Much like they did to Texas A&M about 24 hours earlier, fifth-seeded UF jumped on Kentucky, the tourney’s No. 4 seed, in the first inning, got the Pressly Stadium faithful instantly into the game, and rolled to an impressive 9-3 quarterfinal-round victory Thursday that moved the 12th-ranked Gators (43-15) in Friday night’s semifinals to face league regular-season champ, tourney top-seed and fourth-ranked Arkansas (42-9).
“Same as last night. I thought our our crowd did a really nice job, was really energetic before the game even started,” Walton said. “It’s a lot more fun to play in an atmosphere like that. It’s obviously not easy to do and be consistent with that, but, man, it sure is nice on the field to hear that roar and the cheers to feel the dugout’s intensity grow whenever the fans in the stands get after it.”
The home team, of course, did its part. Not in a small way, either.
Walton believes the Gators found a little something extra about themselves back on April 30 in their 2-1 extra-inning win at LSU, courtesy of a homer from Cheyenne Lindsey in the ninth. There has been an air of late-season confidence that has carried over into the early postseason. It was there from the jump in Wednesday’s second-round win, and erupted against the Wildcats (35-17) with one of the best collective versions of this UF squad in weeks.
“Playing in front of Gator Nation is just huge,” junior shortstop Skylar Wallace said.