The Florida Gators will play two games on Wednesday after eliminating the Kentucky Wildcats in the first game of the day in Omaha. After a seven-run first inning, Florida hit eight more and was powered by Pierce Coppola on the mound and Brody Donay at the plate to advance to the College World Series semifinals against Texas A&M.
Florida 15, Kentucky 4
Florida used a big first inning to power its way into the evening’s semifinal against the Aggies. The Gators scored seven runs in the first inning and chased Kentucky starter Dominic Niman from the game after he recorded just one out and allowed five runs on three hits. One of those hits was a grand slam by Donay that gave Florida a 7-1 lead.
The Gators scored two more in the bottom of the third inning and five more in the fifth inning.
Kentucky found it difficult to break through against Florida lefty Pierce Coppola, who pitched five innings and struck out nine.
Émilien Pitre’s two-run home run off Coppola in the top of the fifth inning was the last time they scored in the game.
Key statistics
Donay is the fifth Gator this College World Series with a multi-home run game. His second blast of the match traveled 130 meters and delivered an exit velocity of 187.6 km per hour, the hardest-hit ball in the tournament. He finished the game 3-for-5 with five RBIs.
Highlights
The Gators jumped all over the Wildcats early, punctuated by Donay’s opposite-field grand slam.
Donay wasn’t done hitting bombs yet. He led off the bottom of the fifth with his 14th home run of the season to make it 10-5 Gators.
Jac Caglianone hit his 35th home run of the season and 75th of his Gators career, passing Matt LaPorta for the most in program history.
What’s next
Tennessee and Florida State begin their semifinal match Wednesday afternoon in Bracket 1. If the Volunteers win, they will advance to the College World Series championship, which begins Saturday.
Should Tennessee lose to the Seminoles, the two teams will meet for the final time on Thursday with a spot in the championship series on the line.
Florida now takes on Texas A&M on Wednesday night as the Bracket 2 semifinals get underway. An Aggies win would eliminate the Gators.
