College World Series primer: Florida Gators vs Texas A&M

OMAHA, Neb. — As the Florida Gators made their way through the tunnel under the grandstand at Charles Schwab Field a security worker blurted, “Welcome back, Sully.”

The Florida Gators have made Omaha a second home enough that the security guards recognize head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. It’s true, O’Sullivan had managed nine teams that have made it to the pinnacle of amateur baseball. Florida is a mainstay but they enter this season unlike any other. The Gators are underdogs in Omaha.

“I just told Sully. Death, taxes, and Florida in Omaha. Those are three things you can pretty much count on.”

The Gators’ run to the NCAA Tournament wasn’t typical. Florida’s 28-27 record at the end of the regular season was just good enough to get them in (thanks to their strength of schedule and RPI).

“Every team is different, and obviously our road this year is different than in years past, but I always felt like if we could stay above .500 and get in the tournament that we would have as good a chance as anybody,” Kevin O’Sullivan said before the College World Series. “Going to Georgia was a difficult task, to win two out of three there. We played a midweek game against South Florida towards the end of the year to get that win. And then to have to go to Stillwater and play Oklahoma State and Nebraska, both very good teams, and Clemson who was outstanding. To get to this point, yeah, it’s extremely rewarding. Extremely rewarding.”

Game Information

Who: Florida vs Texas A&M
What: College World Series
Where: Charles Schwab Field, Omaha, Nebraska
When: Saturday, June 14,
First Pitch: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

Pitching matchup

FloridaRHP Liam Peterson (3-4, 5.97 ERA)Texas A&MLHP Justin Lamkin (2-2, 5.73 ERA)

Projected lineups

Florida
C: Luke Heyman
1B: Jac Caglianone
2B: Cade Kurland
3B: Dale Thomas
SS: Colby Shelton
LF: Tyler Shelnut
CF: Michael Robertson
RF: Ashton Wilson
DH: Brody Donay

Texas A&M
C: Jackson Appel
1B: Ted Burton
2B: Kaeden Kent
3B: Gavin Grahovac
SS: Ali Camarillo
LF: Caden Sorrell
CF: Travis Chestnut
RF: Jace LaViolette
DH: Hayden Schott

Florida Gators Snapshot

Record: 34-28
Regular Season: 28-27 (13-17 SEC)
Record vs. CWS Field: 4-8 (2-1 vs. Texas A&M, 1-2 vs. Kentucky, 1-2 vs. Tennessee, 0-3 vs. Florida State)
Coach:Kevin O’Sullivan, 17th year (715-347, .673)
All-Time CWS Record: 26-26
CWS Appearances: 14 (1988, ’91, ’96, ’98, 2005, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’23, ’24)
CWS Titles: 1 (2017)
Road to Omaha: Stillwater (Okla.) Regional — W vs. Nebraska 5-2; L vs. Oklahoma State 7-1; W vs. Nebraska 17-11; W vs. Oklahoma State 5-2; W vs. Oklahoma State 4-2. Clemson (S.C.) Super Regional — W vs. Clemson 10-7; W vs. Clemson 11-10 (13).

Texas A&M Aggies Snapshot

Record: 49-13
Regular Season: 44-13 (19-11 in SEC)
Record vs. CWS Field: 1-3 (1-2 vs. Florida, 0-1 vs. Tennessee)
Coach: Jim Schlossnagle, 3rd year (131-60, .686)
All-Time CWS Record: 4-14
CWS Appearances: 8 (1951, ’64, ’93, ’99, 2011, ’17, ’22, ’24
CWS Titles: 0
Road to Omaha: Bryan-College StationRegional — W vs. Grambling 8-0; W vs. Texas 4-2 (11); W vs. Louisiana 9-4. Bryan-College Station Super Regional — W vs. Oregon 10-6; W vs. Oregon 15-9.

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