Jac Caglianone, Colby Shelton and Florida entered Sunday facing a series-deciding matchup against reigning national champs LSU. The game was tight through the first 4 innings, but the Gators eventually broke things open and never looked back.

In the top of the 5th, Florida chased LSU starter Thatcher Hurd with 4 runs as part of a 6-run frame. Hurd would eventually be charged with 5 earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched. Shelton started the scoring frame with a 2-run homer, his first of 2 long balls on the afternoon.

Shelton would add another 2-run homer in the 6th after the Tigers added a run on a Jared Jones solo home run. Florida eventually cemented the final outcome in the top of the 8th with 3 straight home runs, including a blast from Caglianone sandwiched between home runs from Ty Evans and Tyler Shelnut.

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Florida would finish the game with 6 total home runs. All 12 runs were charged as earned runs to 4 different Tiger pitchers in the loss for LSU.

Caglianone, the 2-way superstar for the Gators, was the big hero of the weekend. During Saturday’s game, he delivered a huge go-ahead home run in the 11th inning as Florida tied the series with a 6-4 win.

In the rubber match, Caglianone got the start on the mound and was largely fantastic. He went 7 innings and scattered 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits and 5 walks while striking out 5. Caglianone is now 3-0 on the season with a 1.65 ERA while Brandon Neely finished out the game with 2 strikeouts in a flawless inning.

Impact of the series

With the win, Florida improves to 14-9 on the season and begins SEC play with a pair of series victories. After taking 2 of 3 from Texas A&M in Gainesville last weekend, the Gators improved to 4-2 in SEC play with the series win in Baton Rouge.

Meanwhile, LSU dips to 19-6 overall and is on the wrong end of 2 series to begin SEC play. The Tigers dropped 2 of-3 vs. Mississippi State in Starkville last week and losing the series against Florida at home especially stings considering the extra innings affair Saturday night.

It’s still very early in conference action, and we will have to wait and see how this marquee series early in the slate plays a role in the final standings.

Main photo via Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) on X (formerly Twitter).