Hurston Waldrep struck out 12 in six innings, and Florida homered three times in the first four innings to take a four-run lead over Oral Roberts.
Then things got interesting in the College World Series, again.
The Gators took control of Group 1 with a 5-4 victory on Sunday night. But first Florida had to survive Matt Hogan’s inside-the-park home run that brought ORU within two runs, a bases-loaded situation in the eighth when their closer was forced out of the game due to a home-visit rules violation. mound, and finally another threat in the ninth.
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Florida outfielder Ty Evans (2) celebrates after his home run with Tyler Shelnut (6) in the second inning against Oral Roberts in a baseball game at the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska on Sunday June 18 of 2023. (AP Photo/John Peterson)
«These last two games that were played at the beginning of the World Series have been kind of thrill seekers going into the last two innings,» Gators shortstop Josh Rivera said.
For the first time in CWS history, dating back to 1947, five of the first six games have been decided by one run.
«I think the people here in Omaha are getting their money’s worth,» ORU coach Ryan Folmar said.
The Gators (52-15) will play Wednesday against the winner of Tuesday’s playoff game between ORU and TCU. Florida would have two chances, if necessary, to get the lone win that would send it to the best-of-three final starting Saturday.
The Summit League’s Golden Eagles (52-13), the first regional No. 4 seed since 2012 to play in the CWS, are known for hitting above their weight, but seemed outmatched early against the Gators, the No. . 2.
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Florida pitcher Hurston Waldrep (12) throws out the first inning against Oral Roberts in a baseball game at the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska on Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP Photo/John Peterson)
That changed in the seventh when Hogan knocked Ryan Slater’s pitch off the left-field wall. Center fielder Wyatt Langford had trouble picking up the ball from the carom, and when he did, Hogan was heading to third and wouldn’t slow down. Rivera took the cut and threw to the plate, but Hogan easily entered with a head slide.
«Matt’s swing was great, and I think just as great as the swing was the way he runs around the bases, the way he rushes, the way he plays,» Folmar said. «I think that’s contagious throughout our team. I think all of them have that.»
The Eagles loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth against Brandon Neely. When Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan came out to talk to his closer, the Gators got their seventh visit to the defensive mound, one over the limit. Under the rule, O’Sullivan had to replace Neely. Cade Fisher came in and got Justin Quinn flying.
O’Sullivan blamed himself, though he said someone in the dugout is assigned to keep track of the number.
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Oral Roberts pitcher Harley Gollert pitches the first inning against Florida in a baseball game at the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska on Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP Photo/John Peterson)
«No one feels worse than I do about it,» he said. «It’s like a guy who has a bad game or gives up a run in the ninth inning or extra innings … you have to move on. I apologized to the team after the game and they said they had my back.» .»
Florida held in the ninth after ORU scored on a groundout and had runners on the corners with two out. Jacob Godman flew out to end the game, and the Gators came off their dugout to celebrate.
Waldrep (10-3) allowed one run in his six innings despite scattered seven hits and three walks. ORU had at least one man reach base against Waldrep in every inning, but the projected first-round pick came out with the big pitch when he needed it most and finished with double-digit strikeouts for the third straight outing.
«Overall, the end result was good, and that’s all that matters,» Waldrep said. «It took me a while to adjust. It’s a big stadium, and there was a lot of adrenaline in this game. I didn’t have the best feel for my fastball, but I got my three off-speed pitches working, and that allows me to control the game.»
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Florida Ty Evans (2) celebrates after his second inning home run against Oral Roberts in a baseball game at the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska on Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP Photo/John Peterson)
ORU starter Harley Gollert (10-2) entered the game after his worst two starts of the season, and things didn’t improve. The lefty pitched into the third and allowed home runs to Ty Evans, Rivera and Luke Heyman and left his team down 5-1.
Evans’ home run was the 133rd of the Gators season, breaking the team record of 132 from 1998.
Gollert has allowed seven home runs in three appearances totaling 8 1/3 innings in the NCAA Tournament.