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OMAHA, Neb. — The Florida baseball team will play in another win-or-lose game against the University of Kentucky in the College World Series on Wednesday at Charles Schwab Field.
The Florida Gators (35-29) have been 7-1 in their last eight NCAA Tournament consolation games since 2023. That included Monday, when Florida advanced to the consolation round with a 5-4 win over North Carolina State behind an early three-run homer by Jack Calianone and three shutout innings by relief pitcher Brandon Neely, who earned his fifth save of the season.
“Obviously, we all know when you’re in an elimination group it’s important to keep your emotions and energy up, and we did that,” Florida baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.
Kentucky (46-15) fell to the losers’ bracket after a 5-1 loss to Texas A&M on Wednesday night. The Wildcats had won two of three games against Florida in the regular season, with both victories coming in overtime.
Kentucky has yet to announce its starting pitcher but is likely to field left-hander Dominik Nyman (8-4, 6.24 ERA), who has yet to start for the Omaha Wildcats. Florida will field left-hander Pierce Coppola (0-4, 9.16 ERA).
What channel will the Florida vs Kentucky baseball game be on today?
tv set: ESPN
time: 11am ET
Streaming: Watch ESPN; Use FUBO (free trial); Streaming link: https://go.web.plus.espn.com/g1x9ZA
2024 College World Series, Florida Baseball vs Kentucky: Live Score Updates
Luke Heyman gets his second RBI of the day
The Gators catcher hit a grounder to third base that bounced hard, Shelnutt scored from second, and Colby Shelton advanced to third on a Heyman double.
Shellnut Squeeze!
Tyler Shelnutt broke a hitless streak. The Lake City native and Fort White High School graduate bunted with Jack Caglianone on third base. The bunt was perfect down the third base line, Caglianone scored without a throw and Shelnutt advanced to first. Florida was leading Kentucky 11-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Donay hit his second home run of the day
The Gators came back in a big way in the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo home run down the left field line by Brody Donay. Donay hit a grand slam in the first inning to put Florida ahead, 7-1. After going 0-for-6 to start the CWS against Texas A&M and NC State, the Lakeland native is now 3-3 with five RBI, three runs scored and two home runs. Florida leads UK, 10-4, with no outs in the fifth inning.
Wildcats further reduce Florida’s lead
Quebec native Emilien Pitre hit a two-run home run to right-center field to help the Cats rally with two outs. That allowed Ryan Waldschmidt, who had walked with two outs, to score. Pierce Coppola struck out to end the inning, but Quebec had now scored three runs. Florida led 9-4 midway through the fifth inning.
The Kentucky baseball team scores one run in the fourth inning.
Kentucky’s Nick Lopez’s second RBI single of the game cut Florida’s lead to 9-2, but Pierce Coppola got out of a jam with runners on first and second and struck out two batters to end the inning. Coppola threw 68 pitches in the fourth inning. Florida 9, Kentucky 2, middle of the fourth.
The Florida baseball team added two more runs in the third inning.
Florida added two more runs. Kentucky walked Jack Caglianone to load the bases and allow Cade Kurland to score. Kurland got his first hit of the CWS with a two-run single to extend Florida’s lead to 9-1. Gators 9, Kentucky 1 at the end of the third inning.
Lineup change helps Florida baseball team score seven runs
To say Florida’s batting order change paid off would be an understatement. The Gators sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs to take a 7-1 lead. Jack Caglianone singled to lead off the game, advanced to second on an error and scored on Colby Shelton’s RBI double to tie the game at 1-1. Luke Heyman then hit a two-run single to put the Gators ahead 3-1. Brody Donnay then hit a grand slam later in the inning to extend Florida’s lead to 7-1. Florida 7, Kentucky 1, 1 to go.
Kentucky baseball team takes early lead
Kentucky walked Ryan Waldschmidt and scored on an RBI single by Nick Lopez, giving them an early 1-0 lead. Florida had a chance to end the inning without giving up a run when pitcher Pierce Coppola tagged out Waldschmidt while throwing from first to second, but first baseman Caglianone was hit in the back by the throw to catch Waldschmidt at second base, and Waldschmidt stole second base and scored on a single by Lopez. Kentucky 1, Florida 0, middle of the 1st inning.
Kentucky baseball lineup
Waldschmidt left fielder, Pitre second baseman, Nicholson first baseman, Lopez designated hitter, Daly third baseman, Burks catcher, McCarthy center fielder, McCoy right fielder, Smith shortstop.
Florida Baseball Home Team
Florida will be the home team for the first time in three College World Series games. The Gators will wear white tops and white pants, while Kentucky will wear blue tops and gray pants.
Kentucky’s starting left-hander, Dominic Nyman
Kentucky will start left-hander Dominic Nyman (8-4, 6.24 ERA) against the Gators today. In their regular-season matchup on May 11, the Gators hammered Nyman, allowing six runs on seven hits in four innings.
Florida baseball will have Jack Calianone as the leadoff hitter in the lineup.
Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan made some changes to his lineup for today’s must-win College World Series game against Kentucky. The biggest change is that Jack Caglianone will bat leadoff for the first time in his career. Florida lineup: Caglianone 1B, Kurland 2B, Shelnutt LF, Shelton SS, Heyman C, Wilson RF, Thomas 3B, Donay C, Robertson CF. SP: Pierce Coppola (0-4, 9.16 ERA).
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