When Nolan Fontana’s leadoff home run left his bat in the first inning of Saturday’s NCAA Gainesville Regional baseball winners’ bracket game, his Florida teammates, especially Josh Adams, had a feeling how the night was going to go for the Gators against Oregon State.
“That momentum just carried throughout the whole game with him leading it off like that,” Adams said.
The Gators then scored seven runs in the third inning and cruised to a 10-2 victory Saturday night at McKethan Stadium. The victory was Florida’s second in the regional and sent the Gators (44-15) into Sunday night’s championship game against the winner of the 1 p.m. elimination game between Florida Atlantic (36-23) and Oregon State (32-23).
Florida’s big inning almost ended before it could get started. Tyler Thompson singled to lead off and Fontana and Bryson Smith walked to load the bases against Oregon State starter Sam Gaviglio. But Preston Tucker lined a 1-0 pitch right back at Gaviglio, who then threw to first to double up Smith, and it looked like Gaviglio and the Beavers might escape unharmed.
“It was kind of deflating,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “All of a sudden, you’re left scratching your head.”
But as he has done so many times in winning the SEC Freshman of the Year honor, Austin Maddox stepped up and singled to right, scoring Thompson and Fontana. Half of Maddox’s team-leading 68 RBI have come with two outs.
After Matt den Dekker was intentionally walked, Mike Zunino lined a double in the left-center gap, scoring both Maddox and den Dekker. Brian Johnson followed by scorching a triple down the right-field line, scoring Zunino and the rout was on.
Adams then drove a towering two-run home run into the bullpen in right, pushing Florida’s lead to 8-0 after three innings. Tyler Thompson tripled to right, ending Gaviglio’s night, but Fontana grounded out to end the inning – seven runs with two outs on six hits.
“The hits just started coming,” O’Sullivan said. “Our offense did a really good job in the third.”
Matt den Dekker added a fifth-inning solo home run that went over the right-field scoreboard. The Gators capped their scoring with a ninth-inning RBI single by Daniel Pigott.
Adams ended the night going 2-for-5 with two RBI. His second hit was a double that hit a foot from the top of the wall. He later flew out to the center field warning track. There have been multiple points earlier this season when the two-time All-SEC second baseman thought he was turning things around, but Saturday night lifted his confidence at the right time. Florida couldn’t be happier that Adams has found his batting eye.
“The ball … finally,” Adams joked when asked what he saw at the plate. “My first at-bat I could tell they were going to try and throw me away the rest of the game. I just committed that way and put good swings on the ball.”
Starting left-hander Alex Panteliodis (10-2) wasn’t as sharp as usual. He fell behind hitters, which elevated his pitch count above where it usually is. He went five innings, giving up five hits and two runs while tying his season high with eight strikeouts. He previously struck out eight on March 5 at Miami. He became the first Florida pitcher to win 10 games since Alan Horne did in 2005.
“I mainly threw fastballs tonight and worked both sides of the plate,” Panteliodis said. “The fastball inside worked a lot tonight. They were looking away with two strikes and I got it by them.”
Greg Larson relieved Panteliodis, working two innings without allowing a base runner and recording three strikeouts. Junior Matt Campbell worked a scoreless eighth inning, and senior Chas Spottswood finished the game off with a scoreless ninth inning.
In four innings of work for the Florida bullpen, Oregon State managed just two baserunners. On the night, the four Florida pitchers recorded 12 strikeouts and allowed two walks.
“Once again, it all starts on the mound for us,” O’Sullivan said. “Our pitching was really good.”
Sunday, freshman left-hander Brian Johnson (5-4, 4.41 ERA) is expected to get the start for Florida against the Florida Atlantic-Oregon State winner.
NCAA DIVISION I BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
REGIONALS / Friday-Monday, June 4-7 / Double-elimination
(1) ARIZONA STATE / TEMPE REGIONAL
Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark / Host: Arizona State University
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (3) Hawaii 4, (2) San Diego 3
Game 2: (1) Arizona State 6, (4) Milwaukee 2
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (2) San Diego 22, (4) Milwaukee 1 Milwaukee (33-26) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Arizona State 12, (3) Hawaii 1
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (2) San Diego (37-21) vs. (3) Hawaii (34-27), 4 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Arizona State (49-8) vs. Winner Game 5, 9 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6,
ARKANSAS / FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL
Baum Stadium / Host: University of Arkansas
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (1) Arkansas 19, (4) Grambling State 7
Game 2: (2) Washington State 8, (3) Kansas State 3
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (3) Kansas State 9, (4) Grambling State 8 Grambling State (22-32) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Arkansas 6, (2) Washington State 4
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (3) Kansas State (37-21) vs. (2) Washington State (35-21), 3 p.m.Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Arkansas (42-18) vs. Winner Game 5, 8 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 8 p.m.
