Florida wins 2023 Gainesville Regional, 6-0, over Texas Tech

Florida baseball is headed to a super regional after knocking off Texas Tech in the Gainesville Regional final on Monday.

It didn’t come easy, but the Florida Gators are the last team standing in the Gainesville Regional after four brutal days of competition in the Swamp.

Florida defeated Texas Tech, 6-0, on Monday to advance to its first super regional since 2018. Both clubs were familiar with each other after playing on Saturday and Sunday, but Florida’s pitching depth proved to be the difference in this one.

Freshman Jacob Rogers was decent through three innings, giving up just one run on a Wyatt Langford homer – No. 18 on the year. But, the bullpen didn’t fare as well, surrendering five runs over the next two innings.

 

Josh Rivera, who went 3-for-4, scored twice on each of BT Riopelle’s homers. Coming into the fourth inning, Riopelle was on a 0-for-15 slump with eight strikeouts in the NCAA Tournament. Rivera also drove in a run with one of his singles.

Florida spread out 11 hits throughout the day and stranded seven baserunners. Although the hits didn’t always come with runners in scoring position, Florida finally looked comfortable at the plate after struggling for much of the weekend.

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Slater made his third start of the season for Florida and worked through five innings for the Gators without giving up a run. He gave up a pair of free bases and three hits but never wavered with runners on base. He might not have had his best stuff, but Slater got the job done.

Phillip Abner took over for him in the sixth and retired six Red Raiders in a row after giving up a leadoff walk. A leadoff walk and follow-up single in the eight knocked him out of the game, but Florida had the SEC saves leader, Brandon Neely, on tap to close it out.

Neely retired five in a row before walking pinch-hitter Ty Coleman on a full count. He got Drew Woodcox to strike out and end it.

Florida advances to the super regional round of the NCAA Tournament, but it won’t be easy to get past a South Carolina team that swept UF earlier this year.

The Gators gained a ton of momentum throughout the regional, but there’s a few days off before the next round starts. Staying locked in will be key.

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