Florida Gators

OMAHA, Neb. - The No. 2-ranked Florida Gators kickstart play at the 2023 College World Series against No. 7-national seed Virginia with a Friday night matchup at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Playing in the program's 13th College World Series including the eighth under Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan, the SEC Regular-Season Champion Gators begin the pursuit for their second National Championship (2017) with the sixth all-time postseason meeting against Virginia, including the fourth head-to-head matchup in Omaha since 2015. The Cavaliers took two of three against the Gators at the 2015 CWS (L 1-0, W 10-5, L 4-5), but the two teams have not met in the seven years since.

Florida is 5-3 all-time against Virginia featuring a 2-3 mark in the NCAA Tournament. The Gators are 1-2 vs. the Cavaliers under O'Sullivan, all of which have taken place in Omaha. UF is 21-24 all-time at the CWS and 125-83 in the NCAA Tournament.

Pitching Matchups

	Friday | 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Virginia	RHP Nick Parker (8-0, 3.81 ERA)
Florida	RHP Brandon Sproat (8-3, 4.69 ERA)
Links	WATCH | LISTEN

 
Florida is ranked at No. 2 nationally by every major poll including the D1Baseball Top-25. 

FLOMAHA
Florida is 21-24 all-time at the College World series, having made a nation-leading eight trips since 2008: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023.

50-WIN CHAMPS
By defeating South Carolina for the program's ninth Super Regional Title in 10 attempts, Florida won 50 games for the seventh time in team history (50-15). Before O'Sullivan's 2008 arrival, the Gators had two: 1991 and 1996. Since then, five have been added: 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2023. Florida's 42 wins in the regular season were the second-most in program history. TThe 2016 squad (44-11, 19-10 SEC) holds the record for regular-season wins at UF.

THE GATORS ARE HOT
Since facing elmination in the loser's bracket of the Gainesville Regional, Florida has rattled off five-straight wins to reach the CWS. During the team's five-game winning streak, Florida has outscored opponents, 30-7, while hammering eight homers and allowing just two long balls. The Gators have batted .268/.387/.459 with a 1.40 ERA across the streak, while opponents have slashed .202/.264/.270 with a 6.21 ERA.

SEC'S FINEST
Finishing the season with a 20-10 SEC record, Florida won its 16th SEC Regular Season Championship in program history including the team's sixth under O'Sullivan. After being swept on the road at then-No. 6 South Carolina, the Gators went 11-3 including 9-3 in SEC play down the stretch to win the University of Florida's sixth overall conference title in 2023, which leads the SEC.

SULLY SUPERLATIVES
Since the start of the O'Sullivan Era at Florida (2008-present), Florida has earned more top-eight national seeds (10) than any program in the nation. The Gators have also hosted 12 NCAA Regionals out of a possible 15 during O'Sullivan's tenure (no NCAA Tournament in 2020), which is also tops in the sport. UF has now made 15-straight NCAA Tournament appearances under O'Sullivan, a streak that ranks second nationally. 

CHASING THE HR RECORD
The Gators have blasted 129 home runs through 65 games, which ranks fourth nationally alongside Wake Forest and second in program history behind the 1998 team (132). Five players have 16-plus home runs while six have double-digit jacks, both of which are team records.

THE BIG PITCH
Across seven NCAA Tournament contests, Florida has pitched three shutouts and held opposing teams to 12 total runs on 47 hits, equating to a 1.72 ERA and .208 batting average against in 62 innings. In that span, UF pitchers have a 4.2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, having fanned 72 against 17 free passes. Florida has now pitched eight shutouts on the season, which is tied for fourth nationally. 

STARTERS DELIGHT
In the NCAA Tournament, Florida starting pitchers have gone 6-0 with a 1.60 ERA, .210 BAA and 53 strikeouts vs. 13 walks in 45 innings. They have been even better during UF's five-game win steak, going 5-0 with a 1.36 ERA.

WALLY'S WORLD
In two NCAA Tournament starts, right-hander Hurston Waldrep is 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA and .151 BAA in 15 innings. He has struck out 25 batters against four walks, racking up 12 against No. 10 UConn in a Regional elimination contest before punching out 13 in a career-high eight frames against South Carolina to send Florida to Omaha. Waldrep now has 142 strikeouts on the season, which ranks third all-time in a single season at Florida behind Alex Faedo (157 in 2017) and Rob Bonanno (148 in 1994). The soon-to-be first-rounder has six double-digit strikeout outings this season.

