The Florida Gators are going to the College World Series final, and the team owes a big thanks to center fielder Michael Robertson for making that happen.
Robertson made a spectacular catch in the bottom of the ninth for the final out to preserve a 3-2 win and clinch the CWS semifinal over the TCU Horned Frogs.
The Gators (53-15) will face the winner of Wednesday night’s No. 1 Wake Forest vs. No. 5 LSU matchup in the championship series. The best-of-three final begins June 24.
Florida’s win could have had a different outcome if not for Robertson’s heroics. With the Gators nursing that one-run lead in the ninth, TCU slugger Brayden Taylor hit a deep drive to left center. Robertson turned and chased at full speed, catching the ball just as he crashed into the outfield wall.
What a catch by Michael Robertson to secure a Florida win over TCU! ⚾️🐊 #MCWS pic.twitter.com/HrGbTNmzqR
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) June 21, 2023
Robertson also scored the winning run in the top of the ninth on an RBI single by Cade Kurland.
All baseball fans appreciate a spectacular catch, but the stakes involved in this play cranked it up a notch or two in the “Great Catch” ratings.
WHAT A CATCH TO SEND THE GATORS TO THE FINALS 🐊
Florida’s Michael Robertson makes a tough grab at the wall for the final out of the game.
They’re headed to the #MCWS finals for the fourth time in program history.
🎥 @GatorsBB | @NCAABaseball pic.twitter.com/S8IHbc3jGG
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) June 21, 2023
Wow! What a catch!!
— RJ Fuhr (@FuhrRj) June 21, 2023
😅😅😅😅😅 FINAL OUT 😅😅😅😅😅
Hoo boy. Mikey Robertson saves the day for the #Gators with a game-saving catch by any metric, sending (2) Florida into the #CWS Championship Series.pic.twitter.com/bll3xv4RXa
— OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news (@onlygators) June 21, 2023
THE FLORIDA GATORS ARE IN THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES FINAL!!!!!! 🐊🐊🐊
MICHAEL ROBERTSON MAKES AN INSANE CATCH TO END IT!!!!! OH MY GOD! pic.twitter.com/KafLvbJP6m
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) June 21, 2023
MICHAEL ROBERTSON WITH THE CATCH OF THE YEAR! The Florida Gators are going to the College World Series Championship! #CWS
Final. Florida 3 TCU 2.
— Jake Rongholt WCJB (@BothSidesSports) June 21, 2023
OH MY GOD WHAT A CATCH
— . (@Dougrptt) June 21, 2023
[Photo Credit: ESPN]
