CLEMSON SUPER REGIONAL: Gators 10, Clemson 7 — Caglianone’s Blast Opens Door to Big Win – Florida Gators

WHAT HAPPENED: The visiting Gators overcame an early deficit to beat Clemson in front of a raucous crowd at Kingsmore Stadium, 10-7, on Saturday afternoon in Game 1 of the best-of-three series. Florida (33-28) exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning to turn a 4-2 Clemson lead into a 9-4 advantage. Brandon Neely finished off the Tigers (44-15) with another stellar performance out of the bullpen, tossing four shutout innings. He allowed only one hit and struck out seven.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Junior slugger Jac Caglianone did what he has done all season for the Gators as the straw that stirs UF’s lineup. His three-run homer in the fifth off Clemson starter Tristan Smith erased a two-run deficit and quieted a sold-out crowd. Caglianone drilled an 0-1 pitch from Smith into the left-field seats with the wind blowing in. He finished 2-for-4 with three RBI.

STAGGERING STATISTIC: Caglianone’s 32nd homer of the season now gives him 65 in the past two seasons and 72 for his career. Caglianone needs two homers to tie Matt Laporta (74) for the most in program history. LaPorta played for the Gators from 2004-07.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Gators coach Kevin O’Sullivan was forced to make a pitching change much earlier than he wanted on Saturday. UF freshman Liam Peterson, after a 41-pitch first inning, was unable to retire a Clemson batter in the second inning and was replaced by Fisher Jameson. Five days after Jameson earned a save in Florida’s Stillwater (Okla.) Regional-clinching win with a 10-up, 10-down performance, Jameson gave the Gators a solid four innings against Clemson. Jameson pitched four innings, allowing four hits and three runs. He gave up a pair of solo homers, but Florida’s seven-run outburst in the fifth inning provided ample support.

KEY MOMENT: Clemson cut the lead to 9-7 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to get the crowd back into the game. However, Luke Heyman hit a mammoth home run in the top of the ninth that sent a few fans to the exits. They didn’t miss anything in the bottom of the inning as Neely shut down the Tigers for Florida’s fourth consecutive postseason win, three of them coming in elimination games.

FROM THE COACH: “It wasn’t quite the start we had hoped, but I think I can speak for the whole team, falling behind three runs the first couple innings, I felt like we were a little bit on our heels … We kept battling. I just felt like if we could hold it together and maybe get a couple of guys on, hopefully one of our players would run into a ball, and Jac obviously did that. Once we took the lead, 5-4, guys kind of settled in. Fisher Jameson was outstanding and obviously Brandon [Neely], for the second weekend in a row, he was just incredible. We’re fortunate to win Game 1 and look forward to playing tomorrow.” — Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan

UP NEXT: The teams play Game 2 of the super regional on Sunday afternoon at Kingsmore Stadium. The Gators can advance to the College World Series with a victory, and Clemson can force a Game 3 on Monday afternoon with a win.

NOTABLES

• The Gators are in a super regional for the 12th time in program history and 10th time under O’Sullivan.
• Florida delivered its 18th come-from-behind win of the campaign and third of the postseason.
• The Gators plated seven runs in the fifth inning for the team’s third-highest-scoring frame of the year.
• Ashton Wilson drove in his seventh run of the postseason with a third-inning sacrifice fly.
• Tyler Shelnut hit his 15th homer of the campaign and second of the postseason.
• Caglianone extended his on-base streak to 47-straight contests.

  • Caglianone has hit safely in 57 of 61 games while reaching safely in all but one contest.

• Neely closed out the final four innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out seven for his fourth save of the season.

  • In the 2024 postseason, Neely has made three appearances with 12 shutout innings, five hits allowed and 19 strikeouts.

• Heyman connected for his 16th homer of the campaign and second of the postseason in the eighth.
• Florida’s scoring streak of 140 consecutive games is the third-longest in program history (May 27, 2022-present).
• The Gators are 134-86 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

  • UF wields an 19-8 record across 12 NCAA super regional appearances.

• Florida is now 19-12 all-time vs. Clemson (2-1 away).
  
• Saturday’s official attendance was 6,492.

— Sullivan Bortner contributed to this report.