By Phil Stanton
CBI Co-Founder/Editor
OMAHA, Neb. – It was a late power show for Florida.
The Gators hit three home runs over the final two innings and a sacrifice fly by Luke Heyman capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth as UF nipped Virginia 6-5 in Game 2 of the 2023 College World Series.
Florida (51-15) will meet Oral Roberts on Sunday, June 18 at 6 p.m. CT in a matchup of Friday’s winners. The Cavaliers (50-14) will face TCU in an elimination game on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
UVA led 5-3 heading to the bottom of the ninth. Ty Evans, who had a pinch-hit double in the seventh, homered to left to lead off the inning, his fifth of the season, as the Gators pulled within one. With one away, Wyatt Langford crushed a home run over the bleachers in left center, his 14th, to tie the game at 5-5.
“Going up to the plate I was thinking the same thing I always do,” Wyatt said. “I was going up there to compete and get on base and pass the torch for the next man to eventually lead us to winning the game. After Ty’s home run and even before that, we all knew we were going to win that game. It’s just a matter of doing my part.”
Jac Caglianone singled, went to second on a walk to Josh Rivera and advanced to third when BT Riopelle was hit by a pitch. Closer Jay Woolfolk fell behind 2-0 to Heyman before his flyout to center was deep enough to bring home Caglionone with the winning run.
“It was a really well-played game,” said UF head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. “We knew going into it that it was going to be a very fundamentally-sound game on both sides. Virginia played really good. Didn’t give us anything. But proud of these guys, the way they hung in there. Special things happen this time of the year.”
The Gators started the scoring in the second as Riopelle (2 for 3) drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a single by Heyman, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and came home on a base hit by Colby Halter to make it 1-0.
The Cavs erupted for a crooked number in the seventh. Ethan Anderson drew a leadoff walk and went to third on a base hit by Casey Saucke. Anthony Stephan grounded out to third, bringing in Anderson to level the score at 1-1.
Henry Godbout singled to move Saucke to third. Harrison Didawick had a grounder to Halter at third, who fired home to nail Saucke at the plate for the second out. Griff O’Ferrall (2 for 5) doubled into the left field corner to knock in Godbout and Didawick to give UVA a 3-1 edge. A single up the middle by O’Donnell brought home O’Ferrall to make it 4-1.
Dale Thomas drew a pinch-hit walk with one away in the seventh for UF and went to third on a pinch-hit double by Evans. A groundout by Cade Kurland brought in Thomas to make it 4-2.
Riopelle had his 17th dinger to lead off the eighth as the Gators made it a one-run game at 4-3. UVA was 46-0 when leading after eight innings.
Saucke started the top of the ninth with a walk, was sacrificed to second and scored on a two-out triple by Didawick as the Cavs extended the lead to 5-3.
Both starters had strong outings. Brandon Sproat struck out seven in 6.1 innings for the Gators with five hits, three walks and three runs.
Nick Parker went 6.0 innings for the Cavs with four hits, one run, three walks and one strikeout.
“Certainly a very tough loss,” said UVA head coach Brian O’Connor. “I give credit to Florida. They have a really good lineup and they stayed in it and put some big-time swings on the ball in the ninth inning. They’re a dangerous lineup.”
NOTES
Both games on Day 1 were one-run contests, and both finished 6-5 with ninth-inning comebacks.
Virginia and TCU are the only programs with more than five appearances in the College World Series that have never gone 0-2 in Omaha. They will meet in an elimination game on Sunday, with the losing team going 0-2.
Friday was the first time in CWS history that the winners of the first two games both trailed entering the ninth inning.