Florida vs. Kentucky baseball final score, results: Seven-run inning sends Gators to semifinals of M

The Gators chomp on. A seven-run first inning was all Florida needed to eliminate Kentucky in a 15-4 win and advance to the semifinals of the College World Series where it will face Texas A&M.

Despite the Wildcats getting a 1-0 lead, Brody Donay's grand slam gave the Gators the lead they would never lose. He finished with two homers, including one in the fifth. But it's Jac Caglianone's run that Florida will remember. A projected top pick in the MBL Draft, the standout sent it to the bleachers in the sixth to officially become the program's all-time scoring leader with 75 career runs.

Pierce Coppola led the way on the mound, recording nine strikeouts through five innings.

While the Gators' pitching was efficient, it was the opposite for Kentucky. It tied MCWS history by using eight pitchers throughout the game. Together, they threw 15 strikeouts and hit batters three times.

It wasn't the way the Wildcats wanted to go out in their first MCWS appearance.

MORE: Watch the College World Series live with Fubo (free trial)

Still, an SEC team is guaranteed to make it to the championship. The Gators will face the Aggies Wednesday night in a must-win semifinal game. Should they get a victory, the two will face off tomorrow in a win-or-go home finale. 

The Sporting News has you covered on scores, updates, and highlights from Kentucky vs. Florida at the 2024 College World Series.

MORE: Scores, schedule for 2024 College World Series

Kentucky vs. Florida baseball final score

Kentucky vs. Florida live updates, highlights from College World Series

(All times Eastern)

2:29 p.m. – That'll do it. Florida advances to see Texas A&M in the semifinals. The Wildcats head back to Lexington.

2:23 p.m. End of eighth – Cleaver retires all three batters. The Wildcats need a miraculous 11 runs at the top of the ninth to stay alive.

2:16 p.m. – Travis Smith's time on the mound comes to an end as Ben Cleaver comes in at the bottom of the eighth. 

2:06 p.m. End of seventh – Kentucky holds the Gators scoreless in the seventh. Only two innings remain.

2:00 p.m. End top of seventh – Despite getting one on base, Kentucky fails to score once again.

1:49 p.m. Florida scoring play – Going out with a bang. Caglianone sends one to the bleachers to break the Gators' all-time homerun record with 75. Kentucky 4, Florida 15

THE GATOR HOME RUN KING 👑🐊#GoGators // 📺ESPN pic.twitter.com/bbhFGQCz44

1:45 p.m. – Johnny Hummel becomes Kentucky sixth pitcher of the afternoon.

1:43 p.m. End top of sixth – Jake Clemente allows nothing from the Cats in the sixth. They trail by 10.

1:35 p.m. End of fifth – Thomas strikes out looking to end Florida's run in the fifth.

1:34 p.m. Florida scoring play – No letting up for the Gators. Wilson send sit to right field for two more runs. Kentucky 4, Florida 14

Wilson adds a pair! ✌️#GoGators // 📺ESPN pic.twitter.com/S6ICeioEbB

1:32 p.m. Florida scoring play – Heyman blasts it down the third base line for a double. Shelnut makes it home for another Florida run. Kentucky 4, Florida 12

1:31 p.m. – Pitcher Ryan Hagenow makes his debut in the hopes of closing out the game for Kentucky.

1:23 p.m. Florida scoring play – The Shelnut bunt is successful. He safely makes it a single while getting Caglianone to home. Kentucky 4, Florida 11

BUNT BRINGS RUNNER HOME 🏠#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/e0L9NOJoYQ

1:15 p.m. – Jackson Nove enters to replace Hogan on the mound.

1:14 p.m. Florida scoring play – Florida isn't letting Kentucky back into this one. Donay sends it over the left field wall for his second homerun. Kentucky 4, Florida 10

.@BrodyDonay knew it was GONE 💣😮‍💨#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/pcHBi5DSMA

1:10 p.m. End top of fifth – Nicholson can't keep the momentum and strikes out swinging. Kentucky has four more innings to try to tie with the Gators.

1:08 p.m. Kentucky scoring play – The Wildcats bite back! Pitre sends one over the centerfield wall for a two-run homerun. Kentucky cuts its deficit to five. Kentucky 5, Florida 9

ALLEZZZZZZ ⚜️🇨🇦

💻https://t.co/GCuLODpfXk (@ESPN)#WeAreUK x #MCWS pic.twitter.com/Hg1bfJ43mP

1:00 p.m. – While Florida couldn't get the bats going in the fourth, Coppola continues his dominance from the mound. He gets his eight strikeout, fourth consecutive, against the first two batters of the inning.

12:46 p.m. End top of fourth– McCarthy nearly sends one over the wall, but it's just narrowly fouled. Coppola gets him out for his sixth strikeout of the afternoon.

