Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Freshman Rachel Gailis serves the ball in the Gators' 4-1 victory against the Michigan Wolverines Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

No. 16 Gators fall apart in loss to No. 15 Volunteers

By Luke Adragna | Apr. 7, 2023

No. 16 Florida 13-5, 7-3 SEC) suffered one of its worst performances of the season and lost to the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers (15-4, 8-2 SEC) 4-1 Friday evening at Barksdale Stadium. The Gators got off to a rough start in doubles and began to surge late; they eventually succumbed to the opposing team’s blows.

Florida outfielder Michael Robertson runs toward third base during the Gators' 17-8 victory against the Auburn Tigers Sunday, April 2, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida earns series-opening win over Tennessee

By Topher Adams | Apr. 6, 2023

The No. 3 Florida Gators (26-5, 8-2 SEC) defeated the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (21-9, 4-6 SEC) 6-1 Thursday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. This is the second time this season UF held a conference opponent to one or fewer runs.

Florida shortstop Skylar Wallace swings her bat in the Gators' 8-0 mercy-rule victory over the Stetson Hatters Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

No. 15 Gators win first game of Auburn series with walk-off run

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Apr. 6, 2023

The No. 15 Florida Gators (27-9, 5-5 SEC) beat the Auburn Tigers (28-11, 6-4 SEC) 3-2 Thursday evening in Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Florida junior Will Grant and graduate student Axel Nefve compete in their doubles match during the Gators' 6-1 win against the Arkansas Razorbacks Friday, March 24, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

No. 20 Gators win every match possible in doubleheader sweep of Eastern Kentucky

By Eitan Ohana | Apr. 5, 2023

The No. 20 Florida Gators (12-8, 5-3 SEC) defeated the Eastern Kentucky Colonels (4-16, 1-5 ASUN) 4-0 in both legs of the doubleheader Wednesday afternoon in Gainesville.

Florida first baseman BT Riopelle slides into home plate in the Gators' 17-8 victory against the Auburn Tigers Sunday, April 2, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida outlasts Bethune-Cookman in midweek matchup

By Topher Adams | Apr. 4, 2023

The Florida Gators (25-5, 7-2 SEC) defeated the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (16-13, 7-2 SWAC) 8-4 Tuesday night at Condron Ballpark. Five UF pitchers combined to hold the Wildcats to four runs on four hits.

Florida guard Riley Kugel stands on the court during the Gators' 69-68 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament Thursday, March 9, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Riley Kugel announces he will return to Florida for sophomore season

By Jackson Reyes | Apr. 4, 2023

Gators guard Riley Kugel will officially return to Florida for his sophomore season.

Florida guard Nina Rickards stands on the court during the Gators' 61-54 win over the Texas A&M Aggies Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida Guard Nina Rickards plans to enter transfer portal

By Austin Stirling | Apr. 4, 2023

Florida senior guard Nina Rickards announced on Twitter Tuesday morning that she plans to enter the transfer portal.

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson throws the ball during the Gators' 26-16 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Richardson shines at Gators Pro Day as 2023 NFL Draft approaches

By Kyle Bumpers | Apr. 4, 2023

Outside of trying to throw the ball through the roof, Richardson worked to showcase his arm at the Gators’ Pro Day Thursday. He decided to only throw less than a month removed from his show-stopping performance at the 2023 National Football League Combine.

Florida head coach Todd Golden takes a shot during a practice the day before their Southeastern Conference tournament game Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida staff’s genuineness and honesty led to EJ Jarvis’ decision to join UF

By Brandon Hernandez | Apr. 4, 2023

Florida head coach Todd Golden and his staff immediately made an impression on the All-Ivy League second-team senior with their genuineness and honesty, Jarvis said. After briefly meeting current players and having discussions about the program, it was a done deal.

Florida freshman Joshua Liendo competes in a swimming event.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Joshua Liendo named 2022 Canadian Swimmer of the Year a week after his NCAA sweep

By Krisha Sanghavi | Apr. 4, 2023

Liendo left the NCAAs with four All-American honors and the fastest 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly time ever by a freshman.

UNC Charlotte track and field athlete Sam Thompson clears a hurdle wearing a green uniform similar to his high school attire during the Pepsi Florida Relays Friday, March 31, 2023. Thompson was a student at UF before he transferred and joined UNC Charlotte's team.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

UF student transfers for track and field opportunity

By Lydia Parker | Apr. 3, 2023

While he excelled throughout high school, leaving him with hopes for a UF track career, his athletic trajectory didn’t go as planned. He spent his first few semesters hoping to get the chance to join UF’s track and field team, but he had to find a spot to compete elsewhere.

