ChompTalk.com

For the second day in a row, the Florida Gators defeated No. 11 overall seed Oklahoma State in regional play to advance to super regionals for the second straight year.

Florida defeated the Cowboys 4-2 to complete a whirlwind weekend that saw the Gators comeback from an early visit to the losers bracket.

Despite burning their top two starting pitchers in the Friday and Saturday games, the Gators gutted out three wins in two days (with a two hour rain delay in the mix, as well) and will head to Clemson, South Carolina to take on the No. 6 overall seeded Tigers in a best of three series.

Florida turned to redshirt freshman Jake Clemente on the mound and the righty didn’t disappoint. Clemente threw 3.1 innings but only allowed one run to score. Taking over for Clemente in the fourth was freshman Frank Menendez, who likewise, only surrendered one run over multiple innings of work (2.1). That got the ball to bullpen veteran Fisher Jameson, who completed the final 3.1 innings for his third save of the 2024 season.

As for the scoring, the Gators jumped out to a 2-0 lead when regional hero, Ashton Wilson singled to right scoring both Michael Robertson and Jac Caglianone.

The Cowboys got one back in the following half-inning as Aidan Meola smacked an RBI double that plated one.

Florida added a run in the bottom of the fourth with Robertson’s RBI single to left that scored Dale Thomas to make it 3-1.

In the top of the fifth, Oklahoma State’s Zach Ehrhard hit a sacrifice fly to score one and cut the deficit to just one at 3-2.

Florida’s Tyler Shelnut connected for a no-doubt homer off the scoreboard in left to put the Gators back up by two.

Jameson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to clinch the win and Florida’s spot in super regionals. Not bad for a team that drew the ire of many across the nation for making the tournament despite a 28-27 regular season record.