Tag: Luke McNeillie

Florida headed to College World Series in Clemson after 13-inning thriller

In the most dramatic way possible, Florida claimed its spot in Omaha on Sunday night as the Gators took down the Clemson Tigers to advance to the College World Series.

Against all odds, the Florida Gators are headed back to Omaha.

Despite a 28-27 finish to the season, including the SEC Tournament, Florida managed to make it out of the Stillwater Regional over Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Niagara and then won the Clemson Super Regional without allowing the Tigers to take a game at home.

Florida, playing as the home team, won a 13-inning thriller off the bat of center fielder [autotag]Michael Robertson[/autotag]. Clemson scored in the top of the final frame to take the lead, but Florida’s offense did what they do best — come back to win a big game.

Robertson’s liner to left-center slowed Clemson’s outfielders to an eventual stop as they realized their season was coming to an end. Jaylen Guy scored the tying run pinch-running for [autotag]Luke Heyman[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyler Shelnut[/autotag] made the Gators winners.

Heyman and Shelnut both singled to spark the late rally, but [autotag]Dale Thomas[/autotag]’ sacrifice bunt set up the winning moment. [autotag]Brody Donay[/autotag], who homered in the sixth, was intentionally walked to take away the squeeze bunt, but Robertson came through in the clutch.

It’s a full-circle moment for Robertson, who started the season as one of the SEC’s best center fielders. A slump at the plate moved him into a platoon situation with Guy, but he reclaimed the full-time role by season’s end, partially due to injuries.

[autotag]Jac Caglianone[/autotag] went 5 2/3 innings for Florida on the mound and tied his program record for home runs with his 33rd. When Caglianone handed the ball over in the sixth, he was in line for the win and Florida had a 7-4 lead.

[autotag]Jake Clemente[/autotag] was first out of the bullpen and looked dominant in the seventh striking out the side, but trouble in the eighth moved [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] to bring in closer [autotag]Brandon Neely[/autotag] despite the four innings he threw on Saturday.

Two runs crossed, making it a one-run game, but Neely got them right back courtesy of an [autotag]Ashton Wilson[/autotag] two-run shot that punished Clemson after intentionally walking Caglianone.

Neely was running out of gas, though, and a three-run homer from center fielder Cam Cannarella in the top of the ninth put extra innings in play.

Wilson nearly walked it off in the 10th with a ball to the fence, but Cannarella saved Clemson’s season again with a Willie Mays basket catch to end the frame.

[autotag]Luke McNeillie[/autotag] earned the win, pitching the final two innings for Florida. [autotag]Frank Menendez[/autotag] walked the only batter he faced between him and Neely.

The College World Series begins on Friday, June 14. Florida awaits the completion of the other Super Regionals. So far, Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia are in the field.

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Florida forces Game 7 at Stillwater Regional behind Neely’s shutdown performance

The Brandon Neely game will never be forgotten. Florida baseball at its finest.

It looked like Florida would have to battle all night to come out on top against Oklahoma State and force a Game 7 in Stillwater, but [autotag]Brandon Neely[/autotag] and [autotag]Colby Shelton[/autotag] came up big in a 5-2 win that should go down as one of the best Gators baseball games all season.

Neely gets the nod for player of the game after hurling 5 2/3 innings of one-hit ball in relief of Florida starter [autotag]Cade Fisher[/autotag]. Freshman [autotag]Luke McNeillie[/autotag] came in between the two but walked the only batter he faced.

Nerves understandably got to the first-year arm, but Neely lives for the moments where it’s all adrenaline and no brakes. He struck out 11 of the 21 batters he faced, recording seven straight outs via the punchout at one point.

Neely’s fastball ran up to 96 mph, and he was painting a somewhat generous strike zone that had the hometown fans irate. Florida struggled with the wide zone, too. Every Gators starter, aside from [autotag]Ashton Wilson[/autotag], struck out at least once.

Shelton is the runner-up for player of the game, but he probably had the bigger moment putting the Gators up with a three-run homer in the sixth. It’s been a rough second half of the year for Shelton at the plate, but he’s picking up steam at the right time.

[autotag]Luke Heyman[/autotag] added an insurance run later in that inning, scoring on a wild pitch.

Although there is much to celebrate, Florida’s job isn’t finished. To make it out of Stillwater as regional champions, the Gators must beat the Cowboys again on Monday at 3 p.m. ET. Both teams are running low on pitching after reaching Day 4 of play, so it’s anyone’s game to win.

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Florida advances to regional final after 17-run explosion against Nebraska

The ball was flying in Stillwater Sunday afternoon, but Florida came out on top against Nebraska and advances to the regional final.

A two-hour rain delay in the sixth inning on Sunday allowed Florida’s offense to refocus and explode for 10 runs in a 17-11 victory over Nebraska to advance to the finals of the Stillwater Regional.

Six Gators finished the day with multiple hits and four homered — three coming in the bottom of the seventh. Shortstop [autotag]Colby Shelton[/autotag] led the offense with three hits, including a home run, and four runs batted in. [autotag]Jac Caglianone[/autotag] also had a homer and four RBI, but a pair of walks slowed him down. [autotag]Dale Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]Luke Heyman[/autotag] homered as well.

It wasn’t a great day for pitchers on either side, but five of the runs scored against Florida came in garbage time as [autotag]Kevin O’Sullivan[/autotag] attempted to save his best bullpen arms for the coming matchup with Oklahoma State — set to begin 55 minutes after the conclusion of this game.

