OMAHA, Neb. — Florida baseball will need to start a new win streak in order to advance to the College World Series finals for the second straight year.
The Florida Gators (34-29) will look to keep their season going for more one more game when they face North Carolina State (38-22) on Monday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field.
Florida had its five-game postseason win streak snapped with a 3-2 loss to Texas A&M late Saturday night in its CWS opener. The Gators nearly rallied back from an early 3-0 deficit, but the comeback attempt was thwarted when TAMU right fielder Jace LaViolette robbed UF second baseman Cade Kurland of a go-ahead two home run, leaping over the fence to make a catch over the right field wall with one out in the ninth inning.
Florida will send Jac Caglianone (5-2, 4.71 ERA) in an attempt to keep its season alive. The Gators are 6-1 in their last seven games facing elimination.
North Carolina State will likely counter with either lefty Ryan Marohn (4-2, 3.97 ERA) or lefty Dominic Fritton (3-6, 7.35 ERA).
What channel is Florida baseball vs NC State playing on today?
TV: ESPN
Time:2 p.m. ET
Streaming:Watch ESPN;with FUBO(free trial); streaming link:https://go.web.plus.espn.com/g1x9ZA
Florida baseball vs NC State in 2024 College World Series: Live score updates
Florida baseball stays alive in Omaha with win over NC State
The Gators hang on for another one-run win, this one 5-4 over NC State Monday afternoon in Omaha in the CWS. Cade Fisher picks up the win with four innings of relief work after starter Jac Caglianone was pulled in the second inning. Brandon Neely continued his bullpen dominance with three shutout innings in the 7th, 8th and 9th to gain the save. At the plate, Caglianone tied Matt LaPorta for Florida's all-time home run record with a three-run blast in the second, and Tyler Shelnut hit the deciding bomb in the fifth inning. UF will face the loser of Kentucky-Texas A&M Tuesday at 7 p.m. in another win-or-go-home game in the losers bracket.
Kevin O'Sullivan turns to bullpen
Gators coach takes out Fisher after four innings of work for Jake Clemente after Wolfpack draw walk to open up sixth inning. Clemente did not pitch Saturday for the Gators vs Texas A&M. Florida still leads 5-4.
NC State responds in bottom of the fifth
Brandon Butterworth takes advantage of a leadoff double from Garrett Pennington with a two-out double for the Wolfpack. Cade Fisher remained in the game and struck out Alex Sosa to keep the Gators one run lead. Florida leads 5-4 through five in Omaha.
Tyler Shelnut cushions Gators lead
The local Lake City native and Fort White High School alum hits his third home run in last five games and first of the CWS with a solo shot to left with two outs in the fifth inning. It's UF's first run off Logan Whitaker, who entered the game in the third. All five of the Gators runs have come off home runs. Florida leads 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth.
NC State cuts into Florida baseball lead
NC State scores twice in the third inning to cut Florida's lead to 4-3. Garrett Pennington was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then scored on a two-run homer by Alec Makarewicz into the left field bullpen. It was Makarewicz's second home run of the CWS and 24th on the season.
Jac Caglianone record-tying home run gives Florida baseball the lead
Florida responds with four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-1 lead. The Gators loaded the bases with one out, then Cade Kurland lofted a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 1. With runners on first and second, NC State elected to pitch to Jac Caglianone and he made them pay. Caglianone lined a three-run homer against the wind in right field, putting Florida up 4-1. It was Caglianone's 34th home run of the season and tied the UF career record (74) set by Matt LaPorta from 2004-07. Gators 4, NC State 1, mid 2nd. Lefty Cade Fisher is in for Caglianone on the mound after Caglianone struggled with control in the first inning.
NC State takes early lead over Florida baseball
An RBI single by shortstop Brandon Butterworth puts North Carolina State ahead 1-0 on Florida in the bottom of the first. UF starter Jac Caglianone struggled with his command in the first inning, walking two batters and hitting one to load the bases before Butterworth's hit. He avoided futher damage striking out NC State DH Alex Sosa and getting Luke Nixon to fly out to center to end the inning. Of Caglianone's 33 pitches in the first inning, only 16 were strikes. NC State 1, Gators 0. End 1st.
Florida baseball visiting team, will wear orange
Florida baseball is the visiting team again for its matchup today with N.C. State in the College World Series. Both Florida and N.C. State were visiting teams in their last games, but N.C. State gets the nod based on being a national seed in the NCAA Tournament (Florida wasn't). The Gators are wearing orange tops with white pants, while N.C. State is in all white with red trim.
NC State baseball lineup
Serrano III CF, Pennington 1B, Makarewicz 3B, Cozart C, Butterworth SS, Sosa DH, Nixon LF, Heavner 2B, Soles RF. SP Fritton
Florida baseball lineup
Kurland 2B, Caglianone P, Wilson RF, Shelton SS, Heyman 1B, Shelnut LF, Thomas 3B, Donay C, Robertson CF
NC State starting lefty against Florida baseball
North Carolina State is starting lefty Dominic Fritton (3-6, 7.35 ERA) against Florida this afternoon at Charles Schwab Field. The Gators will counter with lefty Jac Caglianone (5-2, 4.71 ERA).
