GAINESVILLE (www.sportsdayjax.com) - Florida is headed to the College World Series for the first time since 2018.
The Gators capped their sweep of Southeastern Conference rival South Carolina with a 4-0 victory in the best-of-three Gainesville Super Regional at Condron Ballpark on Saturday afternoon. Florida won Game 1 on Friday night, 5-4.
In Saturday's decisive win, third baseman Colby Halter contributed a two-run double and starter Hurston Waldrep was sensational following a 2-hour, 36-minute weather delay prior to the first pitch.
In a game dominated by Waldrep, it was Halter's two-out double that did the damage offensively. Halter's drive down the right-field line off Gamecocks starter Jack Mahoney scored BT Riopelle and Luke Heyman.
In the previous at-bat, Tyler Shelnut faced a shift left with both South Carolina shortstop Braylen Wimmer and second baseman Michael Braswell anchored on the left side of the infield.
Braswell fielded what normally would have been a double-play grounder, but with no one covering second, he threw out Shelnut at first but Riopelle and Heyman advanced. That set up Halter for his biggest hit of the season.
The Gators advance to the College World Series, where they will open against the winner of the Virginia-Duke Super Regional when they get to Omaha, Neb.