Omaha, Neb. – A three-run home run by two-way star Jac Caglianone led the Florida Gators over the No. 10 ranked program in the nation, the North Carolina State University Wolfpack, 5-4 in a College World Series elimination game on Monday, June 17.
“Proud of our team’s resiliency today. Obviously, everybody knows when you get in the elimination brackets, it’s about emotion and keeping your energy going, and we did that today,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said during the post-game press conference on Monday.
The Wolfpack got their first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when shortstop Brandon Butterworth drove an RBI single through the left side of the infield, scoring first baseman Garrett Pennington to make it 1-0.
Florida got on the board in the top of the second inning, with second baseman Cade Kurland lifting a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring third baseman Dale Thomas to tie the game up at 1-1.
The next batter, starting pitcher Jac Caglianone, drove a three-run home run over the right-center field wall reaching 404 feet, his 34th of the season, scoring catcher Brody Donay and center fielder Michael Roberton to capture the lead at 4-1.
Absolute laser beam. 💥#GoGators // 📺ESPN pic.twitter.com/jz2Pzn0FSz
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) June 17, 2024
According to Jack Delperdang of College Baseball Central, Caglianone is the first starting pitcher to hit a home run in the CWS since Tim Hudson with Auburn University in 1997 against Rice University.
Jac Caglianone is the first player to homer in a College World Series game while pitching since Auburn RHP Tim Hudson in 1997 vs Rice. pic.twitter.com/iGqdQ6IdN3
— Jack Delperdang (@jack_delperdang) June 17, 2024
Caglianone’s 74th home run of his career on Monday tied Matt LaPorta, who played with the Florida program from 2004-07, for most home runs and is ranked at No. 3 from MLBpipeline.com Top 200 Draft Prospects.
NC State tacked on the board again in the bottom of the third inning when Alec Makarewicz launched a two-run home run into the left-field bullpen, scoring Pennington to cut the Gator lead to one, 4-3.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Gators extended the lead to two runs with left fielder Tyler Shelnut rocking a solo home run into the left field bullpen to extend the lead to 5-3.
The Wolfpack, in the bottom of the fifth inning, tacked on one run to close in when Butterworth smacked an RBI double to right field, scoring Pennington to make it 5-4.
Florida manager O’Sullivan had confidence in relief pitcher Brandon Neely and let him close the game, recording the final nine outs.
Neely retired the side in order 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, getting Serrano to strike out looking, Pennington to strike out swinging, and Makarewicz to fly out to Shelnut to end the game and knock off the No. 10 ranked program NC State Wolfpack 5-4.
“It takes a different person to close out games. And they’re hard to find at this level, even at the big league level. But for whatever reason, he really takes on that role,” O’Sullivan said during the post-game press conference.
The Gators hang their hat on timely hitting and great defense, neither of which NC State had on Monday, as they left eight runners on base.
“It really comes down to team effort. Everyone stepped up together and stepped up this postseason. And me having one of the best defenses behind me. And being able to attack hitters and let my defense work. And knowing they’ll pick me up,” Neely said during the post-game press conference.
Neely recorded his fifth save of the season on Monday afternoon, and Florida pitcher Cade Fisher improved his record to 4-3.
The four Southeastern Conference teams are 4-0 against Atlantic Coast Conference programs during the 2024 CWS.
Florida (35-29) will play on Tuesday, June 18, at 7 p.m. EST against No. 2 Kentucky (46-15).
No. 3 Texas A&M (51-13) will play the winner of Florida and Kentucky on Wednesday, June 19 at 7 p.m. EST.
No. 4 North Carolina (48-15) will play No. 8 Florida State (48-16) in the elimination round on Tuesday, June 18, at 2 p.m. EST.
No. 1 Tennessee (57-12) will play either UNC or FSU on Wednesday, June 19, at 2 p.m. EST. Their record is 2-0 at the 2024 NCAA Division I CWS.
All of the 2024 NCAA Division I CWS games will be televised on the ESPN networks.
Photo Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
