Florida left fielder Austin Langworthy is developing a knack for coming up with big hits in big spots.
None was bigger than Monday night for Langworthy.
The sophomore will forever go down in Florida postseason lore with his walk-off home run to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning that lifted UF to a 3-2, series-clinching win over Auburn in the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional. The line drive shot to right field, which caromed off the glove of Auburn's Steven Williams and over the fence, was Langworthy’s fourth home run of the season and fourth career postseason homer. It sent the defending national champion Gators to their fourth straight College World Series appearance and 12th trip to Omaha in school history.
“Right when I hit it I knew it had a chance,” Langworthy said. “I wasn’t sure I quite hit it high enough, but once I saw it go over the fence I was just ecstatic for myself and my teammates to get back to Omaha.”
Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan said he felt confident with Langworthy heading to the plate with the game in the balance.
“I’m not sure I’m expected him to hit a walk-off home run, but I thought he would give us a really good at-bat,” O’Sullivan said.
Replays showed the ball would have probably cleared the fence whether or not Williams had his glove on the ball. But Williams was in position to rob Langworthy of an extra-base hit for the third time in the game. Auburn center fielder Jay Estes made a diving catch in center field on a towering Langworthy fly ball to right center in the sixth inning, while left fielder Judd Ward caught a low line drive from Langworthy to end the eighth.
“In this game, everything comes back to you eventually,” Langworthy said. “A few bad at-bats and then you will have some good at-bats. That’s how this game works.”
Auburn players huddled around Williams in right field and consoled him following the game.
“He’s a really good ballplayer and he’s got a bright future ahead of him,” said Auburn reliever Davis Daniel, who pitched 5.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. “One play doesn’t define him.”
Langworthy’s home run ended more than three hours of tense baseball. A standing-room only crowd of 5,958 at McKethan Stadium watched the Gators (47-19) outlast an Auburn (43-23) team that made spectacular defensive plays throughout to keep the score tied in the late innings.
Florida junior closer Michael Byrne (3-1) pitched four scoreless innings to earn the win. Freshman righty Cody Greenhill (6-3) took the loss for Auburn, serving up a home run to Langworthy for the second straight game. Langworthy said he was hunting for a fastball and got one that he turned on.
“He’s a fastball heavy guy,” Langworthy said.
Florida will face Texas Tech in its first College World Series game Sunday night in Omaha, Neb. Following the game Monday, O’Sullivan hinted that senior catcher JJ Schwarz could be back for the game. Schwarz has been out the last three-plus weeks since suffering a broken hand May 18 at Mississippi State.
O’Sullivan has led Florida to seven of its 12 College World Series appearances.
“I appreciate it more because I know how hard it is to get there,” O’Sullivan said. “The parity in college baseball is second to none. You have to have good players, you have to stay healthy, there’s a sense of luck involved. It’s not easy.”