Florida versus Florida State. The Chomp versus the Chop. Steve Spurrier versus Bobby Bowden.
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It's a rivalry like no other in the state of Florida. Every time the Gators and Seminoles square off, regardless of the sport, fans are always gifted with an exciting and heated game.
On Tuesday night at Florida Ballpark in Gainesville, the Gators crushed the 'Noles' spirits on an awesome walk-off home run in extra innings.
Kendrick Calilao's Walk-Off HR Beats FSU
KENDRICK CALLED GAME 🗣🗣🗣
💻 https://t.co/C9YKQhEFoj pic.twitter.com/MpKhsxe0eH
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 14, 2021
RELATED: Ali Gardiner's Heroic Grand Slam Sent Florida to WCWS Final
In a game that featured the same amount of errors as it did hits (7), the Gators found a way to win.
With the scored tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the 10th inning, Florida outfielder Kendrick Calilao blasted a 1-0 offering from FSU pitcher Clayton Kwiatkowski over the left field wall to end it and send the Seminoles home as losers.
Calilao couldn't help but smile as he sprinted around the bases and sent fans into a frenzy. He was mobbed at home plate by teammates and even ripped off his jersey during the celebration.
Hitting a walk-off home run against your rival? Yeah, I'd say that calls for a shirtless celebration.
WALK OFF!!!! #GATORS WIN!!!
KENDRICK CALILAO DELIVERS THE GAME WINNING HOMER AND FLORIDA BEATS FSU 3-2 IN EXTRA INNINGS!!! pic.twitter.com/HKuNJMMP5Z
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) April 14, 2021
Woke up this morning like...#GoGators pic.twitter.com/aPfvEoSKyQ
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 14, 2021
Calilao isn't an everyday starter. He's started just nine and played in 19 of Florida's 33 games. That made Tuesday night's heroics all the more better.
"Good things happen to good people and he's certainly put himself in a position to be successful tonight with all of the work that he's been doing prior to tonight," UF head coach Kevin O'Sullivan said afterward. "I'm really, really, really happy for him. He deserved a moment like that."
The Gators have won 12 of their last 14 matchups against Florida State, so it's official: they own the Sunshine State.
Calilao's bomb improved Florida to 22-11 this season. If they want to earn a trip to Omaha later this year, they're gonna need big hits like this one.