SPROATS OUR BOAT
Friday night starter Brandon Sproat has gone five-plus innings in 25 of his last 27 starts dating back to last season, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 20 of those outings. The right-hander has fired three-straight quality starts entering the CWS, marking his first set of consecutive quality starts of the campaign.

LOADED UP THE MIDDLE
Each of Florida's starting middle infielders have blasted more home runs this season than any other Gator in the history of their positions. With 17 and 16 home runs respectively, shortstop Josh Rivera and second baseman Cade Kurland own single-season positional home run records at UF.

MR. 200
As a newly-minted All-American shortstop, Rivera recorded his 200th-career hit during the Gainesville Regional finale and enters the CWS with 205 for his career. Rivera has batted .293 across 700 career at bats, which is well over 100 at bats more than the next closest Gator (Colby Halter, 562).

GOLDEN CAGS
Two-way standout Jac Caglianone is one of three finalists for the 2023 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award in addition to being a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy. Caglianone's 31 home runs lead the nation and set a new program record, as he is the first SEC player to eclipse 30 homers since 2003. Caglianone is also chasing UF's single-season RBI record, as his 84 (T-fifth in NCAA) are one from tying Preston Tucker's record of 85 set in 2009. On the mound, Caglianone sports a team-low .184 BAA and is 3-1 with a team-best 1.61 ERA and .178 ERA across his last six starts.

TRENTON THUNDER
Two-time All-American Wyatt Langford leads Florida in every slash category (.373/.498/.769) and has drawn 10 more walks (51) than strikeouts (41). Despite missing seven games to injury, Langford has totaled 18 homers, 24 doubles (four from tying Mike Zunino's team record of 28), a team-high 76 runs, 48 RBI and nine steals. With 44 career home runs, Langford is three from tying Mike Zunino for sixth all-time at UF. He is coming off his first-ever error in his 120th career game in the field.

BT = BIG TIME
Finishing the regular season with 10 homers and 50 RBI, BT Riopelle has homered six times and totaled a team-high 15 RBI in the 2023 Postseason. Six of Riopelle's postseason hits are home runs. His three homers and 10 RBI at the SEC Tournament in Hoover set program records.

PRIMED TO POST
Florida is the only team in the country to have all three weekend starters make every start this season. Sproat, Waldrep and Caglianone have all made 16 starts.

HIGHLY OFFENSIVE
Backed by double-digit runs in 22 games and 10-plus knocks in 35 contests, Florida ranks top-10 nationally in home runs (fourth - 129) and slugging (ninth - .546) while ranking 11th with 521 runs scored. The Gators have scored in 44.0% of their batted innings (233 of 530).

RELENTLESS REPTILES
Florida has posted 20 come-from behind wins this season, equating to 40% of the team's win total. UF has four wins when trailing after six and is 16-7 when the opponent scores first.

100-STRIKEOUT DUO
Sproat and Waldrep are the ninth 100-strikeout duo in team history, and the first since Jackson Kowar (115) and Brady Singer (114) accomplished the feat in 2018.

AWARDS CENTRAL
On June 14, four Gators were named NCBWA All-Americans in Caglianone (First Team), Langford (First Team), closer Brandon Neely (Second Team) and Rivera (Third Team). Caglianone and Langford were also named CB Second Team All-Americans one week prior. On June 13, Caglianone, Rivera, Langford, Sproat and Waldep collected ABCA Southeast All-Region First Team status, in addition to Riopelle (Second Team). Kurland was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball as well. Additionally, Neely is a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award and Caglianone was one of five finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, although the honor went to Clemson's Caden Grice. Rivera is one of five finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, which goes to the nation's top shortstop. Florida also led the conference with seven All-SEC honorees and a league-high five First Teamers: Caglianone, Kurland, Rivera, Langford and Neely (First Team); Sproat (Second Team); Kurland and catcher/designated hitter Luke Heyman (Freshman All-SEC). On June 15, Cade Fisher earned a Second Team Freshman All-America nod from Perfect Game.
 
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