Gators bound for CWS after shutout of South Carolina

Florida is bound for the College World Series following a five-year absence and amid the program’s winningest season since the Gators’ 2017 national title run.

Coach Kevin O’Sullivan‘s squad rode another stellar postseason pitching performance from Hurston Waldrep to a 4-0 win Saturday against South Carolina to sweep the best-of-three Gainesville Super Regional and earn a trip to Omaha for the CWS.

“I’m very excited,” junior shortstop Josh Rivera said. “I’ve been here a long time … and all the struggles we’ve been through as a team in the past years it feels amazing to finally say we’re going to Omaha.”

As a school-record crowd of 8,851 looked on at Condron Ballpark, including dozens of family visiting from his Thomasville, Ga., home, Waldrep kept the Gamecocks guessing. The junior right-hander (9-3) yielded just 3 hits and 2 walks in 8 innings while striking out 13, including back-to-back batters to end the eighth.

“He was incredible,” South Carolina coach Mark Kingston said. “He would have beaten anyone in the country. He was on a mission. We ran into a buzzsaw.

“We had no answers.”

Waldrep, a top-20 MLB draft prospect, wanted to finish out the game despite having thrown 109 pitches through eight innings.

“I could have stayed out there and thrown another 100 pitches with the adrenaline,” he joked.

Prior to the game, Waldrep didn’t know how long he even would last against the Gamecocks (42-20) after a spotty bullpen session following another day with a weather delay of 2:36.

“That was probably one of the worst bullpens I’ve ever thrown in my life,” he said. “I actually ended it early. I guess the rain delay kind of had me a little messed up mentally. Just kind of trying to get out of that laying down, lazy, cooped-up mode to back in game-time mode.

“As soon as I stepped on the mound I knew it was going to be a good day. I just didn’t know that good a day.”

Waldrep left the game after South Carolina shortstop Braylen Wimmer beat out an infield single. The 21-year-old Georgian received an ovation and soon plenty of hugs from the Waldrep clan.

“It means a lot to me,” he said. “Being able to be able to play for them and see my family, my grandparents, they haven’t been able to make it so many games. For them to be here and to play in front of them and see them, that’s awesome.”

No Gator has been more impressive than Waldrep the past week. He recorded 12 strikeouts during last Sunday’s 8-2 win against UConn, the first of three straight wins by Florida to advance from the NCAA regionals after a June 3 loss to Texas Tech.

The South Carolina performance, though, was next level.

“That was the best stuff he had all year,” catcher BT Riopelle said. “He put his complete arsenal on display.”

The Gators (50-15) now will open CWS play Friday against the winner of Sunday’s Virginia-Duke game. O’Sullivan’s first 50-win team since the 2017 College World Series champion could be the team to beat due to its offensive firepower and pitching depth.

“Getting to Omaha is goal No. 1,” O’Sullivan said. “We have a team that potentially can do some special things in Omaha.”

Waldrep’s dominant performance followed up a gritty effort by No. 1 starter Brandon Sproat during Friday night’s 5-4 come-from-behind win for the Gators. South Carolina scored 3 runs on 7 hits in 2 innings against Sproat but managed just 2 more hits and struck out 7 times the next four innings.

A night after slugging 3 home runs, the Gators relied on timely hitting.

A 2-run double by third baseman Colby Halter in the top of the second inning ultimately provided the Gators enough offense. Riopelle drew a walk off starter Jack Mahoney and advanced to second on a single by designated hitter Luke Heyman. Each advanced on a groundout by right fielder Tyler Shelnut, and then scored on a Halter’s hit down the right-field line.

“You want to see an Omaha lineup,” Mahoney said of the Gators. “You can’t throw you ‘B’ stuff out there. You have to have your ‘A-plus’ stuff.”

The Gators added another run in the fifth when Rivera drove in outfielder Wyatt Langford with a single to left field. A sacrifice fly in the eighth by Halter, the team’s No. 7 hitter, scored Riopelle for the final margin, putting an end to the Florida’s recent postseason futility.

“It’s been tough in the past years,” Rivera said. “We’ve had some heartbreaks. It’s amazing to see what this team has done.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com