Trinity Thomas celebrates with her teammates during the Southeastern Conference Championships Saturday, March 18, 2023.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics progresses to NCAA semifinals despite Trinity Thomas’ injury

By Jori Rzepecki | Apr. 3, 2023

Despite Thomas’ devastating injury, the Gators prevailed and moved on to the semifinals of the NCAA Championship. Florida advanced forward in their region but settled for second place — behind only the California Golden Bears — in its first meet without Thomas.

Florida guard Nina Rickards helps fellow UF guard KK Deans stand up during the Gators’ 90-79 loss to the Louisiana State Tigers Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Nina Rickards carries New York roots through Florida career

By Topher Adams | Apr. 3, 2023

Rickards capped off her fourth season with the Florida Gators March 27. She was one of two players on this past year’s team who spent all four years in Gainesville, and Rickards surpassed 1,000 career points.

Florida senior John DuBois lines up a putt at the Vystar Credit Union Gators Invitational Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Florida men’s golf finishes the season the way it started

By Madilyn Destefano | Apr. 2, 2023

The No. 12-ranked Florida men’s golf team traveled to Augusta, Georgia, to compete in the Augusta Haskins Award Invitational. The Gators took a five-shot lead into Sunday and finished in first by 12 shots to score 39-under-par.

Sophomore Leanne Wong performs her floor routine in Session II of the SEC Championship in Duluth, Georgia Saturday, March 18, 2023.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators finish in second and advance to NCAA Semifinals

By Jori Rzepecki | Apr. 2, 2023

The No. 2 Florida Gators (22-2, 6-1 SEC) competed in the NCAA Pittsburgh Regional Final Round Friday against the No. 7 California Golden Bears (17-2-2, 4-1-2 PAC-12), the No. 10 Michigan State Spartans (24-4, 8-1 Big 10) and the No. 15 Arizona State Sun Devils (7-6, 4-3 PAC-12).

Catcher Luke Heyman celebrates with his teammates after he hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth in a 17-8 victory against the Auburn Tigers Sunday, April 2, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Offensive avalanche gives No. 3 Florida series win over Auburn

By Ethan Eibe | Apr. 2, 2023

Heyman emptied the bases with a grand slam to left field. His eight RBI was just a slice of the offensive pie in No. 3 Florida’s 17-8 win against the Auburn Tigers Sunday afternoon at Condron Ballpark.

Florida sophomores Bente Spee (left) and Alicia Dudeney (right) compete in their doubles match during the Gators' 4-1 win over the Michigan Wolverines Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

No. 16 Gators survive potential upset at home against No. 54 Razorbacks

By Luke Adragna | Apr. 2, 2023

The No. 16 Florida Gators (13-4, 7-2 SEC) bested the No. 54 Arkansas Razorbacks (9-10, 3-7 SEC) 5-2 Sunday afternoon at Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex. The Gators got off to a slow start in doubles play but recovered in closely contested performances across multiple courts in singles play.

Florida third baseman Charla Echols swings her bat during the Gators' 8-0 win against the Stetson Hatters Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

No. 11 Gators shut out by South Carolina to lose weekend series

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Apr. 2, 2023

The No. 11 Florida Gators (26-9, 4-5 SEC) lost to the South Carolina Gamecocks (26-9, 3-6 SEC) 3-0 Sunday afternoon at Columbia Softball Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.

Florida catcher BT Riopelle jogs to first base during the Gators' 10-1 loss to the Auburn Tigers Friday, March 31, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida cruises past Auburn behind season-high in hits

By Topher Adams | Apr. 1, 2023

The No. 3 Florida Gators (23-5, 6-2 SEC) defeated the Auburn Tigers (18-8-1, 3-5 SEC) 12-5 Saturday night at Condron Ballpark. UF set a new season-high with 19 hits.

Florida redshirt junior Jalen Chance jumps during the Pepsi Florida Relays Friday, March 31, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators show competition who runs Gainesville during first home meet of outdoor season

By Namari Lock | Apr. 1, 2023

Florida’s track and field teams took the podium 25 times during the two-day home meet. Having earned 10 gold medals, the Gators were more than comfortable at the Pepsi Florida Relays.