Florida Gators baseball explodes in fifth inning to beat Clemson in Super Regional opener

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Image Credit: UAA

For a team some believed should not have even received a bit to the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Florida Gators continue to exceed all expectations. Entering as one of the few unranked teams to advance past the regional round, Florida opened Super Regional aplomb, powering its way to a 10-7 win over the No. 6-seed Clemson Tigers on Saturday afternoon.

The Gators used a seven-run fifth inning — spurned into motion by a three-run go-ahead homer off the bat of junior first baseman Jac Caglianone (2/4, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB) — to move into the lead, which they never acquiesced.

Senior left fielder Tyler Shelnut (1/5, HR, RBI, R, 2 K) homered in the fourth for Florida’s second run of the game, and sophomore catcher Luke Heyman (2/5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, Kx) added a solo blast in the ninth as a crucial insurance run after the Gators were held scoreless over the prior three innings and the Tigers climbed back to within two runs of the visitors.

Junior right-handed pitcher Fisher Jameson (4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K) got into a hole early but did enough to pick up the victory with junior RHP Brandon Nelly (4.0 IP, H, BB, 7 K) again performing exceptionally while grabbing the save.