College World Series: Texas A&M 3, Gators 2 — Kurland Robbed of Go-Ahead Homer, UF Cold with Runners on Base - Florida Gators (2024)

John Paternoster

• Box Score

Game Recap: Baseball | Sunday, June 16, 2024 | Scott Carter, Senior Writer

COLLEGE WORLD SERIESat CHARLES SCHWAB FIELD
Texas A&M 3, Florida 2

WHAT HAPPENED:In Florida's first game of the College World Series on Saturday night/Sunday morning, Texas A&M held off a late comeback attempt by the Gators for a 3-2 win. The loss snapped Florida's five-game win streak in the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies scored two runs in the second inning and added a run in the third for an early 3-0 lead.The Gators finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI ground-rule double by Dale Thomas that scored Tyler Shelnut, who led off the inning with a double. Michael Robertson's groundout RBI scored Thomas, who had moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, to make it 3-2. The Gators threatened again in the ninth, but UF finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and struck out 16 times against Texas A&M pitchers Justin Lamkin, Chris Cortez and Evan Aschenbeck.

PLAY OF THE GAME:Florida's final chance came in the ninth inning when Robertson slapped a one-out single to shortstop, putting the tying run on base for Cade Kurland. With Aschenbecktwo outs from his 10th save, Kurland drilled his 1-1 pitch to deep right field, where 6-foot-6 Texas A&M outfielderJace LaViolette timed his jump perfectly to rob Kurland of a go-ahead, two-run homer. Instead, it was the second out of the inning. After Jac Caglianone walked to put runners at first and second, Ashton Wilson struck out to end the game.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The UF bullpen tandem of Fisher Jameson and Brandon Neely turned in another stellar performance to keep the game close. Jameson tossed three scoreless innings and Neely pitched two shutout frames. Toss in 2/3 scoreless innings from lefty Cade Fisher, and Florida's bullpen allowed two hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Aggies after starter Liam Peterson lasted only 2 1/3 innings in his CWS debut.

STAGGERING STAT:The game was delayed for 4 hours, 7 minutes due to a storm system that passed through Omaha after Saturday's first game between Kentucky and NC State. Texas A&M starter Lamkin threw the game's first pitch at 11:16 p.m. ET, making it a late night for those in the Sunshine State who stayed up to watch. The game ended at 2:13 a.m. ET Sunday.

KEY MOMENT:Down 3-2, Florida had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the eighth when Thomas stepped to the plate against Aggies closerAschenbeck. Thomas hit a slow roller to second on Aschenbeck's 0-1 pitch, forcing second baseman Kaeden Kent to charge the ball and toss it underhanded to first. Kent's toss was high, but the ball landed in the glove of first baseman Ted Burton a split second before Thomas reached the bag for the final out of the inning, preserving Texas A&M's one-run lead.

BY THE NUMBERS: 33—CWS games for Gators head coach Kevin O'Sullivan, tying former South Carolina coach Ray Tanner for 13th all time. 29—Losses for 2008 national champion Fresno State entering the CWS, the most in history. 28—Losses for Florida entering the CWS.

HE SAID IT: "He thought he got it. I thought he got it. The right fielder made a heck of a play." — O'Sullivan on Kurland getting robbed of a home run in the ninth by LaViolette

UP NEXT:Florida dropped into the losers' bracket and will face NC State in an elimination game on Monday at 2 p.m. ET.

NOTABLES

• Florida is playing in the College World Series for the 14th time in program history and ninth time under head coach Kevin O'Sullivan.
  • O'Sullivan has navigated the Gators to Omaha in nine of the last 14 postseasons.
• Jac Caglianone extended his on-base streak to 49 straight contests by reaching four times on Saturday.
  • Caglianone has hit safely in 59 of 63 games while reaching safely in all but one contest.
  • Caglianone now owns 99 hits on the season, tied with Ryan Shealy (2002) for sixth-most hits in a campaign at UF.
• In the 2024 postseason, Brandon Neely has made five appearances with 18 innings pitched, three runs allowed, 11 hits allowed and 26 strikeouts.
• Tyler Shelnut picked up an eight-game hitting streak.
  • Shelnut and Dale Thomas hit back-to-back doubles in the seventh inning to put Florida on the board.
• Fisher Jameson tossed three shutout, one-hit innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
• Florida's scoring streak of 142 consecutive games is the third-longest in program history (May 27, 2022-present).
• The Gators are 135-87 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Florida is 25-27 at the College World Series.
• Florida is now 14-17 all-time vs. Texas A&M (1-5 neutral).
  • The Gators are 13-11 against the Aggies under O'Sullivan (0-1 CWS)
• Saturday night's official attendance was 25,774.