AUBURN / AUBURN REGIONAL
Plainsman Park / Host: Auburn University
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (2) Clemson 10, (3) Southern Mississippi 1
Game 2: (1) Auburn 9, (4) Jacksonville State 7
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (3) Southern Mississippi 19, (4) Jacksonville State 6 Jacksonville State (32-26) eliminated
Game 4: (2) Clemson 5, (1) Auburn 2
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (3) Southern Mississippi (36-23) vs. (1) Auburn (41-20), 2 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (2) Clemson (40-21) vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 7 p.m.
GEORGIA TECH / ATLANTA RGIONAL
Russ Chandler Stadium / Host: Georgia Institute of Technology
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (2) Alabama 11, (3) Elon 2
Game 2: (1) Georgia Tech 10, (4) Mercer 0
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (4) Mercer 13, (3) Elon 7 Elon (38-24) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Georgia Tech 5, (2) Alabama 2
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (4) Mercer (38-23) vs. (2) Alabama (38-23), 3 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Georgia Tech (47-13) vs. Winner Game 5, 8 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 8 p.m.
(5) VIRGINIA / CHARLOTTESVILLE REGIONAL
Davenport Field / Host: University of Virginia
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (1) Virginia 15, (4) Virginia Commonwealth 4
Game 2: (2) Mississippi 10, (3) St. John’s 5
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (3) St. John’s 8, (4) Virginia Commonwealth 6 Virginia Commonwealth (34-26-1) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Virginia 13, (2) Mississippi 7
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (3) St. John’s (41-19) vs. (2) Mississippi (39-23), 1 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Virginia (49-11) vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6 p.m.
OKLAHOMA / NORMAN REGIONAL
L. Dale Mitchell Park / Host: Oklahoma University
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (1) Oklahoma 7, (4) Oral Roberts 6 (10 innings)
Game 2: (3) North Carolina 12, (2) California 3
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (4) Oral Roberts 9, (2) California 8 California (29-25) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Oklahoma 7, (3) North Carolina 6 (10 innings)
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (4) Oral Roberts (36-26) vs. (3) North Carolina (37-21), 2 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Oklahoma (46-15) vs. Winner Game 5, 8 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 8 p.m.
SOUTH CAROLINA / COLUMBIA REGIONAL
Carolina Stadium / Host: University of South Carolina
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (3) The Citadel 7, (2) Virginia Tech 2
Game 2: (1) South Carolina 9, (4) Bucknell 5
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (2) Virginia Tech 16, (4) Bucknell 7 Bucknell (25-35) eliminated
Game 4: (1) South Carolina 9, (3) The Citadel 4
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (2) Virginia Tech (39-21) vs. (3) The Citadel (43-21), 2 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) South Carolina (45-15) vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 7 p.m.
(4) COASTAL CAROLINA / MYRTLE BEACH REGIONAL
BB&T Coastal Field / Host: Coastal Carolina University
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (1) Coastal Carolina 6, (4) Stony Brook 0
Game 2: (2) College of Charleston 9, (3) North Carolina State 6
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (4) Stony Brook 6, (3) North Carolina State 2 North Carolina State (38-24) eliminated
Game 4: (2) College of Charleston 16, (1) Coastal Carolina 6
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (4) Stony Brook (30-26) vs. (1) Coastal Carolina (52-8), 1 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (2) College of Charleston (44-17) vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 7 p.m.
(2) TEXAS / AUSTIN REGIONAL
UFCU Disch-Falk Field / Host: University of Texas
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (3) Louisiana-Lafayette 1, (2) Rice 0
Game 2: (1) Texas 11, (4) Rider 0
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (2) Rice 19, (4) Rider 1 Rider (36-23) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Texas 4, (3) Louisiana-Lafayette 2
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (2) Rice (39-22) vs. (3) Louisiana-Lafayette (37-22), 2 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Texas (48-11) vs. Winner Game 5, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 2 p.m.
