sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Kevin O'Sullivan before a weekend series with Missouri in 2021. The Gators head coach earned his 600th career win in a Saturday night bout with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Sports

O’Sullivan wins his 600th, Gators outscore Tide to secure series win

By Carson Cashion | Mar. 20, 2022

Win number 600 for the O’Sullivan era in Gainesville came in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Florida women’s basketball added a new coach to its staff Tuesday, as Jackie Moore was named assistant to the head coach.

Sports

Florida falls to UCF in NCAA Tournament, magical season comes to a close

By Caleb Wiegandt | Mar. 19, 2022

Down three usual starters, Florida ended their NCAA Tournament hopes with a 69-52 loss to UCF Saturday.

No. 6 Florida was shut down by Texas A&M Saturday afternoon, 5-0.

Sports

Florida falls 5-0 to Texas A&M’s spectacular pitching

By Vanessa Sanchez | Mar. 19, 2022

No. 5 Florida was upset and shut down, 5-0 Saturday afternoon by the Texas A&M Aggies.

Gators quarterback Emory Jones throws a pass during Florida's 29-17 Gasparilla Bowl loss to Central Florida on Dec. 23. The Franklin, Georgia, native announced his entry to the transfer portal Friday.

Sports

Gators quarterback Emory Jones enters the Transfer Portal

By Topher Adams | Mar. 19, 2022

Gators quarterback Emory Jones is entering the Transfer Portal after initially deciding to return to Florida after practice Tuesday afternoon.

Florida's Skylar Wallace rounds the bases against Mississippi State March 14. Wallace recorded two doubles in Saturday's Super Regional victory over Virginia Tech.

Sports

Late-game heroics propel Gators past Texas A&M in game one of the series

By Jose Tovar | Mar. 19, 2022

The Florida Gators secured an impressive comeback win in the first game against Texas A&M Friday. Redshirt junior Skylar Wallace was clutch in the final inning with a two-run single.

Sophomore Ben Shelton and senior Sam Riffice during a matchup with Ole Miss Friday

Sports

Florida stays undefeated in conference play with win over Ole Miss

By Joshua Morgan | Mar. 19, 2022

Florida stayed undefeated in conference play with a 6-1 win over Ole Miss. The No. 1 Gators now sport an eight-game winning streak.

Florida's Sarah Dahlstrom during a match against Central Florida on Feb. 9, 2021. The Gators women's team shut down Ole Miss, 7-0 Friday night.

Sports

Florida cruises past Missouri as forfeits provide advantage

By Vanessa Sanchez | Mar. 19, 2022

The Tigers forfeited a doubles and singles match, giving the No. 16 Gators a one point lead. Florida would go on to defeat Missouri 6-1.

Sophomore Hunter Barco throws a pitch against Jacksonville March 14, 2021. The southpaw struck out 44 batters so far in his 2022 campaign.

Sports

Gators avoid disaster, pick up win in conference opener

By Ethan Budowsky | Mar. 19, 2022

The Gators were cruising, then suddenly the ship hit rocky waters. After breezing by their opponents all night, Florida nearly threw it all away in the ninth. Luckily, they somehow managed to escape with a win in their first conference game of the year.

Sports

Russia-Ukraine conflict hits home for UF Diver Anton Svirskyi

By Ethan Eibe | Mar. 18, 2022

Anton Svirskyi calls Russia's invasion of Ukraine a bad dream. The biomedical engineering junior and UF diver's family members have taken shelter in Ukraine following the start of Russia’s invasion Feb. 24.

Florida's Sam Riffice returns a ball against South Florida on May 9, 2021.

Sports

Florida shuts out Illinois for 12th win of season

By Joshua Morgan | Mar. 18, 2022

The No. 1 Gators (12-2) cruised to a 7-0 victory over Illinois (5-9) this Wednesday, as the team was able to extend their winning streak to seven games

Florida's McCartney Kessler competes during a Feb. 26, 2021 match against LSU. Kessler helped secure a doubles win with freshman Alicia Dudeney, 6-2.

Sports

Florida delivers commanding performance over UAB

By Vanessa Sanchez | Mar. 17, 2022

The UF women's tennis team dominated UAB Wednesday to pick up its 10th win of the season.

Gators senior goalie Sarah Reznick and the team clinched the regular season AAC title Saturday afternoon after a victory over Temple University.

Sports

Florida earns statement win against No. 3 Syracuse

By Topher Adams | Mar. 17, 2022

Florida makes huge statement with a 14-10 win against the No. 3 Syracuse Orange on a complete performance.

Florida head coach Kelly Rae Finley and forward Jordyn Merritt discuss the game plan before Merritt checks into the game against Missouri Feb. 27

Sports

Battle-tested Gators look to dance past talented UCF

By Brenda Bogle | Mar. 16, 2022

Florida is dancing for the first time since the 2015-16 season and is seeded to face a determined UCF team, fresh off its first conference championship.

Redshirt junior Skylar Wallace rounds third after launching a home run to center field. Florida takes on conference rival Tennessee in a weekend series.

Sports

Florida downs Mississippi St. late, earns a bounceback 3-0 win

By Caleb Wiegandt | Mar. 15, 2022

Homers from Kendra Falby and Skylar Wallace did the trick for Florida late in the game. The Gators clinched their home-opening series in a 3-0 defeat of Mississippi State.

Sam Riffice during a match against TCU March 17, 2021. The senior won his match Sunday against Tennessee's Emile Hudd.

Sports

Florida defeats Tennessee to reclaim SEC supremacy

By Joshua Morgan | Mar. 14, 2022

No. 4 Florida downed No. 1 Tennessee 5-2 to reclaim its spot as the top team in the SEC.

Sports

Pirates drop anchor Sunday, Gators win final series before conference play

By Ethan Budowsky | Mar. 14, 2022

Despite the disappointing loss for the Gators, they still picked up an important series win this weekend before taking on conference play.

The Florida softball team during a game against Louisville Feb. 27, 2021. The Gators were edged by Mississippi State Sunday, 1-0 to drop game two of a three-game series.

Sports

Florida drops game two of SEC opening series against Mississippi State, 1-0

By Jose Tovar | Mar. 14, 2022

The Florida Gators were shut out in the second game of the SEC opening weekend against Mississippi State Sunday.

Florida women’s track team and head coach Mike Holloway raise the NCAA Indoor Championship trophy

Sports

Florida women’s track and field claims second NCAA Indoor National Championship

By Ethan Eibe | Mar. 14, 2022

A national championship 30 years in the making. Florida women’s track and field made history in Birmingham, Alabama, claiming the program’s 11th NCAA title.

Florida's Kiara Smith during a game against Alabama on Feb. 18, 2021. Smith will not compete with the team in the NCAA Tournament due to a season-ending injury.

Sports

Florida earns a 10-seed, will face UCF in NCAA Tournament

By Caleb Wiegandt | Mar. 13, 2022

Florida women’s basketball is officially dancing. UF has earned a 10-seed in the NCAA Tournament and will face UCF in the first round in Storrs, Connecticut. Kelly Rae Finley will lead the Gators into their first March Madness appearance since 2016, a potential matchup with UConn looming.

Florida pitcher Elizabeth Hightower during a game against Louisville game Feb. 27, 2021. She got the start in the circle for the SEC opener versus Mississippi State Friday.

Sports

Florida earns first SEC win of the season in hard-fought game against Mississippi State

By Jose Tovar | Mar. 12, 2022

“We need to show just how much grit we have to dig deep and pull it out,” said senior outfielder Cheyenne Lindsey. The Gators battled to earn their first SEC win against Mississippi State Saturday.