Men’s College World Series: Cam Cannarella channels Willie Mays

Clemson’s baseball season ended on Sunday.

But it was not for lack of making an attempt on the a part of middle fielder Cam Cannarella.

Cannarella performed a starring position in some of the thrilling video games in Men’s College World Series Super Regionals historical past. But it was the Florida Gators who punched their ticket to Omaha for the second-straight season with an additional innings, 11-10 win over the Clemson Tigers.

Cannarella and the Tigers trailed the Florida Gators 9-6 within the high of the ninth inning in a win-or-go-home contest. But Cannarella got here to the plate representing the tying run with one out and runners on first and second.

In a flash, the sport was tied:

Cannarella launched a no-doubt dwelling run to proper area, clearing all the things and tying the sport at 9-9.

But the middle fielder was not achieved.

Florida had an opportunity to punch their ticket to Omaha within the backside of the tenth inning, because the Gators had runners at first and second. Ashton Wilson, the third hitter within the Florida lineup, got here to the plate with an opportunity to ship the Tigers followers dwelling sad.

With the runner on second representing the successful run, Clemson introduced the outfield in, hoping to chop down that successful run on the plate on any grounder that received by the infield. But Wilson launched a deep fly ball to middle area that seemed to recover from Cannarella’s head, given his pre-pitch alignment.

Somehow, a way, Cannarella received to the ball:

Shades of Willie Mays within the 1954 World Series:

Cannarella’s unbelievable catch not solely ended the inning, nevertheless it prolonged Clemson’s season.

Clemson took the lead within the high of the thirteenth inning, on this solo dwelling run from proper fielder Alden Mathes:

The second was not with out some controversy, as Mathes was then ejected by the umpiring crew for the post-homer bat spike. That introduced out head coach Erik Bakich to debate the decision with the crew, and shortly Bakich too was run from the sport, however earlier than leaving took a second to pump up the Tiger devoted:

The Gators nonetheless had an opportunity within the backside of the thirteenth, as they put the primary two batters on as Luke Heyman singled to left area after which Tyler Shelnut laced a single to left-center. Dale Thomas laid down an ideal sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, bringing catcher Brody Donay to the dish.

Clemson deliberately walked Donay — who had already homered within the recreation — to load the bases and arrange the potential power play across the diamond. That introduced Michael Robertson to the plate with the bases loaded, a hitter who was 0-7 on the season with the luggage full.

Make that 1-8.

Robertson drilled a line drive to left middle, which introduced dwelling a pair of runs, and punched Florida’s ticket to Omaha:

For the Gators, the second-straight journey to Omaha comes close to the top of what has been an uphill struggle for Florida. The Gators completed with a 34-28 report within the common season, that included only a 13-17 report in SEC play. But they nonetheless earned an invite to the Stillwater Regional because the third seed of the 4 groups, however Florida booked a visit to the Super Regionals by successful down in Stillwater.

Then they went on the street once more going through a Tigers staff that was seeded sixth total, and gained two straight video games to go again to Omaha.

Overcoming some heroics from Cannarella within the course of.