2024 Florida Gators baseball team explained

Mode:	baseball
Year:	2024
Team:	Florida Gators
Conference:	Southeastern Conference
Division:	Eastern Division
Short Conf:	SEC
Coachrank:	6
D1baseballrank:	8
Record:	36–30
Conf Record:	13–17
Head Coach:	Kevin O'Sullivan
Hc Year:	17th
Asst Coach1:	Chuck Jeroloman
Asst Coach2:	Taylor Black
Asst Coach3:	David Kopp
Stadium:	Condron Ballpark
Champion:	Stillwater Regional champions Clemson Super Regional champions
Bowl:	College World Series
Bowl Result:	2–2

The 2024 Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball during the 2024 college baseball season. Florida competes in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games will be played at Condron Ballpark on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, in the fourth season at the ballpark. The team is coached by Kevin O'Sullivan in his seventeenth season as Florida's head coach. The Gators enter the season looking to return to the College World Series after finishing as the national runner-up to LSU in last year's NCAA tournament, as well as defend their 2023 SEC championship.

The Gators' turbulent regular season began with a season-opening loss to in a rain-curtailed series. This set the tone for the non-conference slate, as Florida went 8–6 in midweek games, including a sweep by in their annual rivalry series. The Gators opened conference play with three ranked series wins, including on the road in a national championship rematch against LSU, and against 2024 College World Series team Texas A&M. This start was derailed when the Gators were swept by last-place Missouri, with Missouri winning each game by a single run. They continued to add to their conference deficit by winning only one game in each of their next five series, including back-to-back-to-back series against top five teams in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky. However, Florida was able to log a final series win at No. 9 Georgia. This guaranteed they would meet the minimum eligibility criterion for a potential at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball tournament despite their first round loss to Vanderbilt in the conference tournament.

With a 28–27 record, the Gators were awarded the third seed in the Stillwater regional, where they overcame the losers' bracket to win over host Oklahoma State. This set up a Super Regional showdown against No. 6 national seed Clemson, and marked the first time head coach Kevin O'Sullivan would return to Clemson since he departed Jack Leggett's staff after the 2007 season when he was hired by Florida.^[1] Florida completed the sweep in what was billed as instant classic when Michael Robertson hit a walk-off, 2-RBI double in the 13th inning after 5 hours and 4 minutes, claiming Game 2 11–10, and sending the Gators to their fourteenth College World Series just a year after coming up short against LSU in the national championship series.^[2]

At the College World Series, a sluggish offensive performance in which the Gators struck out 16 times and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position resulted in a 3–2 loss to Texas A&M in the opening round.^[3] However, victories against and Kentucky in the losers' bracket set up a rematch against Texas A&M in the semifinal. The season would ultimately come to an end here, where the Gators were again sluggish on offense, this time hitting 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position in a 6–0 shutout loss, falling short of returning to the CWS Championship Series.^[4]

Preseason

Preseason SEC awards and honors

Infielders Cade Kurland and Colby Shelton, relief pitcher Brandon Neely, and two-way player Jac Caglianone were named to the All-SEC preseason first team. Caglianone was also named to the All-SEC preseason second team as a starting pitcher.^[5]

Preseason All-SEC First Team
Player	No.	Position	Class
	14	1B	Junior
Cade Kurland	4	2B	Sophomore
Brandon Neely	22	P	Junior
Colby Shelton	10	SS	Sophomore

Preseason All-SEC Second Team
Player	No.	Position	Class
	14	P	Junior

Coaches poll

The SEC baseball coaches' poll was released on February 8, 2024.^[5]

