sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Kourtney Keegan swings at the ball during Florida’s 7-0 win against Florida State on Feb. 18 at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

Gators women shut out Razorbacks at home

By IAN COHEN | Mar. 28, 2014

The Gators walked onto the courts at the Ring Tennis Complex on Friday having won their last 127 dual-matches at home.

Sophomore Gordon Watson hits the ball during Florida's 5-2 win against North Florida on Jan. 22.

Sports

Florida men struggles in doubles in loss to Arkansas

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Mar. 28, 2014

In its first match of the weekend, No. 15 Florida fell 4-2 to Arkansas in Fayetteville.

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

Gators facing one of nation’s top pitchers in series opener

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 27, 2014

The Gators defeated the top team in the nation Tuesday, but now they have to beat one of the best pitchers.

Hannah Rogers pitches during Florida’s 4-2 win against Mississippi State on April 6, 2013. Rogers has the fifth-best ERA (1.57) in the Southeastern Conference.

Sports

Florida, Tennessee look to dominant pitchers for series

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 27, 2014

When No. 4 Florida starts its three-game series against No. 2 Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., tonight at 6, it’s going to be a pitcher’s duel.

Sports

Gators face difficult road trip against SEC foes

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Mar. 27, 2014

Florida has had some trouble on the road the season with five of its six losses coming on the road to UCLA, USC, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.

Sports

Cieslak captures gold with career-best record

By Logan McGuire | Mar. 27, 2014

The top four teams after Day 1 of the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Austin, Texas, weren’t much of a surprise, but the order was. Texas sits in first with 146 points, Cal behind by just one point, Florida trails by 9 points and Michigan down 37 points as the Gators sit in third through the first six events.

Sports

Harrell moves up three spots

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Mar. 27, 2014

With a significant improvement on Day 2 of the women’s heptathlon, Brittany Harrell distanced herself from the field again.

Taylor Schwarz bats during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Schwarz hit a solo home run in UF’s 10-6 win against UCF on Wednesday.

Sports

Fuller, Schwarz power Florida past Central Florida

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 26, 2014

Taylore Fuller plated only eight hits this season heading into No. 4 Florida’s midweek matchup against UCF.

Lily Svete drives to the lane during Florida’s 75-67 win against Alabama on Jan. 30 in the O’Connell Center. Svete’s last game was Florida’s 81-63 loss to Penn State on Tuesday.

Sports

Florida overcomes low expectations despite tourney loss

By GORDON STREISAND< | Mar. 26, 2014

Like a game in the NCAA Tournament, this season was “do-or-die” for coach Amanda Butler.

Senior Sebastien Rousseau swims the butterfly in the men’s 400-meter individual medley on Aug. 28 in the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational. Rousseau and the Gators start competition at the NCAA Championships today.

Sports

Florida men’s swimming team opens NCAA Championships

By Logan McGuire | Mar. 26, 2014

The Gators men’s swimming and diving team is No. 1 in the country, has the third most NCAA qualifications, top-10 times in 14 out of 18 events and is the favorite to walk away from Austin, Texas, with the NCAA Championships crown.

Sports

Gators open outdoor track season

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Mar. 26, 2014

The outdoor track season has arrived, and Florida is looking to redeem itself after disappointing third-place finishes at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Shannon Gilroy breaks away from a group of defenders during Florida’s 21-5 win against Jacksonville on Feb. 12 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

Sports

Gilroy leads Florida to blowout win against Stetson

By EDEN OTERO | Mar. 26, 2014

Players like Shannon Gilroy are like unicorns —you always hear about them, but you don’t know if they actually exist.

Braden Mattson dives toward first base during Florida’s 1-0 win against Arkansas on March 15 at McKethan Stadium. Mattson recorded one RBI and one run during UF’s 4-2 loss to Kentucky on Wednesday.

Sports

Gators defeat No. 1 Seminoles following bench-clearing fight

By ADAM PINCUS< | Mar. 25, 2014

JACKSONVILLE — Dugout-clearing fights tend to draw attention. Ones that involve a Heisman-winning quarterback become national news.

Kayla Lewis (22) attempts a shot during Florida’s loss to Missouri on Feb. 20 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Penn State defeats Florida in second round of NCAA Tournament

By GORDON STREISAND< | Mar. 25, 2014

A season defined by exceeded expectations ended Tuesday night in University Park, Penn.

UCLA’s Kyle Anderson (5) touches hands with a fan after defeating Stephen F. Austin 77-60 in a third-round game of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night in San Diego.

Sports

UCLA point forward poses threat to UF

By LANDON WATNICK< | Mar. 25, 2014

When UCLA’s Kyle Anderson takes the ball down the court, he usually towers over his primary defender.

Richard Donegan stands on the course during the Suntrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 15 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

Sports

Donegan ties for 10th, Florida places 14th at Valspar Invitational

By LAYNE WEITZEL< | Mar. 25, 2014

Despite finishing 14th, the Gators have some positives to take out of their penultimate regular-season tournament, and their names are J.D. Tomlinson and Richard Donegan.

Kayla Lewis drives down the court during Florida’s 81-76 loss against Missouri on Feb. 20 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Florida to face Penn State in second round of NCAA Tournament

By GORDON STREISAND< | Mar. 24, 2014

The last time Florida made it to the NCAA Tournament, it fell in the second round to then-No. 1 Baylor.

Bailey Castro bats during Florida’s 6-0 win against Jacksonville on Feb. 19, 2014, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

UF not worried after series loss

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 24, 2014

Despite seeing his team drop its first regular-season series against a Southeastern Conference foe since 2012, Tim Walton doesn’t think his team is ready to panic.

Sammi Burgess drives toward the net during Florida’s 18-7 win against High Point on Feb. 15 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The freshman attacker finished second on the team with 53 points.

Sports

Freshmen playing key role in replacing graduated seniors

By EDEN OTERO | Mar. 24, 2014

Age before beauty doesn’t really describe Florida’s lacrosse team, but that’s mainly because it has nothing to do with teams or even sports.

Sports

Son of NBA great has Gators in his top three

By Taylor Widom | Mar. 24, 2014

Trey Mourning is ready to step outside of his father’s shadow. Whether or not that will require him to leave the state where his last name became legendary is still in question.