Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

This article/post contains references to products or services from one or more of our advertisers or partners. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products or services.

College Football

Florida rides late-innings push to key win over Nebraska in Stillwater elimination game

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

presented by toyota

Florida and Nebraska met once again in the Stillwater Regional Sunday afternoon with both teams facing elimination. The Gators beat the Huskers in the regional opener on Friday before both found their way looking at a shot to reach the regional final.

In the early innings of the game, both teams dialed up some big hits and key moments with Florida clinging to a 7-4 lead entering a weather delay. Once that delay passed, Nebraska cut things to 7-6 in the top of the 6th inning.

That would be as close as Nebraska would get to Florida the rest of the way. Jac Caglianone would jumpstart a 4-run frame by the Gators in the bottom of the 6th with an RBI double, and a big-time rout by Florida would quickly ensue.

By the time we reached the end of the game, Florida had slugged its way to a 17-11 win on 16 hits to avoid elimination and advance to the regional finals and a rematch vs. Oklahoma State set for Sunday night. Meanwhile, Nebraska heads home after being eliminated with its 2nd loss of the regional.

RELATED: Baseball season is the perfect time to get into the Daily Fantasy Sports action. SDS is here to help with our favorite apps like PrizePicks.

Key players

Caglianone struggled on the mound Saturday after surrendering 4 home runs to Oklahoma State, but he etched his name into the NCAA record books with his 30th home run of the season. (It is Caglianone’s 2nd season with 30+ home runs.) Facing Nebraska a 2nd time, Caglianone came up with multiple big hits early, including a massive 3-run homer in the 2nd inning.

His 31st HR of the season and 2nd of the regional was a 119 MPH bullet to right field:

Facing elimination, Florida was able to get the most out of its best player with Caglianone finishing 2-for-4 with 4 runs scored, 4 RBI and 2 walks. He went a combined 3-for-5 with 5 walks, 5 runs scored and 4 RBI in 2 games against the Huskers.

Florida also registered home runs from Colby Shelton and Luke Heyman in a 6-run 7th inning to cement its lead. Shelton’s shot was a 3-run blast to the opposite field.

While Nebraska eventually ran out of steam, Gabe Swansen continued the postseason of a lifetime with his 4th home run of the Stillwater Regional. He opened the scoring with a 2-run blast in the top of the 1st.

Joshua Overbeek also homered for Nebraska and led the Huskers with 4 RBI while Dylan Carey doubled and drove in 2 runs.

Now, Florida will move onto the regional finals with a rematch against Oklahoma State set for Sunday evening. The Gators must win against the Cowboys to force a winner-take-all matchup on Monday, but the bats will need to be much better than the 1 run they managed Saturday night against an electric Brian Holiday.

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.

You might also like...

2025 RANKINGS

presented by rankings

RAPID REACTION

presented by rankings