Florida had just fallen behind 3-2 and was in need of a big sixth inning. Daniel Pigott ripped an 0-1 fastball that sent Georgia right fielder Kevin Ruiz crashing into the outfield wall and landing with an empty glove.
Since January, when it really hit me that this was my last semester, I have stewed over what I wanted to say with my final column for the Alligator. Without a doubt, it has been the hardest assignment in five years of college.
After both the men’s and women’s golf teams entered the final day of their Southeastern Conference tournament in fourth place, only the men were able to improve their finish.
Florida played 16 innings on Friday night. Its offense played four innings on Saturday.
Four college athletes completed the men’s 110 meter hurdle on Saturday at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic, including sophomore Eddie Lovett. The rest were professionals.
With two big wins in the books already, the No. 3 Gators are one match away from a Southeastern Conference trifecta.
The Gators entered Saturday leading the country in goals.
Once the Gators completed floor exercise, all they could do was sit and wait after their final event.
It wasn’t the big bats of Lauren Haeger, Bailey Castro or Kelsey Horton that powered the Gators to a win. Instead, it was a surprise blast from the bat of Ensley Gammel that sparked a six-run surge in the sixth.
Nolan Fontana stepped into the batter’s box with Vickash Ramjit on third and two outs in the 16th inning.
The circumstances weren’t ideal and the conditions weren’t favorable, but the No. 2 Gators still got the job done.
While the Gators fell short of first place at the evening session of NCAA Semifinals on Friday night, they still took care of business — and set a milestone.
Like a pesky mosquito that won’t go away, Florida International bugged Florida all day.
It’s not any easy task to defend a Southeastern Conference title, and that’s what the men’s golf team found out Friday.
At the beginning of one of the Gators’ recent practices before NCAA Regionals, Alaina Johnson read a quote that resonated deeply with her teammates.
Amanda O’Leary was simply driving home from work in the summer of 2008 when she saw something she had never seen before: girls playing lacrosse in Gainesville.
Since the start of the season, the Gators have had their focus on the postseason. It has been a point of emphasis, and every adjustment the team has made throughout the year was done with the postseason in mind.
Florida knew a rough stretch was coming, even before the season began.
The Gators want revenge. But it won’t come easy.
A loss to Florida International wouldn’t derail Florida from its postseason-bound track. But it would hurt nonetheless.
Solutions by The State News
