GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After a perfect run through the Columbia Regional, South Carolina baseball takes on Florida in its first NCAA Tournament super regional since 2018.
The No. 15 seed Gameco*cks (42-19) face the No. 2 seed Gators (48-15) in Gainesville for a best-of-three series beginning Friday (8:30 p.m., ESPNU). Game 2 will be Saturday (3 p.m., ESPN2) with an if-necessary game Sunday. The winner advances to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
South Carolina is 54-51 all-time against Florida, but the Gameco*cks are 16-29 when playing in Gainesville. The Gameco*cks swept their 2023 regular-season series against the Gators at Founders Park, but Florida won the series 2-1 in 2022 and ended South Carolina's season with a 2-1 win in the SEC Tournament.
Redshirt junior right-hander James Hicks, who has an 8-1 record and a 3.32 ERA, will start on the mound for the Gameco*cks in Game 1. The Gators will throw junior right-hander Brandon Sproat, who has a 7-3 record and a 4.70 ERA.
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COLLEGE WORLD SERIES:Why South Carolina baseball is in perfect position to make 2023 College World Series
Weather forecast for South Carolina baseball vs. Florida in Gainesville Super Regional
The start time for Friday's series opener was delayed due to rainy conditions at Condron Ballpark. It is projected to rain with thunderstorms until at least 7 p.m.. The chance of continued rain decreases significantly after 8 p.m. but increases again around 11 p.m..
South Carolina baseball vs. Florida: Live updates from Gainesville Super Regional
9th inning
South Carolina 9th: Will McGillis' solo shot to left field with two out cuts the Gators lead to 1. Ballpark is nervously silent now.
But Wimmer grounds out to third to end it.
FINAL: Florida 5, South Carolina 4. Game 2 at 3 p.m. Saturday.
8th inning
Florida 8th: Nick Proctor replaces Will Sanders after Sanders walked Josh Rivera. Shelnut drove Rivera in three batters later with a two-out RBI single. Florida 5, South Carolina 3.
Gameco*cks now need at least two runs.
South Carolina 8th: Gameco*cks down in order. They need a run in the 9th.
7th inning
Florida 7th: Cade Kurland singles and reaches second base on a wild pitch, but nothing else in the Gators 7th.
South Carolina 7th: Ethan Petry is stranded after a two-out double. Lefty Cade Fisher replaced Sproat at the beginning of the inning.
6th inning
Florida 6th: Will Sanders relieves Hicks, who is done after 56 pitches in a 3-3 game.
BT Riopelle's home run gives the Gators the lead for the first time today. Florida 4, South Carolina 3.
South Carolina 6th: Sproat works around a Michael Braswell single. Sproat is at 105 pitches.
5th inning
Florida 5th: Tyler Shelnut belts one over the seats in left field to lead off the Gators 5th. South Carolina 3, Florida 3.
Colby Halter doubles, but a Wyatt Langford groundball off of Hicks is fielded by the South Carolina pitcher, who throws Langford out to end the inning.
South Carolina 5th: Wimmer reaches first on an infield hit, and Sproat's wild attempt at a throw to first base was well wide. Wimmer then runs into Florida first baseman Jac Caglianone and apparently believes he was interfered with and could run to second base unimpeded. That was not the case, and Wimmer is ruled out at second.
Wimmer did make a wide turn and was probably a step off the right field grass, plus he looked to initiate the contact. Either way, Wimmer is out.
Ethan Petry singles, but is thrown out at second base on what could have been a called hit-and-run. Cole Messina, however, did not make contact.
Cole Messina walks on a 50-50 check swing ball on a full count, then steals second base and advances to third base on a throwing error.
Sproat strikes out Talmadge LeCroy to end an interesting inning.
4th inning
Florida 4th: Gators go down 1-2-3. Hicks at 39 pitches.
South Carolina 4th: Gameco*cks again down 1-2-3. Sproat up to 70 pitches.
3rd inning
Florida 3rd: Hicks with a four-pitch inning, punctuated by a 4-6-3 double play to end it. Nice play by Michael Braswell to start it.
South Carolina 3rd: 1-2-3 inning for Sproat, who desperately needed that.
2nd inning
Florida 2nd: Colby Halter reaches with two out but nothing else. South Carolina defense showing off early.
South Carolina 2nd: McGillis drives in another run to give the Gameco*cks the lead again on an RBI double. South Carolina threatens for more, but a groundball to Sproat with the bases loaded produces a 1-2-3 double play. Ouch.
GIDP to end the inning hurts, but USC's lineup has seven hits through two innings. South Carolina 3, Florida 2.
1st inning
Florida 1st: Gators cleanup hitter Josh Rivera pummels a James Hicks pitch somewhere beyond the property in left field. My word. Gameco*cks 2, Gators 2.
South Carolina 1st: Will McGillis leads off the game with a big-time home run to left field. Good start for the Gameco*cks.
USC not done there, with Braylen Wimmer reaching via a pop fly that falls when Wyatt Langford can't track the ball in the sky and slips. Wimmer, who is clearly not 100%, eventually scores on a Gavin Casas RBI single.
