Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida guard Riley Kugel takes a jump shot in the Gators' 79-67 win against the Louisiana State Tigers Saturday, March 4, 2023. Kugel finished the game with a team-high 21 points.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida sends its seniors off with season sweep of LSU

By Brandon Hernandez | Mar. 4, 2023

The Florida Gators (16-15, 9-9 SEC) defeated the Louisiana State Tigers (13-18, 2-16 SEC) 79-67 Saturday in UF's final regular season game in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Gators freshman guard Riley Kugel finished with a team-high 21 points, and graduate student guard Kyle Lofton left the court with 16 points and five assists.

Florida pitcher Hurston Waldrep throws a pitch in the Gators' 13-3 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats Feb. 25, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Miami evens weekend series behind Blake Cyr’s multi-homer night

By Ethan Eibe | Mar. 4, 2023

Cyr’s second homer of the game put the finishing touches on No. 22 Miami’s (8-3) 14-6 trouncing of the No. 6 Florida Gators (9-3) Saturday at Condron Ballpark. Florida built an early 6-1 lead on two home runs from sophomore two-way Jac Caglianone, who now leads the nation with 10 on the young season.

Florida graduate student Axel Nefve celebrates during the Gators' 5-2 loss to the Texas Longhorns Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators score first five points in blowout win against Louisiana State

By Eitan Ohana | Mar. 4, 2023

The No. 19 Florida Gators (6-6, 1-1 SEC) defeated the No. 34 Louisiana State University Tigers (8-3, 0-2 SEC) 6-1 Saturday afternoon.

Catcher Emily Wilkie hits the ball in an 11-0 victory against the Jacksonville Dolphins Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball sweeps past UAB with a blowout victory

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Mar. 4, 2023

The No. 3 Florida Gators (13-3) blew past the UAB Blazers (10-9) 10-0 in Mary Bowers Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Leanne Wong finishes her floor routine with a gator chomp in a victory against the Missouri Tigers, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Wong excels in devastating loss to No. 1 Oklahoma

By Jori Rzepecki | Mar. 3, 2023

The No. 2 Florida Gators (8-2, 5-1 SEC) lost on the road Friday against Oklahoma (12-0, 3-0 Big 12) inside the Lloyd Noble Center. Florida came into the meet favored after its impressive finish against then-No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats, but the team failed to match up.

Florida freshman Sophie Williams serves the ball in a 4-1 victory against the Florida State Seminoles, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

No. 24 Gators fall to No. 2 Aggies in nail-biting finish

By Luke Adragna | Mar. 3, 2023

The No. 24 Florida Gators (5-3, 0-2 SEC) fell to the No. 2 Texas A&M Aggies (12-1, 2-0 SEC) 5-2 Friday evening. The loss marked the Gators’ second consecutive loss and second loss versus a top-25 Intercollegiate Tennis Association-ranked opponent this season.

Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford hits the ball in the Gators' 10-4 win over the Miami Hurricanes March 3, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida bats crush Miami in series-opening win

By Topher Adams | Mar. 3, 2023

The No. 6 Florida Gators (9-2) defeated the No. 22 Miami Hurricanes (7-3) 10-4 Friday night at Condron Ballpark in front of 8,081 fans — the second most ever at Condron Ballpark. UF rattled off 14 hits and four homers in the big victory.

Shortstop Skylar Wallace rounds first base in an 11-0 victory against the Jacksonville Dolphins, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball shuts out UAB Friday with a run-rule victory

By Alyssa Britton-Harr | Mar. 3, 2023

The No. 3 Florida Gators (12-3) defeated the Alabama Birmingham Blazers (10-8) 9-0 in Mary Bowers Stadium Friday night. The Gators’ win secured head coach Tim Walton’s 900th win as the head coach for Florida.

Florida pitcher Jac Caglianone delivers a pitch in the Gators' 13-7 victory against the Cincinnati Bearcats Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators set to host rival Hurricanes in first ranked matchup of season

By Topher Adams | Mar. 3, 2023

The No. 6 Florida Gators (8-2) will face the No. 22 Miami Hurricanes (7-2) this weekend in the first major series of the season. This is Florida’s first ranked matchup of the year.

