OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — It would have been hard to forecast a championship of any kind for Florida after it got swept in its Southeastern Conference opening series at Auburn back in March.
A month later, the Gators started a run to sharing the SEC regular-season title with LSU and, ultimately, their national championship-clinching win over the Tigers on Tuesday night at the College World Series.
“I think a lot of people counted us out,” pitcher Jackson Kowar said.
Florida lost three straight to start conference play for the first time since 2009. The Gators took two of three from LSU after the Auburn series but still were 5-6 in the SEC after losing the second game of a series against a Tennessee team that finished second to last in the league.