Grand slam powers Florida Gators baseball to rout of Kentucky as Jac Caglianone makes history

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Image Credit: UAA

Florida Gators baseball continued its immense postseason run Wednesday afternoon staving off elimination from the 2024 College World Series for the second time in three days. Florida prevailed with a thunderous 15-4 victory over the No. 2-seed Kentucky Wildcats, sending home another ranked opponent from Omaha, Nebraska.

A grand slam from sophomore designated hitter Brody Donay in the bottom of the first proved to be the game-winner for the Gators, which jumped ahead 7-1 and never looked back. Donay (3/5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 K) slugged a solo home run in the fifth to push Florida ahead 10-4, but his second blast was not the most noteworthy moon shot of the frame.

That went to junior first baseman Jac Caglianone, who slugged his 75th career home run later in the inning to sit alone as the Gators’ all-time leader, passing Matt LaPorta (74). It was the 35th homer of the season for Caglianone (2/2, HR, RBI, 3 R, 3 BB), putting him two off the single-season record in the BBCOR era.

Caglianone now sits tied for the eight-most career home runs in college baseball history with more than any player who began his collegiate career this century. LaPorta was in attendance for the moment.

Redshirt sophomore left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola (5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 9 K) had a career-long appearance as the starter with his relievers holding Kentucky scoreless for the duration of the contest.

Sophomores catcher Luke Heyman (3/5, 3 RBI, 2 R, K), second baseman Cade Kurland (1/4, 2 RBI, R, 2 K) and right fielder Ashton Wilson (1/3, 2 RBI, 2 R, K) provided multiple insurance runs to aid victory.

With the win, Florida advances to face No. 3-seed Texas A&M at 7 p.m. ET in the Gators’ third straight elimination game. A double-header is being played Wednesday as weather pushed the start of the opening contest from Tuesday night to 11 a.m.

Should Florida emerge with another victory, a win-or-go-home rematch with TAMU will be held Thursday with the victor advancing to the CWS Championship Series.

UF has now eliminated No. 2-seed Kentucky, No. 6-seed Clemson, No. 10-seed NC State and No. 11-seed Oklahoma State from the 2024 NCAA Tournament.