sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior Hannah Rogers, who is second on UF’s all-time win list, pitches against Baylor during the Gators 6-3 victory in the WCWS tournament in Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Sports

Senior pitcher earns first title in final season at UF

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 4, 2014

Hannah Rogers had little success in her first two trips to Oklahoma City.

Taylor Gushue bats during Florida’s 3-1 win against FSU on March 18 at McKethan Stadium. Gushue was a second-team All-American in 2014 after batting a career-high .318

Sports

MLB Draft begins today, several Gators available

By MORGAN MORIARTY | June 4, 2014

For more than 1,200 high school and college baseball players across the United States, Thursday could potentially mark one of the biggest days of their lives. The 2014 MLB First-Year Draft begins Thursday evening and will continue through Saturday.

Hannah Rogers holds the trophy as the Gators celebrate their first NCAA championship after defeating Alabama 6-3 in Oklahoma City, Okla., on June 3. Florida sweeped the final series in two games.

Sports

GATORS ROLL TIDE, WIN FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 3, 2014

Tim Walton said it best on April 15.

Hannah Rogers delivers a pitch in the third inning of Florida's 5-0 win against Alabama in Game 1 of the Women's College World Series Championship Series in Oklahoma City on Monday

Sports

UF one win away from its first title after Game 1 victory over 'Bama

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 2, 2014

Heading into Florida’s first game in the Women’s College World Series Championship Series against Alabama on Monday, Aubree Munro had just two career home runs as a Gator.

Bridgette Owens competes during the Tom Jones Memorial Invite on April 19 at the Percy Beard Track. Owens, who clocked a 12.80-second 100-meter hurdles on Saturday, was one of 25 UF athletes to advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Sports

Twenty-five Florida athletes to compete in NCAA Outdoors championship

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | June 2, 2014

Game, set, match. The Gators have everything they need in order to advance to the next step of their championship taper.

UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan watches from outside the dugout during the Gators' 9-7 loss to Southern Miss. in game one of NCAA Super Regional play in McKethan stadium Saturday, June 6, 2009. O'Sullivan and the Gators were eliminated from the 2014 NCAA Tournament in the regional round on Saturday.

Sports

Florida’s postseason struggles signal time for a change

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | June 2, 2014

I thought this wasn’t the standard for Florida baseball.

Sports

Notebook: SEC TV schedule announced, UF lands recruits

By MORGAN MORIARTY | June 2, 2014

There might not be real football to be played until late August, but that doesn’t stop news from breaking around the Southeastern Conference. In the past week, SEC football TV schedules were announced, Florida’s 2015 recruiting class picked up two commitments and a former Gator national champion announced his return to the Gainesville campus.

Florida pitcher Hannah Rogers, Taylor Schwarz, front, and Kelsey Stewart, right, celebrate after defeating Baylor 6-3 on Sunday.

Sports

Florida defeats Baylor, advances to Women's College World Series Finals

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | June 1, 2014

For the second time in the Women’s College World Series, No. 5 seed Florida faced 13th-seeded Baylor.

Sports

Gators advance 25 to NCAA Championships

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | May 31, 2014

Game, set, match. The Gators have everything they need in order to advance to the next step of their championship taper.

UF shortstop Richie Martin is tagged out at home plate by UNC catcher Korey Dunbar during Florida's 5-2 loss on Saturday at McKethan Stadium. The loss eliminated the Gators from the NCAA Tournament.

Sports

Gators eliminated after two games in NCAA Regionals

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 31, 2014

In the end, Florida (40-22) just couldn’t get timely hits after stranding 13 on base, and its season came to a waterlogged end against North Carolina (35-26) losing 5-3.

Florida fell to College of Charleston 3-2 in the first round of the NCAA Regional on Friday at McKethan Stadium. UF now faces a potential early exit from the tournament if it falls to UNC in Saturday's elimination game.

Sports

Florida falls to College of Charleston in regional opener

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 30, 2014

In the end, they had nobody to blame but themselves. Not the rain that delayed them three hours and fifteen minutes, not the opposing pitchers that let them twice have the bases loaded in consecutive innings, and not the NCAA selection committee that gave them the hardest regional of any national seed.

Mike Holloway looks on during the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships on Nov. 1, 2013, at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

Sports

UF has another solid outing in Day 2 of NCAA prelims

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | May 30, 2014

After four Gators punched their ticket to Eugene, Ore., on the first day of NCAA prelims, 13 more joined the party on Friday.

Hannah Rogers pitches during UF's 17-1 win against USF on April 23 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Rogers was named the 2014 Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year and finished her senior season with a 30-8 record and a 1.60 ERA.

Sports

Florida blanks Oregon to reach Women's College World Series semifinals

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 30, 2014

The Gators are rolling through the competition.

Offensive coordinator Kurt Roper addresses the media during his introductory press conference on Jan. 13. Four-star quarterback Sheriron Jones, who was recruited by Roper, committed to Florida on Sunday.

Sports

Dillon commits to Florida; Farrier decommits

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 30, 2014

The Gators received their second commitment in as many days.

Marquis Dendy competes in the triple jump at the the Tom Jones Memorial Classic on April 21, 2012.

Sports

UF advances four after Day 1 of NCAA prelims

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | May 29, 2014

Out of the 23 UF athletes that commenced their preliminary events, only four thus far have punched a ticket to Eugene, Ore., after Day 1 of NCAA East Preliminaries in Jacksonville on Thursday.

Will Muschamp speaks at a press conference in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Jan. 13. UF hosted Friday Night Lights on Friday for its top prospects.

Sports

Andrew Ivie commits to Florida, joins brother on defensive line

By MORGAN MORIARTY | May 29, 2014

Florida picked up its eighth verbal commitment for the 2015 recruiting class as defensive tackle Andrew Ivie announced that he was verbally committed to UF on Thursday afternoon. Ivie is the first defensive lineman to commit to the 2015 class.

Chelsea Herndon bats during Florida's 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. On Thusday, Herndon hit a pinch-hit grand slam to force a run-rule victory in Florida's 11-0 win against Baylor in the first game of the Women's College World Series.

Sports

Freshman hits grand slam to cap Florida's run-rule victory over Baylor

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 29, 2014

In her first career Women's College World Series at-bat on Thursday, Chelsea Herndon saw a familiar face.

Tim Walton studies the field during Florida’s 11-1 win against USF on May 18, 2013, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Walton and the Gators open play in the Women's College World Series against Baylor at noon.

Sports

Softball set to square off in Women’s College World Series

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 28, 2014

They’re back.

Alabama outfielder Andrea Hawkins cheers as the softball team gathers its bags before boarding a flight to Oklahoma City for the NCAA Women's College World Series on Tuesday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Sports

Breaking down the Women’s College World Series field

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 28, 2014

Eight teams remain in the hunt for the title as the top softball team in the country. Each team took different paths to make it, but in the end, they all made it to Oklahoma City. With action beginning today, alligatorSports took a look at each opening-round matchup.

Ciarra Brewer competes in the triple jump at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships on May 13, 2012.

Sports

Track tries to run down outdoor national titles

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | May 28, 2014

The championship taper has come again as Florida has a grand opportunity at redeeming itself on why it deserves to be No. 1.