Baseball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Coach Kevin O'Sullivan's squad is undefeated at 5-0 heading into its series with Miami.

Sports

Youth isn’t to blame for UF's struggles

By Kyle Wood | Feb. 28, 2019

The Florida baseball team was expected to struggle early on because of the sheer number of freshmen and newcomers on the roster.

Tyler Dyson pitched 4.0 innings in the Gators' 5-2 loss to Miami on Friday night. The junior allowed six hits, two runs and walked one batter.

Sports

UF searching for consistency in series against Winthrop

By Evan Lepak | Feb. 28, 2019

The No. 7 Florida baseball team is back at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium this weekend for a three-game series with the Big South’s Winthrop Eagles, starting tonight at 6:30.

Sophomore Jordan Butler is growing comfortable with his role in the Gators pitching staff. "Whatever they need me to do, start midweeks, close it out, come in mid-game ... it doesn’t matter to me, just that we win the game,” he said.

Sports

Gators fall at home after Knights’ late rally

By Kyle Wood | Feb. 27, 2019

Central Florida’s offensive war of attrition bested Florida’s scoring spurts on Wednesday night.

UF outfielder Jud Fabian went 1 for 5 during Florida's 5-4 win over Jacksonville in extra innings. His only hit of the game came in the top of the 10th inning when he hit a double to right-center field.

Sports

Freshmen shine in extra innings of UF's road victory

By Kyle Wood | Feb. 26, 2019

Jud Fabian was 0 for 4 when he walked to the plate in the top of the 10th inning with fellow freshman Cory Acton standing on first base.

Sunday starter Jack Leftwich pitched five innings during Florida's 4-1 win over Miami at home, allowing five hits, one run and two walks. He struck out seven.

Sports

Gators clinch weekend series against Miami

By Evan Lepak | Feb. 24, 2019

Sunday was an occasion that deserved a celebration for UF freshman Kendrick Calilao.

Though he didn't record a hit or an RBI on Sunday, right fielder Wil Dalton was still responsible for the game-winning runs against Stony Brook.

Sports

Florida evens series against Miami with Saturday night win

By Evan Lepak | Feb. 24, 2019

Florida right fielder Wil Dalton dug into the batter's box with two outs and the bases loaded.

Junior Tyler Dyson pitched 3.1 innings, walked four and struck out four in the Gators 8-2 win over Long Beach State to open the season.

Sports

Florida falls to Miami, stretching losing streak to three

By Kyle Wood | Feb. 22, 2019

The bad habits continued, and the outcome remained the same.

Sophomore Austin Langworthy moved from the leadoff spot to No. 7 in the Gators' lineup Tuesday against North Florida. He finished 1-for-3 with a single and a run scored.

Sports

Florida limps into home series with undefeated Hurricanes

By Evan Lepak | Feb. 21, 2019

A promising beginning to the season for No. 5 Florida baseball has quickly evaporated as the Gators (3-2) dropped both of their mid-week games to inferior in-state programs.

Florida designated hitter Nelson Maldonado had one of UF's two hits in its 6-1 loss to USF on Tuesday in Tampa.

Sports

Gators’ first home loss comes to in-state rival

By Kyle Wood | Feb. 20, 2019

North Florida’s Chris Berry launched a ball off the scoreboard in the top of the ninth.

Sports

Gators' first loss comes on the road to the Bulls

By Kyle Wood | Feb. 19, 2019

Florida never led.

Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan went with redshirt freshman Hunter Ruth, who returned from Tommy John surgery, in relief of Sunday starter Jack Leftwich.

Sports

UF secures opening-series sweep behind strong outing from Leftwich

By Evan Lepak | Feb. 17, 2019

A warm February afternoon in Gainesville featured some chilly bats.

UF second baseman Blake Reese is one of three seniors on the baseball team. “We have to kinda write our own script,” he said. “We can’t ride the coattails of all these guys that have been here before.”

Sports

Florida takes advantage of timely hitting to throw out Dirtbags

By Evan Lepak | Feb. 16, 2019

With two on and two out, second baseman Blake Reese popped a 3-2 pitch into shallow right field that narrowly fell in among the outstretched arms of three Long Beach State players.

Tyler Dyson allowed three runs on four hits through 2.0-plus innings in Florida's 3-2 loss to Kentucky on Saturday. He didn't record a strikeout in his shortest outing of the season.

Sports

Gators’ miscues evident in opening night victory

By Kyle Wood | Feb. 15, 2019

Coach Kevin O’Sullivan preached throughout spring practice about the growing pains his young team would face.

Sports

Florida’s four sophomores anchor the pitching staff

By Kyle Wood | Feb. 15, 2019

The future of Florida’s pitching staff is here.

Florida pitcher Tyler Dyson pitched five innings against South Carolina on Sunday. He allowed two runs on two hits and struck out five Gamecock batters.

Sports

UF welcomes Long Beach State in season-opening series

By Evan Lepak | Feb. 14, 2019

Baseball is officially back.

Coach Kevin O'Sullivan successfully dialed-up a gimmick steal play in the Gators' win over the USA 18-U team.

Sports

Gators may be worse off than you think

By Evan Lepak | Feb. 7, 2019

Florida’s baseball team enters the 2019 campaign with high expectations, as it should.

Second baseman Blake Reese powered a grand slam to right field in UF's 9-3 home win over the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday.

Sports

Florida begins spring practices ahead of season opener against Long Beach State

By Kyle Wood | Jan. 27, 2019

Coach Kevin O’Sullivan fielded questions Friday afternoon at McKethan Stadium about the high expectations for his team and the underclassmen he is counting on to meet those expectations.

UF starting pitcher Brady Singer pitched 5.0 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits in Florida's elimination game loss to Arkansas on Friday.

Sports

Former UF baseball player gets in the holiday spirit with gift to parents

By Kyle Wood | Dec. 27, 2018

Follow Kyle Wood on Twitter @Kkylewood and contact him at kwood@alligator.org.

Sports

Gators defeat USA 18-U team in final exhibition game of fall ball

By Jake Dreilinger | Nov. 19, 2018

It doesn’t matter who the opponent is. If the opportunity presents itself, Gators baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan will run his special play.

Junior right fielder Austin Langworthy hammered a grand slam in Sunday’s games against USF.

Sports

Gators split exhibition matchup in Lakeland against USF

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 29, 2018

Austin Langworthy’s eyes never left the ball. They stayed glued to the pitch as it traveled from the mound, off his aluminum bat and as it sailed over the right-center field wall.