[autotag]Pierce Coppola[/autotag] gave up four runs through a season-high 4 1/3 innings pitched (85 pitches), striking out eight. Fisher Jameson had his outing interrupted by the rain delay, but he still allowed two earned runs in against the four batters he faced.

[autotag]Cade Fisher[/autotag] and [autotag]Ryan Slater[/autotag] both had nice days but only threw an inning apiece with the doubleheader looming. They each had two strikeouts, facing a combined seven batters (one more than the minimum).

[autotag]Blake Purnell[/autotag], Hunter Jones and Landon Russell closed out the final two innings for Florida. Jones and Purnell were both very hittable and gave up five runs to cut a double-digit lead for UF in half, but Russell got the outs he needed and struck out a pair.

Two names we haven’t seen from Florida all weekend are freshmen [autotag]Luke McNeillie[/autotag] and Frank Menendez. Both have been good for Florida down the stretch. Expect them to play a big role if [autotag]Brandon Neely[/autotag] doesn’t get the start for Florida.

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Florida jumps out to early lead for midweek win over USF

Jac Caglianone got Florida on the board early and the Gators never looked back in a 4-1 win over South Florida Tuesday night.

Florida took the lead early Tuesday off a [autotag]Jac Caglianone[/autotag] solo home run and cruised to a 4-1 win over USF, wrapping up midweek action for the 2024 regular season.

The Gators plated a run in each of the first three innings. Hayden Yost grounded into a double play in the second to score one, and a throwing error by the Bulls’ shortstop in the third allowed Caglianone to cross the plate a second time.

Florida ended the day with 11 hits, but it was hard to score runs after the third. [autotag]Tyler Shelnut[/autotag] doubled in [autotag]Colby Shelton[/autotag] in the eighth, and that’s all the meaningful offense UF put together Tuesday night.

Still, it was enough for the bullpen to deliver the win. USF hit safely just five times, scoring on a solo homer in the sixth. [autotag]Liam Peterson[/autotag] made the start for UF, but he only went one inning after throwing four on Friday. He should fit back into Florida’s rotation, likely taking over the Game 2 slot again.

The reason that seems likely is that Kevin O’Sullivan has moved [autotag]Brandon Neely[/autotag] back into the bullpen to serve as the closer. He earned his second save of the season, facing the minimum in the ninth.

[autotag]Cade Fisher[/autotag] got the win after throwing 2 2/3 innings of one-hit baseball in relief of Peterson. [autotag]Fisher Jameson[/autotag] was next out of the ‘pen. Besides the home run, he was fine, striking out two and walking one of the eight batters he faced. [autotag]Luke McNeillie[/autotag] struck out three of the five batters he faced, and Jake Clemente faced the minimum in the eighth.

Florida hosts Kentucky on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET for the final three-game home series of the regular season.

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Florida RHP Luke McNeillie wins SEC Freshman of the Week

Luke McNeillie’s dominant run out of the Florida Gators bullpen has earned him an SEC Freshman of the Week award.

Florida right-hander Luke McNeillie was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday.

McNeillie started the season as a midweek starter, but he’s since been moved to a full-time role in the bullpen. The first-year righty from Milton, Georgia, has been dominant since that change, hurling 10 scoreless innings over five appearances. McNeillie has struck out 14 batters and walked just four over that stretch.

“It’s grown for sure,” McNeillie said of his confidence over this run on Sunday. “I think the biggest thing is trying to stay myself and trust myself. It’s nice to know the coach that the coaches have trust in me to keep me in during a big moment.”

He pitched in both of Florida’s wins this weekend, holding Mississippi State in check as the Gators mounted comebacks. He went 3 1/3 innings on Sunday after throwing a quiet ninth on Friday.

FLORIDA’S 2024 SEC WEEKLY HONORS

Liam Peterson – Co-Freshman of the Week (Feb. 26)
Jac Caglianone – Co-Pitcher of the Week (March 4)
Brandon Neely – Pitcher of the Week (March 18)
Luke McNeillie – Freshman of the Week (April 1)

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Four Florida freshmen on Perfect Game’s 2026 Draft Board

Florida’s freshman class has a ton of talent, and four players are getting draft mentions early on in their collegiate careers.

The college baseball season is in full swing, which means scouts are getting in-game looks at the guys who will make up the bulk of the 2026 MLB draft.

Four Florida freshmen are standing out so far and made Perfect Game’s first in-season 2026 Draft Board.

Saturday starter Liam Peterson is looking like a first-round pick and checks in at No. 6 on this list. He’s considered the top college arm in the class, with Arkansas’ Gabe Gaeckle and LSU’s Cameron Johnson close behind. Peterson has struggled lately, but he’s still a freshman facing SEC lineups. That kind of experience is invaluable for a talented arm.

At No. 28 on the list is left-handed reliever Frank Menendez. Although his numbers haven’t been good through five appearances (20.25 ERA over 1.1 innings pitched), he’s flashed some good stuff as he finds his footing on a college mound. The Gators have used him in high-leverage and matchup situations mostly.

Right-hander Luke McNeillie is at No. 47 on the list. He started the season as a potential midweek starter for Florida, but he’s looked better in relief situations. There’s closer potential in him, but he’s got starter stuff, similar to Brandon Neely.

Rounding out the quarter of Gators on this list is outfielder Hayden Yost at No. 65 overall. Yost has appeared in more than half of Florida’s games so far, including two midweek starts against Bethune-Cookman and UCF. Yost’s glove will play at the college level, perhaps in center field, and he’s figuring things out at the plate.

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