In a nail-biting College World Series game, the Florida Gators managed to fend off a late surge by the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, securing a 5-4 victory. The game marked the fifth one-run decision in the first six games of the series, a first in CWS history.

Florida's Hurston Waldrep delivered a dominant performance, striking out 12 batters over six innings. The Gators offense provided early support with three home runs in the first four innings, building a seemingly comfortable 4-run lead. Ty Evans, Josh Rivera, and Luke Heyman all went deep, with Evans' home run setting a new single-season record for the Gators.

However, Oral Roberts refused to go down quietly. Matt Hogan's inside-the-park home run in the seventh inning ignited the Golden Eagles' comeback attempt. Hogan's hustle play capitalized on a misplayed ball by Florida's center fielder, bringing ORU within two runs.

The tension escalated in the eighth inning when Florida closer Brandon Neely was forced out of the game due to a mound visit violation. With the bases loaded, the Gators turned to Cade Fisher, who managed to escape the jam with a flyout. Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan took responsibility for the violation, acknowledging the importance of adhering to the rules.

Oral Roberts continued to threaten in the ninth, scoring on a groundout and putting runners on the corners with two outs. However, Jacob Godman's flyout sealed the victory for Florida, sending the Gators to the Bracket 1 final. They now await the winner of the elimination game between Oral Roberts and TCU.

While Waldrep's performance was ultimately the deciding factor, Oral Roberts demonstrated their resilience and ability to compete with a top-ranked opponent. The Golden Eagles, despite being the first No. 4 regional seed since 2012 to reach the CWS, proved they belong on the big stage.

ORU starter Harley Gollert struggled, giving up three home runs and five runs overall before being pulled in the third inning. Gollert's recent struggles continued into the CWS, having given up seven home runs in just over eight innings during the NCAA Tournament.