Gators Mound Meeting (2022 vs. Central Michigan, G2)
Gators head coach Kevin O'Sullivan makes one of his several trips to the mound on Sunday afternoon at Condron Ballpark. (Photo: UAA Communications)
6
Winner Florida Gators UF 41-23
5
Central Michigan CMUBB 43-19
Winner
Florida Gators UF
41-23
6
Final
5
Central Michigan CMUBB
43-19
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Florida Gators UF 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 6 8 0
Central Michigan CMUBB 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 5 10 2

W: Slater, Ryan (6-3) L: NAVARRA, Garrett (10-3)

Game Recap: Baseball | | UAA Communications

Gators Close Out Central Michigan; Oklahoma Rematch Set

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — They kept it interesting until the final out, but the Gators kept their season alive.

Florida defeated Central Michigan 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at Condron Ballpark in an elimination game of the Gainesville Regional.

The No. 1-seed Gators (41-23) advanced to face No. 2-seed Oklahoma at 7 tonight. The Gators must win to force a winner-take-all championship game on Monday. Oklahoma beat the Gators 9-4 on Saturday night.

On Sunday, Florida took control against Central Michigan through the early innings thanks to a pair of solo home runs by Wyatt Langford and a steal of home by shortstop Josh Rivera. The Gators led 5-0 before the Chippewas scored a run in the fifth and then added four runs off four UF pitchers in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 5-5.

Reliever Ryan Slater took over in the seventh and tossed three scoreless innings, giving up one hit while walking one and striking out two. Slater retired Central Michigan third baseman Aidan Shepardson on a pop out to third to end the game, stranding the bases loaded.

Gators starter Nick Pogue allowed five hits and three runs in five innings. He ran into trouble in the sixth when the first two runners reached. Relievers Blake Purnell, Philip Abner and Tyler Nesbitt followed Pogue to the mound before the inning finally ended with the Chippewas scoring four runs, aided by three Gators walks.

Langford, who entered Sunday's game 0-for-9 in the regional, finished 2-for-3 with two home runs, two RBI and three runs scored. Langford's 25th home run of the season, the second-highest single-season total in school history, hit high off the batter's eye wall beyond the center-field fence to put the Gators up 4-0 in the fourth.

The Gators won for the 18th time in their last 24 games and now must beat the Sooners twice to keep their season alive.

NOTABLES         
  • Langford's second-inning long ball represented his 24th of the year, moving him into sole possession of second on Florida's single-season home run list.
    • Matt LaPorta holds the all-time record with 26 homers in 2005.
  • Langford connected for a second home run in the fourth, raising his season total to 25 big flies.
    • Langford now has five two-homer games on the season.
    • Florida's 117 home runs this season rank second all-time in program history.
      • Record: 132 (1998)
  • Rivera stole home in the fifth inning to put the Gators up, 5-0.
    • It marked Florida's first steal of home since Blake Reese accomplished the feat on June 11, 2018 vs. Auburn.
    • Mac Guscette also stole second on the play, marking his first-career stolen base.
  • Florida is now 9-0 all-time against Central Michigan including 8-0 at home.
  • Florida is 118-81 in NCAA Tournament games.
    • The Gators are playing in their 14th consecutive Regional under O'Sullivan.
      • 2022 represents Florida's 37th NCAA appearance and 18th time hosting.
  • Florida has won 16 of its last 21 games and 18 of its last 24.
UP NEXT
Florida advances to the championship bracket to face No. 9 Oklahoma at 7 p.m. tonight. The Gators will need to defeat the Sooners twice in a row to win this year's Gainesville Regional.
 
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