sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

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.

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

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.

Junior outfielder Jud Fabian rounds third after a home run against Jacksonville. Florida beat Seton Hall in back-to-back games Saturday.

Sports

Gators sink Pirates in doubleheader, take third series of the season

By Ethan Budowsky | Mar. 12, 2022

Gator baseball sank the Seton Hall Pirates in a doubleheader that saw its stars shine

Florida's Ben Shelton celebrates on Feb. 21, 2021 against Auburn. The sophomore clinched a national championship Saturday.

Sports

Gators extend conference winning streak with trouncing of Georgia

By Joshua Morgan | Mar. 12, 2022

No. 4 Florida picked up its third conference win in as many matches Friday with a dominant 4-0 victory over No. 8 Georgia

Sports

Florida hosts Mississippi State for SEC opener series

By Jose Tovar | Mar. 12, 2022

The Florida softball team will host the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium March 12-14 for its first SEC series of the year.

UF lacrosse head coach Amanda O'Leary. The Gators fell to Loyola, 12-9 Friday.

Sports

Florida fall to another ranked opponent with loss at Loyola

By Topher Adams | Mar. 12, 2022

After a get-right game against Liberty, Florida lost its fourth game of the season against a top-ten team, falling on the road to the No. 9 Loyola Greyhounds.

Redshirt sophomore Sarah Reznick, from Long Beach, New York, forwards the ball to midfield in a home matchup with the Liberty Flames. Reznick was named to the AAC All-Tournament team.

Sports

Florida back to winning ways with triumph at Liberty

By Topher Adams | Mar. 9, 2022

Florida lacrosse got back on schedule, curbing a three-game skid with a badly needed win against the Liberty Flames.

The Florida baseball team stands in the dugout during a game against Jacksonville on March 14, 2021. The Gators host the LSU Tigers for a three-game slate

Sports

Gators top Dolphins in low-scoring affair

By Carson Cashion | Mar. 8, 2022

The Gator bats didn’t give the bullpen much breathing room, but No. 11 Florida (11-3) did just enough to secure a 1-0 victory in the first battle of a two-game slate against the Jacksonville Dolphins (8-5).

Senior captain Duarte Vale returns a ball against Auburn on Feb. 21, 2021. Vale along with doubles partner Nate Bonetto defeated the Kentucky pairing of Francois Musitelli and Yasha Zeme. Their victory contributed to Florida's team win over the Wildcats Sunday.

Sports

Gators emerge victorious over Kentucky

By Joshua Morgan | Mar. 8, 2022

No. 5 Florida (9-2) improved to 2-0 in conference play in a 4-3 win over No. 9 Kentucky. The Gators were able to pick up their fourth straight win, all coming against top-10 opponents

Annabell Fuller competes for Florida Gators women's golf Feb. 23, 2021 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in Gainesville, FL / UAA Communications photo by Leslie White. Fuller led the team at the MountainView Collegiate Sunday and was the only Gator to place inside the top-10.

Sports

Florida adds to its impressive Vystar Gators Invitational win streak

By Lillian Randolph | Mar. 6, 2022

“It is obviously a huge honor to win at home,” said Annabell Fuller, who tied for fourth individually this weekend. The Gators women’s golf team tied with Michigan for first-place Sunday, taking the title in the 50th annual Vystar Gators Invitational over the weekend.

Florida outfielder Jud Fabian and the Gators collapsed in the ninth inning Sunday afternoon, falling to the Alabama Crimson Tide, 8-7.

Sports

Gators win series against Hurricanes in Coral Gables

By Carson Cashion | Mar. 6, 2022

After a game-one loss Friday night, the Gators had a chance to flip the script from last year and give the ‘Canes a taste of their own medicine. They did just that, winning Saturday and Sunday with the help of sophomores Brandon Sproat and Timmy Manning throwing their best games of the young season.

Senior right-handed pitcher Elizabeth Hightower delivers a pitch against Louisville, 2021.

Sports

Florida run-rules Georgia State and Coastal Carolina to finish Bubly Invitational

By Jose Tovar | Mar. 6, 2022

Florida softball earned consecutive run-rule wins over Coastal Carolina and Georgia State Sunday on the last day of the Bubly Invitational.

Brandon Sproat pitching against Miami Feb. 21, 2021. Courtesy of the SEC Media Portal. Sproat will start on the mound for Florida's first-round matchup with Central Michigan.

Sports

Sproat shines, Gators bounce back in Saturday night victory in Miami

By Carson Cashion | Mar. 5, 2022

After a defeat on Friday night, the Florida Gators booked a rubber game on Sunday afternoon with Miami on the heels of an 8-1 victory.

Infielders Hannah Adams and Avery Golez discuss strategy during an on-field timeout against Louisville, 2021

Sports

Florida defeats Tennessee State on day two of the Bubly Invitational

By Brenda Bogle | Mar. 5, 2022

Florida softball executes a dominant win against Tennessee State, claiming its third win in a row. The Gators now face a doubleheader Sunday to close out the Bubly Invitational.

The Florida lacrosse team huddles against Vanderbilt on April 16. The team's season last year ended with a loss to Syracuse in the Elite Eight.

Sports

Florida comeback comes up short against No. 5 Stony Brook

By Topher Adams | Mar. 5, 2022

The Gators fought hard, but fouls and finishing woes caused them to drop their third-straight game.

Sam Riffice against USF on May 9, 2021. The Gators shut out South Carolina Friday, 6-0.

Sports

Gators dominate No. 6 South Carolina to open conference play

By Joshua Morgan | Mar. 5, 2022

Florida men’s tennis faced a tough opponent in No. 6 South Carolina to open conference play, and a 7-0 victory serves as their most impressive win of the season and a reminder that this team is a national title contender.