Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Rick Pitino was fired from his head coaching job at Louisville in October following an FBI investigation into the program.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Pitino Receiving Coaching Interest Doesn’t Bode Well for NCAA

By Skyler Lebron | Apr. 3, 2018

Rick Pitino is not a happy man right now.

Right fielder Wil Dalton went 4 for 5 on Friday in Florida's 13-5 win over Columbia at the Gainesville Regional. He nearly hit the cycle but was thrown out sliding into third base.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida’s Jonathan India is getting plenty of attention, but don’t forget about Wil Dalton

By Ethan Bauer | Apr. 3, 2018

Jonathan India gets most of the fanfare. And for good reason.

Freshman Lauren Waidner notched a hole-in-one during the SunTrust Gator Invitational in Gainesville on March 10.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

UF golfer's hole-in-one taken in stride

By Chris O'Brien | Apr. 1, 2018

Lauren Waidner prepared to tee off at the 11th hole of the Mark Bostick Golf Course on March 10.

Shortstop Sophia Reynoso went 3-for-6 from the plate in Saturday's games against Jacksonville and Hampton.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball looks forward to team bonding in away game stretch

By Mari Faiello | Apr. 1, 2018

It’s cliché to say that in most college athletic programs, your teammates become your family. But for Florida’s softball team, it’s exactly that kind of mentality that helps its program succeed when it faces long road-game stretches.

Coach Roland Thornqvist credited the Commodores after they beat Florida 4-0 in the finals match of the SEC Tournament on Sunday. “(Vanderbilt) was better today and sometimes that just happens," he said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida women’s tennis team shut out by Texas at USTA Campus

By River Wells | Apr. 1, 2018

If the Florida women’s tennis team was expecting an ordinary contest walking into its match against Texas at the USTA Campus on Easter Sunday, it was sorely mistaken.

Senior Lloydricia Cameron is heading to the NCAA Outdoor Championship for the third-consecutive year.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Four UF seniors record wins at Florida Relays to cap off Senior Day

By Alanis Thames | Apr. 1, 2018

Lloydricia Cameron waited four years to hear her name called over the speakers at James G. Pressly Stadium.

Junior attacker Lindsey Ronbeck returned from an injury in Florida's 21-8 win over UConn.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Ronbeck’s return helps Florida overcome recent offensive woes

By Tyler Nettuno | Apr. 1, 2018

The Gators have every reason to be happy. The team remains undefeated in conference play, and its only three losses of the season came against ranked opponents.

UMBC pulled off the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history when it beat No. 1 Virginia in the opening round.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UMBC’s and Loyola-Chicago’s postseason runs have implications beyond sports

By Ethan Bauer | Apr. 1, 2018

Jeff Pearlman, a feature writer for The Athletic and well-known sports biographer, recently made an observation about March Madness.

Former UF kicker Eddy Pineiro was one of 18 players who participated in Florida's pro day on Wednesday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Spring Camp Roundup: Week 3

By Andrew Huang | Apr. 1, 2018

Week 3 of spring practices saw a couple new developments for Florida’s football team.

Senior McClain Kessler wrapped up his fall season with a doubles loss in the Round of 16 at the Dick Vitale Clay Court Classic.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida men’s tennis upset by South Carolina in dramatic matchup

By Dylan Rudolph | Apr. 1, 2018

McClain Kessler had no energy left to give as he walked off Court 6 of the Carolina Tennis Center.

Florida third baseman Jonathan India extended his hitting streak to 15 games during UF's 8-2 win over Vanderbilt on Sunday. The junior blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida sweeps Vandy, India continues hitting streak

By Morgan McMullen | Apr. 1, 2018

The outcome between No. 2 Florida and No. 8 Vanderbilt on Sunday at McKethan Stadium had become nothing more than a sideshow. Even though it was still a ballgame — just 5-2 in Florida’s favor in the bottom of the fourth — everyone’s focus was solely on UF third baseman Jonathan India.

Freshman Natalie Lugo logged her first career start Saturday against Hampton.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida’s softball team finishes weekend against non-conference opponents with four wins

By Mari Faiello | Apr. 1, 2018

Split-second decisions can make the difference in any kind of outcome.

Senior KeAndre Bates notched the second-longest triple jump in the nation Saturday at the Pepsi Florida Relays.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators thrive off crowd energy on final day of Florida Relays

By Alanis Thames | Mar. 31, 2018

KeAndre Bates had the crowd banging its hands together.

Senior Anna Danilina helped lead the Gators to their fifth consecutive conference victory on Saturday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

UF sweeps Missouri for ninth SEC win

By River Wells | Mar. 31, 2018

Senior Anna Danilina crouched on the court as the crowd behind her at the Ring Tennis Complex clapped in unison. Her opponent, Missouri’s Selena Nash, was one point away from losing to Danilia in a singles match and it was her turn to serve.

Attacker Lindsey Ronbeck returned to the Gators' lineup after missing the last three games.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Ronbeck and Pirreca lead Gators to blowout victory over Connecticut

By Tyler Nettuno | Mar. 31, 2018

Whenever a player has to miss time due to injury, it isn’t uncommon for him or her to take a few games to settle back into a rhythm.

Catcher JJ Schwarz notched his 214th career RBI Saturday against Vanderbilt.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Slumping UF hitters break out on Saturday, Gators blow out Commodores for second win of series

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 31, 2018

The blazing Florida sun finally warmed up the bats of a couple slumping Gators on Saturday afternoon.

Pitcher Kelly Barnhill drew a walk in just her fourth plate appearance of her career on Friday.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF softball wins Game 1 of doubleheader, second game postponed

By Mark Stine | Mar. 31, 2018

If there’s one indication that a game is over before it’s actually finished, it’s when Kelly Barnhill steps into the batter’s box.

Junior McClain Kessler helped win the doubles point for Florida before sweeping his opponent in singles play in the Gators' 4-3 win over Wake Forest.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida topples top-ranked Wake Forest

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 31, 2018

The No. 10 Florida men’s tennis team handed No. 1 Wake Forest its first home loss of the season Friday with a 4-3 win in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to push the team’s win streak to five in a row.

Sophomore Grant Holloway earned his second SEC 60-meter hurdles title in as many years on Sunday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators post three nation-leading times on Day 2 of Florida Relays

By Alanis Thames | Mar. 31, 2018

Cory Poole rounded the corner of the wet track with no one near him.

Pitcher Brady Singer allowed one run on two hits through seven innings Friday night against No. 8 Vanderbilt.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators undeterred by rain, beat Vandy to open series

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 31, 2018

Empty seats, wet bleachers and dampened ponchos of anxious Gators fans surrounded the tarp-covered infield at McKethan Stadium. At 6:30, when second-ranked Florida was supposed to begin its first contest of a three-game set against the No. 8 Vanderbilt Commodores, not one player for either team could be seen on the field.