The Gators have come from behind to win 27 games this season, but it was their inability to protect a five-run lead that ended their season.
No. 10 UF (42-22) earned a national seed and hosted an NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2005, when it made its last College World Series appearance, but it was Southern Miss (40-24) that advanced to its first-ever CWS with a 7-6 victory Sunday when UF closer Billy Bullock couldn't hold a 6-4 lead with two innings to play.
"If you would have told me going into (Sunday) that we would have a two-run lead with six outs to go, and you have got Bullock rested and ready to go, I would have felt pretty good about it," UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan 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 strikeout and two singles later, the game was tied and the Eagles had runners on the corners with one out.
Right fielder Tyler Koelling chopped the ball up the middle and UF shortstop Mike Mooney picked it up, stepped on second, jumped over the runner and fired to freshman Preston Tucker at first base. The ball was just out of the left-hander's reach, and the Gators were unable to turn the inning-ending double play.
Heading into the top of the ninth, UF found itself in a familiar position, needing to score one run to extend the game.
"Whoever told me in the press conference (Saturday) that Florida won a lot of games coming back from behind, I wish they never would have told me that because it was absolutely nerve-racking those last three outs," the Southern Miss senior Ewing said.
Eagles closer Collin Cargill gave up a one-out single to Tucker, but Cargill got sophomore 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," 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. He announced that he will be retiring after this postseason 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," Ewing said.
The Golden Eagles chipped away at the five-run deficit as their bullpen shut down the Gators 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.
UF left seven runners on base, including five by Adams alone, and wasn't able to put Southern Miss away.
"I was waiting for a leadoff walk or a leadoff double or an error by someone to open up the gates for us," O'Sullivan said. "They just wouldn't give in, and I think you have to credit their bullpen."
Credit the Eagles for declining to pitch to Tucker for the majority of the contest as well.
After the freshman burned them for a solo home run in the first inning, Southern Miss intentionally walked Tucker in his next at-bat and walked him on four pitches in each of his next two at-bats.
Adams could not make Southern Miss pay from the cleanup spot in the order, driving in only one run despite coming to the plate twice with the bases loaded.
Even though they were unable to break the game wide open, the Gators seemed to seize control of the momentum in the fourth inning when Southern Miss cleanup hitter Corey Stevens was thrown out of the game after he collided with UF catcher Buddy Munroe at home plate. By rule, runners are required to slide when there is a play at the plate in college baseball.
Stevens was trying to score from third on a short fly ball to right field, but he was thrown out to end the inning, killing the momentum the Eagles built by scoring two runs and loading the bases.
UF freshman Nick Maronde made his first start since the Southeastern Conference Tournament, lasting three innings before turning the ball over to Davis, who gave up only one run in his 3.2 innings of work.
