Cade Kurland thought he’d done it.
After being delayed more than four hours by inclement weather in the Omaha area, the opening game of the 2024 Men’s College World Series between Florida and Texas A&M finally got underway just after 11 p.m. local time. The Aggies added two runs in the second inning and one in the third to build a 3-0 lead and then led 3-2 heading into the top of the ninth.
But the Gators weren’t going to go quietly. Florida scored two runs in the top of the seventh to cut the Aggies’ lead to 3-2, which was the score when the Gators came to bat in the top of the ninth. After Brody Donay struck out in the top of the ninth, center fielder Michael Robertson (Florida’s hero in the 2023 MCWS double-elimination round) singled to send Carland home to score the winning run.
With the count at 1-1, Kurland hit a backdoor curveball to his right and swung as hard as he could.
That was almost enough:
Right fielder Jace Laviolette thought the hit would score two runs, but he used his 6-foot-6 frame to scale the right-field wall and block Kurland’s game-winning home run.
It surprised the Florida second baseman.
Laviolette may have had a quiet night at the plate, going 0-for-2 with two walks, but he still posted impressive numbers for the Aggies this season, batting .311/.453/.751 with 28 home runs.
And you can still flash a bit of leather when you want.
