:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/QYAGQS3OLZCNXCJEMC3FZGTSKQ.jpg "USF players celebrate following the final out of their 8-7 win Sunday against UCF in the American Athletic Conference tournament final in Clearwater.")
For the third time since 2015, USF’s quest for an NCAA baseball title will commence with a two-hour trek up Interstate 75.
The Bulls (28-27), who earned an NCAA Tournament berth by winning the American Athletic Conference tournament, learned Monday they’re a No. 4-seed in the four-team Gainesville Regional, where they open against top-seeded Florida (38-20) Friday at noon.
The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network. Ticket information can be found at this link.
The regional’s other two teams: Miami (32-19) and South Alabama. The winner of the double-elimination event advances to the best-of-three Super Regional, where a College World Series berth will be at stake.
USF, the only No. 6 seed to win the AAC tourney, is making its 14th NCAA appearance and first since 2018. It never has appeared in a Super Regional.
Other state schools in the 64-team NCAA field are Florida State (30-22), which will play in the Oxford, Miss., regional; and Jacksonville (16-32), which is headed to Columbia, S.C. The Dolphins won the Atlantic Sun tournament despite going 3-15 in league play in the regular season and winning only once in April.
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