To get back to the College World Series for the first time since 1997, the Auburn Tigers had to knock off the defending champion Florida Gators.
Not only were they not able to do it, but the way the Tigers went about losing 3-2 is downright painful.
In the fourth inning, with the scored tied at one run apiece, Auburn pitcher Andrew Mitchell was distracted by Florida baserunner Nick Horvath falling down between first and second base, allowing his teammate Blake Reese to steal home from third.
HE STOLE HOME.
IN A TIE BALLGAME.
Holy @GatorsBB. ? pic.twitter.com/RGeewmkK2f
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 12, 2018
With the Gators then up a run, Auburn was able to come back and tie the game at 2-2, where the score remained until outfielder Austin Langworthy stepped to the plate in extra innings.
Leading off the bottom of the 11th, Langworthy drilled a pitch to deep right field that Auburn outfielder Steven Williams had a chance to catch. However, when Williams tried to make a leaping catch at the wall, the ball hit the top of his glove and went over the fence.
“It won’t define him,” Auburn head coach Butch Thompson said of Williams. “It will be part of his journey.”
Obviously the most fitting way to send the No. 1 seed into the final #CWS spot! ?
For the 1️⃣2️⃣th time in program history, @GatorsBB is headed to the College World Series! pic.twitter.com/Lnt38ZojTE
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 12, 2018
Langworthy’s walk-off sent the Gators to the College World Series for the fourth consecutive year and the seventh time in the last nine years. The Gators won the first national title in program history last season.
The College World Series begins Saturday at TD Ameritrade Park.
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