UF baseball team wins two elimination games vs UConn and Texas Tech; plays Monday at noon
On Sunday, Hurston Waldrep and Cade Fisher surrendered two runs off a combined ten hits and recorded 18 strikeouts
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - The Florida baseball team looked to return the favor vs Texas Tech on Sunday evening. The Gators win 7-1 to force a “winner takes all” matchup on Monday with the Red Raiders (41-22).
Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan took a chance and gave the ball to freshman reliever Cade Fisher. Fisher was stellar on the hill. The freshman went seven shutout innings and surrendered only five hits. Fisher also rang up six batters.
It was a pitching duel through the first 5 1/2 innings. In the top of the sixth inning, the Gators (47-15) turned a negative into a positive. After the Gators put two runners on as Wyatt Langford stepped up to the plate. Florida found a way to watch their momentum temporarily collapse after both players were tagged out at home. However, Jac Caglianone in a two-out situation. The Tampa, Fla. native fired a single to right field. Langford scores, 1-0.
Next batter is Josh RIvera tapped it to third and Florida scored off a Texas Tech throwing error from third to first base, Caglianone fired up the crowd at Condron Ballpark as he heads for home, 2-0. A few batters later, Tyler Shelnut with a two-run single. Florida put up four unanswered runs in the inning.
The Gators tacked on three more runs in the final three innings and capped off the victory.
Early Sunday afternoon, Florida eliminated UConn, 8-2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Florida led 2-1. The Gators had two on base as Jac Caglianone stepped up to the plate. Caglianone fired his 30th home run of the year to give the Gators a huge 5-1 lead. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Florida led 6-2 when Caglianone smashed his second jack of the day. His 31st home run caps off the win for the Gators.
Caglianone went 2 for 4 from the plate, 2 HR, and five runs batted in. In the regional, the Tampa, FL native has a team high 7 runs batted in.
Hurston Waldrep delivered a gem on the hill. Waldrep pitched seven innings, gave up a run off five hits and struck out 12 batters. He is tied 6th all-time with 129 strikeouts in a single season.
Florida and Texas Tech head into a showdown for the regional crown on Monday at noon.
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