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What to know about Florida, Clemson baseball's NCAA super regional opponent
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- What to know about Florida, Clemson baseball's NCAA super regional opponent
CLEMSON — In order for Clemson baseball to reach its first College World Series since 2010, it must go through Florida.
The No. 6 national seed Tigers (44-14) will host the Gators (32-28) in a best-of-three series starting Saturday (2 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Doug Kingsmore Stadium .
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Florida emerged from the Stillwater Regional as a No. 3 seed Monday after defeating No. 11 overall seed Oklahoma State twice in the regional finals. It is the Gators' 16th appearance in the NCAA super regionals.
Here's what to know about the Florida baseball team.
Florida baseball looks to return to the College World Series finals
The Gators, the No. 2 national seed last year, reached the College World Series for the first time since 2018 but lost two of three in the championship game to LSU.
With lofty expectations to make it back to Omaha this season, Florida made the NCAA tournament with only a 28-27 record. It saved its best play for the 64-team tournament. The Gators defeated No. 2 seed Nebraska in the first game 5-2, then lost 7-1 to Oklahoma State.
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The Gators made the regional finals after outpacing the Cornhuskers 17-11 in an elimination game and took down the Cowboys 5-2 on Sunday and 4-2 on Monday to advance to the super regional.
Florida's Jac Caglianone is projected top-10 pick in MLB draft
Clemson must be on high alert about Jac Caglianone, who is arguably the best two-way player in the country. On the mound, he has a 4.57 ERA, the best among Florida's qualified starters, struck out 76 batters and allowed 56 hits. The southpaw's four-pitch arsenal consists of a fastball, slider, cutter and changeup.
Jun 1, 2024; Stillwater, OK, USA; Florida Pitcher Jac Caglianone (14) pitches the ball during a NCAA regional baseball game against Oklahoma State at O'Brate Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Alcala-The Oklahoman
In his start against Oklahoma State on Saturday, though, Caglianone struck out eight but allowed four home runs.
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Offensively, Caglianone possesses raw power. The junior is third in the nation with 31 home runs after having the most last year with 33. He belted two during the Stillwater Regional. He also leads the Gators in batting average (.410) and significantly reduced his strikeouts (23 in 2024 from 58 in 2023).
Florida's pitching stifled Oklahoma State to advance to super regionals
The Cowboys earned a national seed in part because of their ability to outscore their opponents. They led the Big 12 in runs (498), home runs (118) and RBIs (460).
Yet Florida contained Oklahoma State to two runs in each game of the regional finals and did not allow a home run. Its pitchers struck out 15 batters and left 11 Cowboys on base Sunday. The same happened Monday with its staff striking out seven hitters and stranding seven OSU baserunners.
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YEARS IN THE MAKING: How Clemson baseball, coach Erik Bakich celebrated advancing to NCAA super regionals
Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan coached at Clemson for nine seasons
It will be a reunion among coaches this weekend as Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan returns to Clemson. He was an assistant at Clemson from 1999-2007.
O'Sullivan worked with Clemson coach Erik Bakich in 2002 and under Tigers program developer Jack Leggett during those nine seasons before landing the Gators job. He was a part of Clemson's journey to three College World Series in 2000, 2002 and 2006.
This will be O'Sullivan's first time coaching against Clemson since joining Florida and will be the first time these schools face each other since 1983.
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NCAA Baseball tournament: Clemson Super Regional schedule, bracket, TV info for Clemson vs. Florida
At Doug Kingsmore Stadium; best-of-three format
Saturday, June 8
Game 1: Florida at Clemson 2 p.m. ET on ESPN
Sunday, June 9
Game 2: Florida at Clemson 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Monday, June 10
Game 3 (if necessary): Florida at Clemson TBA on TBD
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson baseball: What to know about Florida ahead of super regional