12:40 p.m. Kentucky scoring play – Lopez singles to center field, and Pitre makes it home from second. A small but crucial score for the Wildcats. Kentucky 2, Florida 9

12:35 p.m. End of third – Hogan gets the Wildcats out of the jam with a strikeout of Shelnut.

12:31 p.m. Florida scoring play – Kurland pops it up to center field, but no one is there. Two runners make it home, and while Kurland is originally called out at second, the call is overturned and rules him safe. The Gators continue at the plate with two on and two outs. Kentucky 1, Florida 9

Cade drives in 2 then uses a swim move to slide in safely! 🏊‍♂️#GoGators // 📺ESPN pic.twitter.com/lQUJPjmkxW

12:28 p.m. – Kentucky intentionally walks Caglianone to load the bases with just two outs.

12:23 p.m. – Robert Hogan enters, becoming the Wildcats' third pitcher this game.

12:19 p.m. – The first pitch to Florida in the third hits Wilson, the third hit by pitch from Kentucky.

12:10 p.m. End top of third – An usual double-play ends the inning. Waldschmidt grounds to third, McCoy is out at second, but interference is called as Florida's throw to first bounces off McCoy's helmet.

Double play off the helmet 😮

After review, the base runner was ruled out for interference. pic.twitter.com/yMXlKx9IZ4

12:02 p.m. End of second – O'Brien strikes out two of batters before a popout gets the third strike. The Wildcats send Florida back to the dugout, this time with no scoring in the inning. 

11:49 a.m. End top of second – Three up, three out. Kentucky fails to put a runner on base in the second.

11:43 a.m. End of first – A swing and a miss for Kurland makes it three outs, but the damage is done. The Wildcats have a lot to make up.

11:38 a.m. Florida scoring play – Gators grand slam! Donay sends it over the right field wall to clear the bases. Florida adds some cushion to its lead in the first. Kentucky 1, Florida 7

4-RUN BRO💣#GoGators // 📺ESPN pic.twitter.com/QlOGiOuOzo

11:32 a.m. – Another HBP and Kentucky is making the switch on the mound. Cameron O'Brien enters.

11:28 a.m. Florida scoring play – A single by Heyman sends two home. It's a two-run lead for the Gators in the first. Kentucky 1, Florida 3

11:26 a.m. Florida scoring play – It's all tied up! Shelton hits a double down the line, sending Caglianone home and Kurland to third. Kentucky 1, Florida 1

11:23 a.m. – Kurland is hit by a pitch in the shoulder. That's two on base, no outs for the Gators after a handful of mistakes from Kentucky.

11:20 a.m. – Leading off for the first time in your career? No problem for Caglianone. He gets a single to right field but advances to second on an error.

11:16 a.m. End top first – This time, Florida gets the tag on Lopez as he tries to steal second. The Gators get out of the jam.

11:15 a.m. Kentucky scoring play – Lopez singles to to right center, and Waldschmidt makes it home get the Wildcats on the board in the first. Kentucky 1, Florida 0

THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM

💻https://t.co/GCuLODpfXk (@ESPN)#WeAreUK x #MCWS | @nick34lopez pic.twitter.com/zo0JeYtE3h

11:14 a.m. – Waldschmidt safely steals second thanks to a missed throw by Caglianone.

11:08 a.m. – We're off. Kentucky's Ryan Waldschmidt gets the first chance to strike, and he's walked.

10:10 a.m. – The Wildcats are putting Dominic Niman on the mound, and for Florida, it's Pierce Coppola. Here's how the rest of the teams will lineup.

Kentucky

• LF Ryan Wladschmidt
• 2B Emilien Pitre
• 1B Ryan Nicholson
• DH Nick Lopez
• 3B Mitchell Daly
• C Devin Burkes
• CF Nolan McCarthy
• RF James McCoy
• SS Grant Smith

Florida

FLORIDA LINEUP

• 1B Jac Caglianone
• 2B Cade Kurland
• LF Tyler Shelnut
• SS Colby Shelton
• C Luke Heyman
• RF Ashton Wilson
• 3B Dale Thomas
• DH Brody Donay
• CF Michael Robertson

9:50 a.m. – It all comes down to this. Winner advances to the semifinals against Texas A&M, loser heads home.

How to watch Kentucky vs. Texas A&M

• Start time: 11 a.m. ET
• TV channel: ESPN
• Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo

Kentucky vs. Florida will be live on ESPN at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, June 19. The game was postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday due to thunderstorms in Omaha.

Those looking to stream the game can watch on ESPN+ or on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

College World Series schedule

Friday, June 14

Saturday, June 15

Sunday, June 16

Monday, June 17

Tuesday, June 18

Wednesday, June 19

Thursday, June 20

*If necessary 

Saturday, June 22

Sunday, June 23

Monday, June 24

*If necessary

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