STILLWATER REGIONAL: Florida 4, Oklahoma State 2 – Young pitchers deliver – Florida Gators

WHAT HAPPENED: The Gators took an early lead for the starter Jake Clementethen held on as a reliever Frank Menendez And Fisher Jameson finished as the No. 1 seed and hosts Oklahoma State, 4-2, Monday afternoon in the regional championship in Stillwater (Oklahoma). The No. 3 seed Gators (32-28) have won four of five regional games and avenged their only loss — a second-round loss to the Cowboys on Friday night — with back-to-back wins over Oklahoma State on the clock. more than 24 hours to eliminate the Cowboys. Voltigeur Ashton Wilson had a two-run single in the third inning, Michael Robertson added an RBI single on fourth and Tyler Shelnut hit a solo home run in the sixth to account for the Gators’ score.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Right-handed Fisher Jameson, after a short and ineffective outing in Sunday’s playoff game against Nebraska, returned as the dominant closer on Monday. Jameson replaced Menendez with two outs in the sixth inning and retired all 10 Cowboys he faced to record the save and earn Menendez his first career victory.

AMAZING STATISTICS: Transfer outfielder Wilson, a late-season addition to the roster due to injuries, was named region MVP. He hit .429 (9-for-21) in the Stillwater Regional after entering the NCAA tournament hitting .231 (6-for-26) in limited playing time. Wilson had a home run, three doubles and five RBIs as the Gators kept their season alive.

IN THE HONOR: Gators Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan said after Sunday night’s win over Oklahoma State that if the Gators were to advance, it would come down to a step-up from young pitchers. They checked that box Monday, starting with Clemente. A redshirt freshman from Coral Springs, Clemente made only his second career start and managed to give the Gators 3 1/3 efficient innings, paving the way for Menendez and Jameson to do the same.

KEY MOMENT : Left-handed reliever Menendez faced a tricky situation when he replaced starter Clemente with one out and runners on second and third. The Gators led 2-1 following an RBI double by Aidan Meola in the fourth when Menendez came in to face a left-handed jab Colin Brueggemann. He retired Bruegemann on a pop-up to right field and Avery Ortiz on a ball to the left, preserving Florida’s one-point lead. Menendez got out of another jam in the fifth, this one his fault. He loaded the bases with no outs and UF led 3-1. He retired the last three batters, the only run scoring on a sac fly. Menendez, a freshman from Miami, threw a career-high 2 1/3 innings.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m just really grateful for this group of guys. Ups and downs throughout the year, but obviously none of that matters now we’re in the playoffs.” – Stands out from two-way Gators Jac Caglianone at ESPNU after Monday’s win

FOLLOWING: The Gators will face No. 6 national seed Clemson in the best-of-three Clemson Super Regional at Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, SC. ​​The series begins Friday or Saturday. Game times and dates will be announced by the NCAA. Clemson defeated Coastal Carolina in the Clemson Regional to advance to a super regional for the first time in 14 years.

NOTABLES

• The Gators are bound for the Super Regional for the 12th time in program history and the 10th time under head coach. Kevin O’Sullivan.
  • This is the second consecutive place finish for the Florida Supers.
• Florida won its 16th NCAA Regional and 10th of the O’Sullivan era.
• Florida made its 24th appearance in the regional final.
  • Florida’s 24 appearances in the regional finals rank second in the SEC.
  • The Gators have advanced to the regional finals in each of the last three seasons.
• The Gators have won seven of their last eight NCAA Tournament playoff games.
• Making his second start of the season (April 16 vs. Jacksonville: 2.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K), Clemente allowed just one run in 3 1/3 innings.
  • He was charged with three hits allowed, three walks and two strikeouts.
• Florida put first man on base in each of the first six innings.
• Shelnut hit his 14th home run, including his first of the postseason, to start the sixth.
• Caglianone extended his on-base streak to 46 consecutive games.
  • Caglianone hit safely in 56 of 60 games while reaching safely in all but one game.
• Wilson gave the Gators a 2-0 lead in the third with a two-run single for his fifth and sixth RBIs in the regional.
  • Wilson finished 9 of 21 and earned tournament MVP honors at the Stillwater Regional.
• Jameson pitched 3 1/3 perfect innings with four strikeouts to secure the save.
• Florida’s streak of 139 consecutive games is the third longest in program history (May 27, 2022 to present).
• The Gators are 133-86 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
  • UF holds a 90-52 record in 39 NCAA regional appearances.
• Florida is now 4-5 all-time against Oklahoma State (3-3 away).
• Monday’s official attendance was 4,811 people.