7 hours ago
Isaiah Houde | SEC Network
HOOVER, Alabama — A three-run homer from BT Riopelle resulted in a decisive finish for 1-seeded Florida to defeat 9-seeded Alabama in extras in a second-round game of the baseball tournament. SEC Wednesday at the Hoover Met.
“It means the world to me, but it definitely means the world to our team. It was an ultimate team win. You look at the last set, we’ve already talked about how your best players have to play the best for win,” Riopelle said after the game.
Florida became the first time in SEC tournament history to overcome a three-run overtime deficit. According to ESPN Stats and Information Group, Florida had a 3% chance of winning the game coming in bottom 11th.
Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan discussed the unlikely win and explained how the Gators did it.
“It gives you the belief that whatever the score, you have a chance to get back to it. I spoke to Chuck before the start of the 11th, normally we would take a strike and try to work our way into getting the equal run to the plate I felt like, and Chuck did too, this worst case scenario that we would have momentum and we would put together some good batsmen, and if we lost the game, at least we can give some momentum to tomorrow,” O’Sullivan said.
The Gators were quick to embark on their first game of action in the tournament. Florida star Jac Caglianone drilled a single on his first at bat and Josh Rivera sent it home after he homered out of the park to left field in the bottom of the first.
Rivera snapped a 17-game no-hitter streak that dated back to April 16.
The Tide was quiet the first innings, but a single to left field from Colby Shelton brought Drew Williamson home and tightened the game in the fourth. A sacrifice fly from Jim Jarvis sent Ed Johnson home in the top of the fifth and brought the Tide back in.
And Shelton wasn’t done. After another scoreless inning for the Gators, the third baseman drilled a 405-foot dinger into right field and gave Alabama the lead, creating an uproar in the crowd.
Shelton went on to make SEC history with that hit. Shelton joined fellow SEC freshmen Charlie Condon and Ethan Petry with 21 homers hit this year — which is more than all previous seasons combined for that number. He also became the 10th Alabama player to hit more than 20 homers in a season and the first since 2009.
Shelton’s spectacular offense was not overlooked by stellar play on the mound.
Luke Holman pitched 5.2 innings and completed his mission by striking out five and allowing just two runs against one of the league’s top teams. Aidan Moza stepped in and kept the momentum going until a pivotal moment late in the eighth.
Dale Thomas was walked out by Moza and then scored after Michael Robertson reached base on a scoring error, tying the game. Moza was able to escape the inning by striking out two of Florida’s best hitters in Caglianone and Rivera.
Florida made a myriad of pitching changes, but Brandon Neely came on in the eighth inning and quickly retired the team. Moza continued his impressive backup work by getting three quick outs and sending the game into extra innings. Both pitchers had great outings in the 10th quarter to keep their teams alive.
Everything changed in the top of the 11th when Neely dropped a pair of singles from Dominic Tamez and Johnson. The crowd exploded when they thought Mac Guscette had scored, but the run was ruled a lane interference and Tide’s final challenge of the night fell through.
Florida decided to intentionally step on Jarvis and made a huge mistake. Tommy Seidl nailed a double to right field and brought in three runners – giving the Tide a comfortable 6-3 lead.
“Neely’s been nailed for us all year. He’s been in a tough spot this run, first and third, no out. We’re kind of lucky with a little throw down the line, the runner was in the line. Just bases loaded and had to step over the plate. And Seidl being a fifth or sixth year guy, he’s 25, guys like that are going to happen in big times. And Neely , like I said, was nailed for us this year. It was good that we were able to get the win for him because it was time for us to help him out a bit,” Riopelle said of three-point hit.
Moza gave up a single in the bottom of the 11th and was knocked out to a standing ovation before Alton Davis II came in for relief. Davis II didn’t get off to a great start as he gave up a quick single to Caglianone and then a single to Rivera that tied – making it 6-4 with no outs.
Things quickly went downhill when Riopelle stepped in – the rest was history.
HOW DID IT HAPPEN
B1 | Caglianone scored from the right side of the field. Rivera hit to left field, Caglianone scored. Florida 2, Alabama 0.
T4 | Drew Williamson chose the first goal. Andrew Pinckney was hit by a pitch and Williamson moved up to second. Shelton scored a single into left field, moving Pinckney to third, and Williamson scored. Florida 2, Alabama 1.
T5 | Ed Johnson was walked around. Mac Guscette on the ground, Johnson went second. Caden Rose picked left field, Johnson went third. Jim Jarvis flew out to right field and Johnson scored. Florida 2, Alabama 2.
T6 | Shelton homered to right field. Alabama 3, Florida 2.
B8 | Thomas was walked. Robertson reached on a throwing error, Thomas advanced to second then scored on the error. Alabama 3, Florida 3.
T11 | Tamez picked right field and Hayslip’s pinch ran for him. Johnson chose the right field line, moving Hayslip up to third. Johnson flew second. Jarvis was intentionally walked. Siedl doubled to right field to score Hayslip, Johnson and Jarvis. Alabama 6, Florida 3.
B11 | Langford chose center field. Caglianone chose right center and Langford advanced to second. Rivera picked left field, Caglianone advanced to third and Langford scored. Riopelle struck to the center right, scored Caglianone and Rivera.
FOLLOWING
Florida (42-11) advanced to the third round to take on 5-seeded winner Auburn against 4-seeded Vanderbilt. The first pitch is scheduled to start 30 minutes after the 5:30 p.m. LSU-Arkansas game ends in a contest that will be televised on SEC Network.
Alabama (39-17) will face loser 5-seeded Auburn against 4-seeded Vanderbilt. The first pitch is scheduled to start 30 minutes after the end of the 10:30 a.m. South Carolina-Texas A&M game in a contest that will be televised on SEC Network.