SEC East Coaches' Poll

1	Florida	88 (11)
2	Tennessee	75 (2)
3	Vanderbilt	73 (1)
4	South Carolina	50
5	Kentucky	44
6	Georgia	36
7	Missouri	19

Schedule

Legend
	Florida win
	Florida loss
	Postponement
Bold	Florida team member

2024 Florida Gators baseball game log
Regular season
February (6–2) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SEC record February 16 Gainesville, FL L 5–9 S. Mettert (1) 7,898 0–1 – February 17 St. John's No. 2 Condron Ballpark Canceled (rain)^[6] February 18 St. John's No. 2 Condron Ballpark Canceled (rain)^[7] at No. 4 Harmon Stadium Jacksonville, FL L. Peterson (1–0) T. Roca (0–1) None 2,509 1–1 – February 21 North Florida No. 4 Condron Ballpark W 13–4 A. Philpott (1–0) A. Love (0–1) None 5,057 2–1 – February 23 No. 4 Condron Ballpark W 15–6 C. Fisher (1–1) J. Sheets (0–1) None 6,000 3–1 – February 24 Columbia No. 4 Condron Ballpark W 7–3 L. McNeillie (1–0) A. Leon (0–1) None 8,437 4–1 – February 25 Columbia No. 4 Condron Ballpark W 12–5 A. Philpott (2–0) J. Ogden (0–1) None 5,498 5–1 – February 27 at No. 4 Conrad Park DeLand, FL L 4–7 A. DeFabbia (2–0) 2,986 5–2 – February 28 No. 4 Condron Ballpark W 9–2 R. Satin (1–0) D. Dudones (1–1) None 4,778 6–2 –
March (10–9) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SEC record March 1 at Rivalry Coral Gables, FL W 7–3 R. Slater (1–0) G. Ziehl (0–1) None 3,555 7–2 – March 2 at Miami (FL) Rivalry No. 4 Alex Rodriguez Park L 6–10 R. Schlesinger (2–0) L. Peterson (1–1) N. Robert (1) 3,555 7–3 – March 3 at Miami (FL) Rivalry No. 4 Alex Rodriguez Park W 8–4 J. Caglianone (1–0) H. Hernandez (2–1) None 3,555 8–3 – March 5 No. 4 Condron Ballpark Postponed (inclement weather) Makeup: April 30^[8] March 6 No. 4 Condron Ballpark L 6–9 D. Castellano (2–0) L. McNeillie (1–2) K. Kramer (1) 5,330 8–4 – March 8 No. 4 Condron Ballpark F. Jameson (1–0) P. Howey (1–1) None 5,229 9–4 – March 9 St. Mary's No. 4 Condron Ballpark L 7–9 C. Linchey (1–2) L. McNeillie (1–3) None 6,215 9–5 – March 10 St. Mary's No. 4 Condron Ballpark W 10–0^8 J. Caglianone (2–0) J. Reitz (1–1) None 5,275 10–5 – March 12 Rivalry No. 8 Condron Ballpark L 8–12 C. Dorsey (2–0) A. Philpott (2–1) None 8,142 10–6 – March 15 No. 8 Condron Ballpark W 8–6 C. Fisher (2–1) C. Cortez (2–1) B. Neely (1) 5,863 11–6 1–0 March 16 No. 4 Texas A&M No. 8 Condron Ballpark L 6–10 L. Peterson (1–2) S. Sdao (1) 6,541 11–7 1–1 March 17 No. 4 Texas A&M No. 8 Condron Ballpark W 4–2 B. Neely (1–0) J. Stewart (1–1) 6,110 12–7 2–1 March 19 No. 6 Condron Ballpark L 6–7 D. Faulkner (1–0) G. Smith (0–1) I. Williams (3) 5,165 12–8 – March 22 No. 6 Alex Box Stadium Baton Rouge, LA L 1–6 L. Holman (5–1) C. Fisher (2–2) G. Herring (2) 12,539 12–9 2–2 March 23 at No. 5 LSU No. 6 Alex Box Stadium W 6–4^11 R. Slater (2–0) None 12,892 13–9 3–2 March 24 at No. 5 LSU No. 6 Alex Box Stadium W 12–2^8 J. Caglianone (3–0) H. Thatcher (1–3) None 11,648 14–9 4–2 March 26 vs. No. 17 Florida State Rivalry No. 6 121 Financial Park Jacksonville, FL L 3–14^8 J. Charles (1–0) A. Philpott (2–2) None 7,710 14–10 – March 29 No. 6 Condron Ballpark W 7–6 L. McNeillie (2–3) N. Stevens (2–2) None 7,167 15–10 5–2 No. 21 Mississippi State No. 6 Condron Ballpark L 2–12 J. Cijntje (5–1) L. Peterson (1–3) None 7,129 15–11 5–3 March 31 No. 21 Mississippi State No. 6 Condron Ballpark W 4–3 L. McNeillie (3–3) E. Siary (0–2) None 5,829 16–11 6–3
April (7–10) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SEC record April 2 No. 6 Condron Ballpark W 10–7 F. Jameson (2–0) C. Williams (2–1) C. Fisher (1) 5,041 17–11 – April 5 No. 6 Taylor Stadium Columbia, MO L 1–2^11 C. Rustad (4–4) None 1,749 17–12 6–4 April 6 at Missouri No. 6 Taylor Stadium L 3–4 B. Lucas (4–0) L. Peterson (1–4) R. Magdic (1) 2,209 17–13 6–5 April 7 at Missouri No. 6 Taylor Stadium L 10–11 J. Peaden (2–1) L. McNeillie (3–5) None 1,449 17–14 6–6 April 9 Rivalry Dick Howser Stadium Tallahassee, FL L 4–19^7 A. Armstrong (4–0) R. Slater (2–1) None 6,700 17–15 – April 12 No. 24 Condron Ballpark