The Gators will host a regional at Condron Ballpark next weekend as one of the top-16 national seeds in the NCAA Tournament, the selection committee announced on Sunday night.
The seedings and matchups will be announced during the selection show on Monday at noon on ESPN2.
GAINESVILLE REGIONAL
HOST: @GatorBB#RoadToOmaha pic.twitter.com/Mt26k6bpF2
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) May 30, 2022
The Gators (39-22, 15-15 SEC) hosting postseason action would’ve seemed like a crazy thought about a month ago. At one point, they were 6-12 in SEC play, which left them in danger of missing the SEC Tournament, let alone the national tournament. They also received news that their ace, Hunter Barco, would undergo Tommy John surgery and not return this season.
Instead of collapsing, the Gators rallied. They went 16-5 over their final 21 games, including a run to the SEC Championship Game on Sunday against Tennessee.
With their four wins in the SEC Tournament, the Gators sport a cumulative record of 19-17 in league play. They also took two of three games over Miami, another regional host, and Florida State to give them 23 wins over power conference opponents.
UF entered the SEC Championship Game ranked 12th in the RPI and with 14 wins against teams ranked inside the top-50 in RPI.
Those metrics, along with their torrid finish to the season, allowed them to earn the right to play at home for at least the regional round.