Braving long rain delays, and comeback after comeback by the N.C. State Wolfpack, the Florida Gators were finally able to clinch a trip to the College World Series with a 9-8 win in 10 innings.
With the score 0-0 in the top of the third, rain moved into Gainesville, causing a rain delay of nearly three hours. After the skys cleared, N.C. State opened the scoring in the bottom of the third when Brett Austin and Matt Bergquist came through with a pair of doubles.
Florida appeared to have broken the game open with a four-run fourth inning, highlighted by clutch hitting and an error by N.C. State leading to the fourth run.
The Wolfpack would nod the game up with two in the bottom half of the fourth and then one more in the fifth. What followed in innings eighth through 10 could be considered one of the wildest stretches in some time. With N.C. State up 5-4 in the top of the eighth, Florida took the lead back with a two-run inning highlighted with a Brian Johnson home run.
N.C. State would answer with one in the bottom of the eighth when Jake Fincher homered to make the score 6-6. Florida appeared to be in the driver's seat yet again, going up 7-6 in the ninth, however relief pitcher Austin Maddox could not shut the door in the bottom half. Danny Canella's RBI single tied the game at 7-7 and sent it to extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, Florida scored two runs on a Daniel Pigot solo home run and then a Josh Tobias RBI single. N.C. State did their best to rally yet again, putting up one run in the bottom of the 10th and putting the tying run in scoring position, but Keenan Kish was finally able to slam the door on the Wolfpack, ensuring that the Gators would be heading to Omaha.
For a complete bracket, visit NCAA.com. For more on Florida baseball, head to Alligator Army, SB Nation's Florida Gators blog. Check out Backing The Pack for more on N.C. State.