L 3–10 E. Jones (3–1) B. Neely (1–1) C. Veach (2) 7,869 17–16 6–7 April 13 South Carolina No. 24 Condron Ballpark L 8–9 R. Kimball (2–1) P. Coppola (0–1) T. Pitzer (1) 8,109 17–17 6–8 April 14 South Carolina No. 24 Condron Ballpark W 11–9 J. Caglianone (4–0) M. Becker (4–2) None 5,772 18–17 7–8 April 16 Jacksonville Condron Ballpark W 12–1^7 J. Clemente (1–0) D. Stone (0–1) None 4,931 19–17 – April 18 Hawkins Field Nashville, TN L 5–10 B. Neely (1–2) G. Carter (2) 3,802 19–18 7–9 April 19 at No. 13 Vanderbilt Hawkins Field L 2–5 C. Holton (6–1) P. Coppola (0–2) G. Carter (3) 3,802 19–19 7–10 at No. 13 Vanderbilt Hawkins Field W 6–2 J. Caglianone (5–0) L. Guth (1–1) 3,802 20–19 8–10 April 23 Stetson Condron Ballpark R. Slater (3–1) D. Garcia (0–2) None 5,165 21–19 – April 26 Fayetteville, AR L 1–2 G. Gaeckle (3–2) L. McNeillie (3–6) None 10,551 21–20 8–11 April 27 (1) at No. 2 Arkansas L 5–6 W. McEntire (3–0) R. Slater (3–2) C. Foutch (1) 11,160 21–21 8–12 at No. 2 Arkansas Baum–Walker Stadium W 9–5 J. Clemente (2–0) B. Bybee (2–1) None 11,160 22–21 9–12 April 30 Florida Atlantic Condron Ballpark W 10–8 R. Slater (4–2) D. Ball (0–3) None 4,790 23–21 – Rescheduled from April 28 as a single-admission doubleheader due to the threat of inclement weather.^[9]
May (5–5) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall record SEC record May 2 Postponed (inclement weather) Makeup: May 3 as a single-admission doubleheader^[10] May 3 (1) No. 3 Tennessee Condron Ballpark L 2–6 A. Causey (8–3) B. Neely (1–3) K. Connell (4) 6,326 23–22 9–13 No. 3 Tennessee Condron Ballpark F. Jameson (3–0) D. Beam (6–2) L. McNeillie (2) 6,326 24–22 10–13 May 4 No. 3 Tennessee Condron Ballpark N. Snead (8–1) None 7,335 24–23 10–14 May 7 Condron Ballpark W 4–1 C. Fisher (3–2) L. Gailey (2–2) B. Neely (2) 4,924 25–23 – May 10 Condron Ballpark J. Hummel (3–0) C. Fisher (3–3) 5,294 25–24 10–15 May 11 No. 4 Kentucky Condron Ballpark W 10–1 L. Peterson (2–4) D. Niman (8–4) R. Slater (1) 5,571 26–24 11–15 May 12 No. 4 Kentucky Condron Ballpark L 5–7^10 B. Neely (1–4) B. Cleaver (1) 6,083 26–25 11–16 May 16 Foley Field Athens, GA L 4–9 K. Smith (9–2) P. Coppola (0–3) None 3,900 26–26 11–17 May 17 at No. 9 Georgia Foley Field W 7–4^10 B. Neely (2–4) B. Zeldin (3–3) None 3,483 27–26 12–17 May 18 at No. 9 Georgia Foley Field W 19–11 F. Jameson (4–0) Z. Harris (5–1) None 3,954 28–26 13–17
Postseason
NCAA tournament: Stillwater Regional (4–1) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Regional Record May 31 vs. (2) First round (3) Stillwater, OK W 5–2 L. Peterson (3–4) B. Sears (9–1) B. Neely (3) 4,709 29–27 1–0 June 1 Second round (3) O'Brate Stadium L 1–7 B. Holiday (7–3) None 5,593 29–28 1–1 June 2 (1) vs. (2) Nebraska Second round elimination game (3) O'Brate Stadium R. Slater (5–2) J. Brockett (3–3) None 4,645 30–28 2–1 at No. 16 (1) Oklahoma State Regional final game 1 (3) O'Brate Stadium W 5–2 B. Neely (3–4) C. Benge (3–2) None 5,173 31–28 3–1 June 3 at No. 16 (1) Oklahoma State Regional final game 2 (3) O'Brate Stadium W 4–2 T. Molsky (6–3) 4,811 32–28 4–1 NCAA tournament: Clemson Super Regional (2–0) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record Record Clemson, SC F. Jameson (5–0) T. Smith (2–1) 6,492 33–28 1–0 June 9 at No. 3 (6) Clemson Doug Kingsmore Stadium None 6,423 34–28 2–0 NCAA tournament: College World Series (2–2) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record CWS Record June 15 vs. No. 4 (3) Texas A&M<br>First round Omaha, NE L 2–3 C. Cortez (10–3) 25,774 34–29 0–1 June 17 vs. No. 11 (10) First round elimination game Charles Schwab Field W 5–4 C. Fisher (4–3) D. Fritton (3–7) B. Neely (5) 23,578 35–29 1–1 June 18 vs. No. 2 (2) Kentucky Charles Schwab Field Postponed (inclement weather) Makeup: June 19^[11] June 19 (1) vs. No. 2 (2) Kentucky Charles Schwab Field D. Niman (8–5) None 23,687 36–29 2–1 vs. No. 4 (3) Texas A&M<br>Semifinals Charles Schwab Field L 0–6 J. Lamkin (3–2) L. Peterson (3–6) None 25,429 36–30 2–2

