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JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press Florida players and coaches celebrate on the field after defeating South Carolina in the Gainesville Super Regional game on Saturday.
The Florida Gators begin their quest for a second national title this Friday against Virginia in their College World Series opener in Omaha, Nebraska.
Here’s a look at both teams before Friday’s contest, which is scheduled for 7 p.m.
FLORIDA (50-15)
Coach: Kevin O’Sullivan (677-317 in 16 years at Florida).
Road to Omaha: Won Gainesville Regional: beat Florida A&M 3-0, lost to Texas Tech 5-4, beat UConn 8-2, beat Texas Tech 7-1, beat Texas Tech 6-0. Won Gainesville Super Regional: beat South Carolina 5-4, beat South Carolina 4-0.
2023 record vs. CWS teams: 2-1 (vs. Tennessee).
Last CWS appearance: 2018.
All-time record in CWS: 21-24 in 12 appearances (won national title in 2017).
Meet the Gators: C BT Riopelle (.250, 16 HRs, 65 RBIs), 1B Jac Caglianone (.336, 31, 84) or Luke Heyman (.327, 11, 36), 2B Cade Curland (.300, 16, 46), SS Josh Rivera (.362, 17, 68), 3B Colby Halter (.248, 3, 28) or Dale Thomas (.244, 1, 4), LF Wyatt Langford (.373, 18, 48), CF Michael Robertson (.232, 1, 19), RF Tyler Shelnut (.285, 7, 27), DH Caglianone or Heyman. Starting rotation: RHP Brandon Sproat (8-3, 4.69 ERA), RHP Hurston Waldrep (9-3, 4.15), LHP Caglianone (7-3, 3.78). Relievers: RHP Brandon Neely (0-2, 3.66, 13 saves), LHP Cade Fisher (6-0, 3.02), RHP Ryan Slater (10-1, 3.51), LHP Philip Abner (3-0, 3.16), RHP Nick Ficarrotta (0-0, 5.45), RHP Tyler Nesbitt (1-0, 2.95).
Short hops: The Gators have their seventh 50-win season, with five coming under O’Sullivan. ... Waldrep has 25 strikeouts in 15 innings in two NCAA Tournament starts. He struck out nine of the final 14 batters he faced in the super regional-clinching win over South Carolina. ... Langford has one error in 120 games he’s played in the field. ... Gators have 129 homers, three off the school record set in 1998.
Quotable: “Getting to Omaha is goal No. 1, but we feel like we have a team that can potentially do some special things in Omaha.” — O’Sullivan.
VIRGINIA (50-13)
Coach: Brian O’Connor (839-351-2 in 20 years at Virginia).
Road to Omaha: Won Charlottesville Regional: beat Army 15-1, beat East Carolina 2-1, beat East Carolina 8-3. Won Charlottesville Super Regional: lost to Duke 5-4, beat Duke 14-4, beat Duke 12-2.
2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.
Last CWS appearance: 2021.
All-time record in CWS: 13-10 in five appearances (won national title in 2015).
Meet the Cavaliers: C Kyle Teel (.418, 13 HRs, 69 RBIs), 1B Ethan Anderson (.377, 14, 65), 2B Henry Godbout (.291, 3, 38), SS Griff O’Ferrall (.398, 1, 40), 3B Jake Gelof (.331, 23, 89), LF Harrison Didawick (.247, 4, 33) or Colin Tuft (.234, 1, 17), CF Ethan O’Donnell (.356, 13, 55), RF Casey Saucke (.298, 4, 48), DH Anthony Stephan (.338, 5, 34). Starting rotation: RHP Nick Parker (8-0, 3.81 ERA), LHP Connelly Early (12-2, 3.06), RHP Brian Edgington (9-3, 3.47). Relievers: RHP Jack O’Connor (6-3, 3.88), RHP Jay Woolfolk (2-1, 3.00, 9 saves), LHP Evan Blanco (1-0, 2.70), RHP Cullen McKay (0-0, 3.78), RHP Chase Hungate (3-0, 5.76), LHP Jake Berry (0-4, 3.33), LHP Angelo Tonas (4-0, 2.25), RHP Kevin Jaxel (2-0, 3.75).
Short hops: Cavaliers have won 15 of past 16 games. ... Gelof’s 23 homers are a program single-season record. ... Edgington’s complete game in the super-regional clincher was Virginia’s first in the NCAA Tournament since 2014. ... Gelof and Teel were freshman starters on the 2021 CWS team. ... Brian O’Connor grew up across the Missouri River from Omaha in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and he has participated in the CWS as a pitcher (1991 Creighton), assistant (2002 Notre Dame) and head coach.
Quotable: “Getting to Omaha is very, very difficult to do. It takes a lot of things. It takes a lot more than just talent, and that’s why I’m so proud of these players that wear our uniform.” — Brian O’Connor.