TEXAS CHRISTIAN / FORT WORTH REGIONAL
Lupton Stadium / Host: Texas Christian University
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (3) Arizona 10, (2) Baylor 9
Game 2: (1) Texas Christian 16, (4) Lamar 3
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (2) Baylor 6, (4) Lamar 4 Lamar (35-26) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Texas Christian 11, (3) Arizona 5
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (2) Baylor (35-23) vs. (3) Arizona (34-23), 3 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Texas Christian (48-11) vs. Winner Game 5, 8 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 8 p.m.
CONNECTICUT / NORWICH REGIONAL
Sen. Thomas J. Todd Memorial Stadium / Host: University of Connecticut
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (1) Florida State 11, (4) Central Connecticut State 3
Game 2: (3) Oregon 5, (2) Connecticut 3
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (2) Connecticut 25, (4) Central Connecticut State 5 (4) Central Connecticut State (33-23) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Florida State 6, (3) Oregon 4
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (2) Connecticut (48-15) vs. (3) Oregon (39-23), 2 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Florida State (44-17) vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 7 p.m.
LOUISVILLE / LOUISVILLE REGIONAL
Jim Patterson Stadium / Host: University of Louisville
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (2) Vanderbilt 8, (3) Illinois State 7 (13 innings)
Game 2: (1) Louisville 11, (4) St. Louis 2
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (3) Illinois State 8, (4) St. Louis 3 St. Louis (33-29) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Louisville 7, (2) Vanderbilt 1
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (3) Illinois State (32-23) vs. (2) Vanderbilt (42-18), 12 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Louisville (50-12) vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6 p.m.
(6) UCLA / LOS ANGELES REGIONAL
Jackie Robinson Stadium / Host: University of California, Los Angeles
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (2) Louisiana State 11, (3) UC Irvine 10 (11 innings)
Game 2: (1) UCLA 15, (4) Kent State 1
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (3) UC Irvine 19, (4) Kent State 9 Kent State (39-24) eliminated
Game 4: (1) UCLA 6, (2) Louisiana State 3
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (3) UC Irvine (38-20) vs. (2) Louisiana State (41-21), 5 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) UCLA (45-13) vs. Winner Game 5, 9 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 9 p.m.
CAL STATE FULLERTON / FULLERTON REGIONAL
Goodwin Field / Host: California State University at Fullerton
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (3) New Mexico 9, (2) Stanford 5
Game 2: (4) Minnesota 3, (1) Cal State Fullerton 1
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (1) Cal State Fullerton 6, (2) Stanford 5 Stanford (31-25) eliminated
Game 4: (4) Minnesota 6, (3) New Mexico 4 (10 innings)
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (1) Cal State Fullerton (42-16) vs. (3) New Mexico (38-21), 7 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (4) Minnesota (32-28) vs. Winner Game 5, 11 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 11 p.m.
MIAMI, FLA. / CORAL GABLES REGIONAL
Alex Rodriguez Park / Host: University of Miami
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (2) Texas A&M 17, (3) Florida International 3
Game 2: (1) Miami, Fla. 12, (4) Dartmouth 8
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (4) Dartmouth 15, (3) Florida International 9 Florida International (36-25) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Miami, Fla. 14, (2) Texas A&M 1
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (4) Dartmouth (27-18) vs. (2) Texas A&M (41-20-1), 12 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Miami, Fla. (42-17) vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 7 p.m.
(3) FLORIDA / GAINESVILLE REGIONAL
McKethan Stadium / Host: University of Florida
Friday, June 4
Game 1: (3) Oregon State 6, (2) Florida Atlantic 4
Game 2: (1) Florida 7, (4) Bethune-Cookman 3
Saturday, June 5
Game 3: (2) Florida Atlantic 12, (4) Bethune-Cookman 6 Bethune Cookman (36-22) eliminated
Game 4: (1) Florida 10, (3) Oregon State 2
Sunday, June 6
Game 5: (2) Florida Atlantic (36-23) vs. (3) Oregon State (32-23), 1 p.m. Loser eliminated
Game 6: (1) Florida (44-15) vs. Winner Game 5, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 7
Game 7 (If necessary): Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 7 p.m.