Schedule source:^[12] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.

Rankings

See main article: 2024 NCAA Division I baseball rankings.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Friends & Foes: Gators-Clemson Series Stirs Memories for O'Sullivan, Bakich . Carter . Scott . June 7, 2024 . floridagators.com . . June 10, 2024.
2. Web site: Gators Win an Instant Classic, Earn Trip to College World Series . Carter . Scott . June 9, 2024 . floridagators.com . . June 10, 2024.
3. Web site: College World Series: Texas A&M 3, Gators 2 — Kurland Robbed of Go-Ahead Homer, UF Cold with Runners on Base . Carter . Scott . June 16, 2024 . floridagators.com . . June 21, 2024.
4. Web site: College World Series: Texas A&M 6, Gators 0 — Four Aggie Pitchers Combine for 4-Hit Shutout to End Gators' Postseason Run . Carter . Scott . June 19, 2024 . floridagators.com . . June 21, 2024.
5. Web site: 2024 Baseball Preseason Poll, All-SEC Team announced . . secsports.com . February 9, 2024 . February 8, 2024.
6. Web site: Saturday’s Game vs. St. John’s Canceled . Bortner . Sullivan . February 17, 2024 . floridagators.com . . February 17, 2024.
7. Web site: Sunday Finale Against St. John’s Canceled . Bortner . Sullivan . February 18, 2024 . floridagators.com . . February 18, 2024.
8. Web site: Tuesday's Game vs. FAU Rescheduled for April 30 . Bortner . Sullivan . March 4, 2024 . floridagators.com . . March 17, 2024.
9. Web site: Hogs, Gators To Play Doubleheader Saturday . Grigg . Oliver . April 26, 2024 . arkansasrazorbacks.com . . April 26, 2024.
10. Web site: Schedule Change: Florida to Play Friday Doubleheader vs. Tennessee . Bortner . Sullivan . May 2, 2024 . floridagators.com . . May 2, 2024.
11. Web site: CWS: Florida vs. Kentucky Moved to Wednesday at 11 a.m. . Hutchison . Matthew . June 18, 2024 . floridagators.com . . June 18, 2024.
12. https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/schedule floridagators.com