The Gators have come from behind to win 27 games this season, but it was their inability to protect a 6-1 lead that ended their season.
UF (42-22) earned a national seed and hosted an NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2005, when it made its last CWS appearance, but closer Billy Bullock and the Gators couldn't hold a 6-4 lead with two innings to play and Southern Miss (40-24) advanced to their first ever College World Series with a 7-6 victory Sunday.
"It seemed like they were on a mission," UF senior Brandon McArthur said.
Bullock relieved junior Tony Davis to start the eighth inning and put the first two runners on base after hitting Bo Davis and walking James Ewing.
A strike out and two singles later, the game was tied and the Eagles had runners on the corners with one out.
Right fielder Tyler Koelling chopped a ball up the middle and shortstop Mike Mooney picked up the ball, stepped on second, jumped over the runner and fired to freshman Preston Tucker at first. The ball was just out of the left-hander's reach, and Gators were unable to turn the inning-ending double play.
Southern Miss closer Collin Cargill gave up a single to Tucker in the ninth, but he got Josh Adams to hit into a double play to end UF's season.
"All year long we've been playing teams that kick the ball around a little bit, but they played great defense," UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan said.
Southern Miss advanced to the College World Series for the first time in program history in coach Corky Palmer's final year as he announced that he will be retiring after this post season run.
Before the season, Palmer told his team that he would be making the trip to Omaha at the end of the year, either as a spectator or fan.
"He said he was going with or without us," Southern Miss senior James Ewing said.
The Golden Eagles were able to chip away at the five-run deficit as their bullpen shut the Gators down over the last four innings.
Southern Miss starter Todd McInnis, Conference USA Pitcher of the Year, allowed six runs through the first three frames but managed to give his team two scoreless innings before handing the ball over to the bullpen.
Freshman Nick Maronde got the start for UF, but lasted only three innings before turning the ball over to Davis, who gave up only one run in his 3.2 innings of work.
