The Florida Gators baseball team was just one win away from capturing a national championship last season. But in Game 3 of the Men’s College World Series final, LSU dismantled UF 18-4 to send the Gators back to Gainesville with a somber feeling.
Fast forward to 2024, Florida was ranked inside the top 5 in every preseason poll, and the team was expected to fly back to Omaha.
Despite lofty preseason expectations, the task of returning to the MCWS seemed brutally challenging for the Gators. But what happened 12, six or even four weeks ago doesn’t matter. Florida is getting hot at the right time, and it rode its momentum through the postseason into Omaha with a chance to avenge a heartbreaking loss in the 2023 national championship.
Texas A&M brings an impressive record of 49-13 on the season. However, two of its losses came at the hands of the Gators in a three-game home set at Condron Ballpark.
Aggies left-handed sophomore pitcher Justin Lamkin will get the start on the mound after not starting a game in A&M’s regional or super regional. The southpaw has a 2-2 record with 71 strikeouts while boasting 5.73 ERA on the season.
The Aggies have dangerous hitters up and down their lineup with five starters posting a batting average above .300. Sophomore right fielder Jace LaViolette leads the way with a team-high 28 home runs this season and 71 RBI.
Florida’s freshman pitcher Liam Peterson will have his hands full in what will be the biggest start of his collegiate career on a massive stage. It will be crucial for the freshman to settle his nerves in the early going and produce a quality start much like he has in the latter stretch of the Gators’ season.
Peterson will be challenged by multiple A&M’s offensive threats.
Senior catcher Jackson Appel is the projected leadoff hitter for the Aggies and raked for a .330 batting average this season with 70 total hits.
The Gators will have to pull off an upset over A&M to position themselves in the winner’s bracket of the MCWS.
The Aggies hold the edge over UF in team batting average, runs, hits and home runs. However, the biggest advantage Texas A&M may hold over Florida is on the bump.
The A&M pitching staff shoved for a 3.94 ERA this year compared to the Gators’ 6.16 ERA. But the Gators’ bats have been electric as of late coming off a nine-run and 12-run outing at the dish in the Clemson Super Regional.
Florida will take on Texas A&M today in its first game of the MCWS at Charles Schwab Field. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. EST in Omaha, Nebraska.
Contact Max Tucker at mtucker@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Max_Tuckr1.
Max Tucker is a junior transfer student at UF. After obtaining his A.A. in Journalism from Santa Fe College in 2023, he chose further his education at Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. Max is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a specialization in sports and media. He enjoys golfing and going to the beach with his friends in his free time.
