All Omaha Gravy For Florida, Which Survived Poor Season, Clemson, And 1 Of Greatest Catches Ever

Florida had just again upset No. 3 national seed Clemson, 11-10, in an emotionally-charged, ejection-filled, 13-inning, five-hour marathon at Clemson, South Carolina, Sunday to reach the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.

And Gators' coach Kevin O'Sullivan just sounded relieved to be beyond the .500 hover craft his team had been riding most of the season.

"We had put ourselves in a position where we needed to get over the .500 mark to qualify for the NCAA Tournament," O'Sullivan said. "And honestly, the last month of the year, we've been playing pretty much playoff baseball. Every game mattered. Every Tuesday game mattered."

Florida fell to 17-17 on April 13 after a 9-8 loss to South Carolina for its sixth straight loss. The Gators were still .500 at 21-21 on April 27 after a 6-5 loss at Arkansas, and 26-26 on May 16 after a 9-4 loss at Georgia. On May 21, Florida was still treading water at 28-27, following a 6-3 loss to Vanderbilt that eliminated it from the SEC Tournament in one game. But the Gators (13-17 in the SEC) still got in the NCAA Tournament the next week as their strength of schedule was No. 1 in the nation, and they were 9-9 (wow, .500 again) against the top SEC teams.

Florida players dog pile after upsetting No. 3 seed Clemson, 11-10, in 13 innings Sunday after a 10-7 win Saturday at Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, to clinch the best-of-three Super Regional. (Getty Images)

O'Sullivan is breathing easy now as his team is more games over .500 than it has been all season at 34-28, going into the CWS Saturday against No. 4 seed Texas A&M (49-13) at Charles Schwab Field (7 p.m., ESPN).

"Obviously, our backs have been up against the wall for what feels like the majority of the year," Florida sophomore center fielder Michael Robertson said Sunday. His bases-loaded double in the bottom of the 13th with one out scored two and walked the Gators off with the 11-10 win. "We're battled tested, and we're ready to go."

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Florida thought it had Clemson beaten in regulation Sunday at 9-6 with two outs in the top of the ninth. But Clemson's Cam Cannarella belted a three-run home run to tie the game 9-9, and the game would go into extra innings. 

Florida was about to win it in the bottom of the 10th when it put runners on first and second, and Ashton Wilson launched an apparent extra-bases drive with two outs. But Cannarella made a spectacular running, leaping catch in center field with his back to home plate to end the inning. It was reminiscent of New York Giants' center fielder Willie Mays' catch in game one of the World Series against Cleveland on Sept. 29, 1954, at the Polo Grounds in New York City. 

"Say hey, Willie Mays, kid," ESPN announcer Chris Burke shouted after Cannarella's catch. Mays' catch of a long drive by Cleveland's Vic Wertz also came with two runners on, but no outs of a 2-2 game in the top of the eighth. Mays' throw to the infield stopped any scoring, and the next two went out in order. The Giants won 5-2 in 10 innings and went on to win the World Series. Clemson will not.

"I was floored honestly," O'Sullivan, a Clemson assistant coach from 1999-2007 before getting the Florida job, said. "That was one of the best catches I've ever seen. I'm not quite sure I've seen a play like that in that situation. I was astounded, I mean honestly."

Clemson went up 10-9 in the top of the 13th on a solo home run by Alden Mathes, who spiked the bat in celebration. Umpires discussed his possible ejection, but decided to keep him in the game. Instead, they ejected Clemson coach Erik Bakich and Leggett, now a 70-year-old assistant, for berating them from the dugout and inciting the crowd as the umpires considered Mathes' fate. 

Florida pitcher Jac Caglianone (left) and Clemson's Nolan Nawrocki get into a shoving match after a hard tag by Caglianone on the first base line in the second inning Sunday of Florida's win in the Super Regional at Clemson. (Getty Images)

All that happened after the tone for this game was set early. Clemson first baseman Jack Crighton was ejected in the top of the second inning when he ran over to a shoving match between Florida pitcher Jack Caglianone and Clemson's Nolan Nawrockie, who had collided on the first base line and had words.

"I spent nine years at Clemson, and I can't remember the electricity and the energy that was in the stadium the last two days," O'Sullivan said. "Us going through those struggles this season and having every game matter the last two to three weeks of the year probably helped toughen us up a little bit."

And now the rest is gravy for the Gators, who will be eating steaks in Omaha loose with a lot of house money and little pressure - the exact opposite of No. 1 seed Tennessee and coach Tony Vitello, who tend to tighten up this time of year. Florida could go 0-2 and still be well over .500. But they're ready for more.

"Whatever is thrown our way," Robertson said, "we're going to be prepared and ready to rock."