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After securing a victory over NC State on Monday afternoon, the Florida Gators will take on Kentucky in yet another elimination game in the College World Series. The Wildcats are a familiar opponent for Kevin O’Sullivan, who holds a 28-23 record against Kentucky.

Gator Country provides three keys to victory for Florida.

Get an extended outing from Pierce Coppola

After battling injuries throughout his first two years at Florida, left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola returned to the diamond in 2024. The season hasn’t been pretty for Coppola, who holds a 9.16 ERA in seven starts while allowing opposing teams to hit .303 against him.

The New Jersey native is averaging just 2.2 innings a start and 3.1 innings over his last three. Florida will need more from the left hander vs Kentucky. Not just to increase their chances of beating the Wildcats, but to set Florida’s bullpen up for potentially two more elimination games.

The rain delay gives Florida’s bullpen another day of rest, but Kevin O’Sullivan does not want to keep going to his bullpen, Brandon Neely in particular, early in games. Pierce Coppola has a chance to keep that from happening with an extended start against Kentucky.

Coppola needs to be more efficient on the mound in order to do this as he’s averaging nearly 22 pitches an inning in 2024.

Coppola pitched against Kentucky on May 10th, where he fired 2.2 innings, allowing one run, four hits, and one walk while striking out three.