Florida freshman Togan Tokac reaches for the ball in the Gators' 5-2 loss to the No. 8 Texas Longhorns Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators win only two matches against Mississippi State in first SEC match

By Eitan Ohana | Mar. 2, 2023

The No. 19 Florida Gators (5-6, 0-1 SEC) lost to the No. 18 Mississippi State Bulldogs (12-1, 1-0 SEC) 5-2 Thursday evening.

Florida senior Yuxin Lin putts the ball at the VyStar Credit Union Gators Invitational Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Lin carries Gators through Southern Highlands Collegiate

By Madilyn Destefano | Mar. 2, 2023

The Florida men’s golf team traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the Southern Highlands Collegiate. The tournament began Sunday and wrapped up Tuesday.

Florida catcher BT Riopelle slides toward second base in the Gators' 13-7 victory against the Cincinnati Bearcats Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida’s bullpen collapses in loss to Jacksonville

By Topher Adams | Mar. 1, 2023

The No. 6 Florida Gators (8-2) fell to the Jacksonville Dolphins (6-4) 10-8 Wednesday night at Condron Ballpark. Eight different pitchers took the mound for Florida and allowed a combined eight hits and walked 11 batters.

Florida guard Nina Rickards drives toward the basket in the Gators' loss to the Louisiana State Tigers Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators fall in SEC Tournament opener after first-half brawl

By Austin Stirling | Mar. 1, 2023

The Florida Gators (16-14, 5-12 SEC) fell to the Kentucky Wildcats (11-18, 3-14 SEC) 68-54 in the opening round of the SEC tournament. The Gators shot just 30% from the field in the game.

Gators guard Will Richard flexes after finishing a shot against the Vanderbilt Commodores in an 88-80 defeat, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Richard lights up Georgia as Gators down rivals

By Jackson Reyes | Feb. 28, 2023

The Florida Gators (15-15, 8-9 SEC) swept the season series against Georgia (16-14, 6-11 SEC) with a 77-67 victory in their final road game of the regular season Tuesday night.

Florida pitcher Jac Caglianone pitches the ball in the Gators' win against the Cincinnati Bearcats Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

No. 6 Gators tie season high with 17 hits in win against Jacksonville

By Ethan Eibe | Feb. 28, 2023

The Gators (8-1) survived a shaky bullpen effort with more than enough offense in an 18-8 win against the Jacksonville Dolphins (5-4) Tuesday night at John Sessions Stadium.

Florida senior Emily Heller carried the ball in her crosse during the Gators' 14-13 loss to the No. 6 Maryland Terrapins Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Florida lacrosse second string seals blow-out win against Furman

By Kate Wiggins | Feb. 28, 2023

The No. 7 Florida Gators (2-2) beat the Furman Paladins (0-2) 20-9 in their fourth game of the season.

Florida infielder Cade Kurland hits the ball in the Gators' 13-7 win against Cincinnati Bearcats Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida flashes power, gains experience in pair of non-conference series

By Topher Adams | Feb. 27, 2023

The No. 7 Florida Gators (7-1) won four of five games in a pair of series against the South Florida Bulls and Cincinnati Bearcats. UF flexed its power and hit 18 home runs across the five games, including a program-record eight-homer explosion Feb. 26.

Florida gymnast Sloane Blakely performs her floor routine in the Gators’ meet against the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. UF clinched the SEC title with their victory.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics earns fifth straight SEC title

By Jori Rzepecki | Feb. 27, 2023

The No. 2 Florida Gators (9-1, 6-1 SEC) beat the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats (7-3, 4-2 SEC) to become SEC champions for the fifth season in a row. Florida’s 198.150-point score — its second-highest score of the 2023 season — surpassed the Wildcats’ score of 197.575 to give UF the SEC title.

SPORTS | FEATURES

Black women express identity through hair in sports

By Namari Lock | Feb. 27, 2023

Black women in sports frequently face scrutiny for their hair. Many of them have to jump through hoops to maintain practical hairstyles while keeping their identity.

Florida senior Skip Donald dives in the Gators' meet against the Florida Atlantic Owls Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Gators leave Bulldog Last Chance Meet with 21 B-cut times

By Krisha Sanghavi | Feb. 26, 2023

Florida’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams sent 14 Gators to the 2023 Bulldog National Collegiate Athletic Association Qualifying Meet in Athens, Georgia. The invitational was the swimmers' last chance to qualify for the NCAA championships.