF, Smith SS
Florida baseball the home team
Florida is the home team for the first time in three games in the College World Series. The Gators are wearing white tops and white pants, while Kentucky is wearing blue tops and gray pants.
Kentucky starting lefty Dominic Niman
Kentucky is starting lefty Dominic Niman (8-4, 6.24 ERA) today against the Gators. The Gators hit Niman hard in their meeting against him during the regular season on May 11, scoring six runs on seven hits in four innings.
Florida baseball moves Jac Caglianone into leadoff spot in the order
Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan made some lineup changes heading into today's must-win in the College World Series against Kentucky. The biggest move? Jac Caglianone leading off for the first time in his career. Florida lineup: Caglianone 1B, Kurland 2B, Shelnut LF, Shelton SS, Heyman C, Wilson RF, Thomas 3B, Donay C, Robertson CF. SP: Pierce Coppola (0-4, 9.16 ERA).
