Florida Gators

OMAHA, Neb. — The emergence of freshman right-hander Liam Peterson as a reliable No. 1 starter late in the season played a crucial role in Florida's unlikely appearance in the College World Series.

Peterson made it through five innings in just one of his first 10 career starts. However, before Saturday's short-lived outing at Clemson, Peterson pitched the way the Gators envisioned when they signed the highly-touted prospect from Calvary Christian in Palm Harbor, Fla.

In starts against Kentucky, Georgia and Nebraska, Peterson tossed 16 2/3 innings with a 3.24 ERA. He walked seven and struck out 17, lasting at least 5 1/3 innings each time out. Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan credited Peterson's turnaround to experience and the ability to slow his heartbeat in critical moments.

Peterson struggled with composure in Saturday's 10-7 win over Clemson in Game 1 of the Clemson Super Regional. He could not record an out in the second inning and walked four in the first. Reliever Fisher Jameson replaced Peterson with two on and nobody out in the second inning.

O'Sullivan has not lost confidence in Peterson and will start him in Florida's first game of the CWS on Saturday night against Texas A&M. Peterson faced the Aggies on March 16 and lasted only 35 pitches, allowing five hits and six runs over two innings.

"I don't like to make major changes this time of year,'' O'Sullivan said Thursday. "We've gotten to this point because we've done it a certain way. Liam has pitched really well against some really good teams down the stretch. I know he wasn't pleased with his last start at Clemson, but I firmly believe he will learn from that experience and give us a chance on Saturday."

Peterson's best outing of the season came May 11 at home against Kentucky, one of the eight teams in Omaha. He limited the Wildcats to five hits and a run over six innings, walking two and striking out six. O'Sullivan turned to humor when asked Thursday how he might help calm Peterson's nerves at sold-out Charles Schwab Field on Saturday night.
"Kind of make light of it a little bit,'' he said. "The alternative: he is sitting next to me in the dugout, or he's out on the mound."

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Peterson, ranked the No. 3 prep right-hander in Florida by Perfect Game in the 2023 class, has a significant growth opportunity coming up on Saturday.

Texas A&M is one of the country's most patient offensive teams and used seven walks and a grand slam from Kaeden Kent, son of former major league All-Star Jeff Kent, to erupt for a nine-run seventh inning to defeat Oregon and advance to Omaha.

"I mean, we really don't know how anybody is going to react on a stage like this, but he has pitched in the SEC against some really, really good teams and has had success," O'Sullivan said. "We don't have very many options as far as who to pitch on Saturday night. We probably have two choices, either Cags [Jac Caglianone] or Liam. Hopefully, he'll handle the stage well. I believe he will. If I didn't think he would, he wouldn't start.

"I'll spend some time with him one-on-one. I've been out here enough to have some ideas on what might help him. It's really about simplifying things and just keep doing what you are doing and throw the ball across the plate. I truly believe in him. He's earned the right to open this thing up for us."