The 2024 season wasn’t smooth sailing for the Gators, who lost a number of starters for the year including catcher Tanner Garrison and outfielders Ty Evans and Hayden Yost in the final month of the season.
Trying to limp into the postseason, head coach Kevin O’Sullivan searched for players to step up offensively. After just six at bats entering Florida’s second to last series, sophomore outfielder Ashton Wilson was given a pair of pinch-hit opportunities against the Kentucky Wildcats. Wilson delivered on both plate appearances, logging his first two hits on the season while driving in a combined three runs and registering his first double.
This launched the Orlando native into Florida’s starting lineup moving forward.
“I would get a pinch hit every once in a while, I got a couple at Kentucky that I did okay in and then Georgia I got the start,” Wilson said on his unique 2024 season. “My teammates just really picked me up the whole time, gave me all the confidence in the world, like ‘yeah, I should be starting’, stuff like that.”
Florida baseball snuck into the NCAA Tournament after taking two of three games from No.7 Georgia to end the regular season, where Wilson recorded a hit in each game of the series including a two-hit, two-RBI, three run game in Saturday’s rubber match victory, which moved Florida back into the postseason picture.
In game one of the Stillwater Regional, Wilson exploded for four hits, three doubles, one home run and three RBI, lifting Florida past Nebraska and into the winner’s bracket.
“Obviously Ashton had a career day,” O’Sullivan said postgame. “Stories like Ashton, you need to have surprise stories at this time of the year to kind of make a run and obviously, what a great story it is for Ashton, the day he had at the plate was just incredible.”
WATCH: Wilson’s two-RBI double, giving Florida a 3-1 lead vs Nebraska
Wilson is the first Gator with three doubles in a single game since Pete Alonso on June 12, 2016 vs. Florida State. Wilson’s 10 total bases were the most by any Gator this season, which may come as a surprise as the Gators have one of the best hitters in college baseball in Jac Caglianone.
Just three weeks ago Wilson was hitless on the 2024 season, charting games for O’Sullivan’s squad with no clear path to playing time after transferring in from Charleston Southern in the offseason.
“The biggest thing was just staying really locked into the game,” Wilson said on how he stayed ready when not playing. “I know in Kentucky I started doing a chart, it was a little joke going around, but I think it really was a difference when I was doing that chart and really staying into the game. It paid off later on.”
“To be honest with you, I’m trying to think of other charts other guys can keep now to keep them locked in,” O’Sullivan said jokingly.
Wilson’s batting average now sits at .323 after recording 66% of his season hit total in Florida’s first game of the NCAA Tournament. Seven of Wilson’s ten hits on the 2024 season have gone for extra bases, which has aided the 6’0 outfielder to a slugging percentage of .613 and an OPS of 1.045, both ranking 2nd on Florida’s offense behind Jac Caglianone.
Ashton Wilson and the Florida Gators are set to take on Oklahoma State at 7:00 PM, with the winner advancing to the Stillwater Regional Finals.
“I’m excited for tomorrow,” Wilson said after his career game vs Nebraska. “Same thing. We are going for a long run.”