Jac Caglianone shines on the mound as historic HR barrage comes to an end in win over Vandy

Jac Caglianone shined for Florida in Saturday’s 6-2 win over Vanderbilt. However, his contributions were not what fans have become accustomed to in recent weeks.

Caglianone entered the day riding a historic home run streak, tying the NCAA record for consecutive games with a homer at 9 Friday night. He needed one more to set the record by himself at 10 games after tying Nevada’s Tyler Bosetti, but his pitching became the story of the game.

He limited the Commodores to just 2 runs across 5 innings while striking out 5. Cade Fisher and Fisher Jameson would follow with 4 shutout innings to stifle Vanderbilt in the 6-2 win by the Gators.

At the dish, Caglianone’s chase for solo history got off to a sluggish start with a pair of double plays to start the game. He would add a walk in the 6th inning and eventually got onto the board with a single in the 7th, putting his shot to get his coveted home run in regulation.

Remarkably, the Gators would get Caglianone back to the play in the 9th inning for his shot at history. However, the Commodores were not going to let the power hitter do any more damage, intentionally walking Caglianone.

Tyler Shelnut would make that decision hurt, driving in 2 runs to put the game out of reach and complete a 5-RBI day for himself:

5️⃣-RBI day for SHELLY ?#GoGators // ? SECN+ pic.twitter.com/8dpmagv03R

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 20, 2024

Controversial decision?

With Caglianone facing a shot at history, Vanderbilt made the unpopular decision of intentionally walking the star slugger to eliminate any possibility of that history. As a fan, it’s not the move you want to see, but it’s one that likely made sense from a competitive standpoint, even if Shelnut put things out of reach shortly after.

Either way, it’s the kind of decision that will split fans on whether or not it was the right call to make. Take a look:

PETTINESS!

Vanderbilt intentionally walks Jac Caglianone on what could be his last at-bat of the game. Caglianone is riding a 9-game HR streak and is one away from having sole possession of the record.

Gators have runners at 1st and 2nd with one out here in the 9th inning

— ESPN 98.1 / 850 WRUF (@ESPNGainesville) April 20, 2024

He had his chances.

— AuricGoldfnger (There’s no I in my fnger) (@AuricGoldfnger) April 20, 2024

You gonna let him hit so he can make history against your team and hit a home run? Hell naw

— Beamer’s Burner (@taterhater180) April 20, 2024

Good move.

— Jack Watson (@topper_fan) April 20, 2024

Like walking Barry Bonds with the bases loaded. Yes that actually happened, I was there

— Subdivisions…….. (@MyRocinante2112) April 20, 2024

Thats baseball

— Hogdaddy? (@amos_tg) April 20, 2024

Vandy is soft

— Macho Camacho (@MachoHC) April 20, 2024

Vandy is a low class bunch of baby’s

— Ron Buchanan (@RonBuch42457233) April 20, 2024

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.