Florida Gators baseball upsets Oklahoma State, advances to Super Regional as unranked team

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Image Credit: UAA

A near-.500 campaign had Florida Gators baseball scratching and clawing just to advance into the 2024 NCAA Tournament over the final few weeks of the regular season. Not only did Florida wind up earning a bid with ease due to its substantial resume, the Gators pulled off a tremendous upset in the Stillwater Regional by fighting out of the losers bracket to win consecutive games against the No. 11-seed Oklahoma State Cowboys.

UF won 5-2 over OSU on Sunday to force a Monday rubber match in which the Gators prevailed 4-2 to secure their spot in the Super Regional round. They previously fell 7-1 to the Pokes in the second game of regional play but eviscerated Nebraska 5-2 and 17-11 on either side of that defeat.

Florida will now play No. 6-seed Clemson as it advances to the Super Regional round for the second straight season and 12th time in program history. It will do so boosted by a tremendous pitching effort as the only team nationwide to hold three opponents to two runs or less in regional play this season.

A committee pitching approach fueled the Gators over the last two days with junior right-hander Fisher Jameson (3.1 IP, 4 K) dealing in relief Monday afternoon to secure the save and regional victory. This after junior RHP Brandon Neely (5.2 IP, H, 3 BB, 11 K) on Sunday registered a career-high strikeout total in arguably the most clutch pitching performance of the entire season.

Florida only trailed during four of 18 innings against Oklahoma State with sophomore right fielder Ashton Wilson starring at the plate. Wilson followed a three-hit, two-run effort Sunday with a two-RBI performance Monday. Sophomore shortstop Colby Shelton jacked a three-run homer Sunday, while senior left fielder Tyler Shelnut hit a solo shot that served as a clutch insurance run in the sixth inning Monday.

Junior LHP Jac Caglianone (5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) struggled in the 7-1 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday, though he powered Florida with four RBI in the second Nebraska game. The Gators will need him to find momentum on the mound if they hope to get past the Tigers next week.

Florida has now advanced to the Super Regional round in 10 of 16 NCAA Tournaments played under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. The Gators are seeking a College World Series appearance for the second straight season after they were unable to escape the regional round across three NCAA Tournaments from 2019-22.