Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

The NFL Rules Committee recently passed a couple of new policies to be instituted during the upcoming season.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

NFL takes a step in the right direction on Tuesday regarding player safety

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 27, 2018

It’s about time.

Right fielder Wil Dalton drove in the winning runs in Florida's 3-1 victory over Missouri on Friday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators squeak by ‘Noles in second matchup of season

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 27, 2018

Right fielder Wil Dalton took a modest lead off of second base in the bottom of the fourth inning. After smacking a ball down the left-field line and into the corner, the precious scoring opportunity could’ve been the only one Florida would have for the rest of the game, for all he knew.

Florida coach Bryan Shelton said freshman Oliver Crawford is fitting in quickly with his new team. “He’s as comfortable with the coaches as he is with his teammates and friends," Shelton said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Crawford’s bond with coaches leading to success in SEC play

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 27, 2018

Oliver Crawford walked out of coach Bryan Shelton’s office after the Florida men’s tennis team’s victory over Arkansas on Sunday.

Florida catcher JJ Schwarz was 2-for-17 from the plate in the past week.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida baseball team’s over- and underachievers: Week of March 19 to March 25

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 27, 2018

After winning a three-game series over then-No. 4 Arkansas this past weekend in Gainesville, the No. 2 Gators (21-5, 4-2 SEC) are preparing to face No. 7 Florida State on Tuesday night at 6 in Jacksonville.

Coach Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies have won six of the last nine NCAA Women's Basketball Championships.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Y’all, the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is about to be awesome

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 26, 2018

Three wins by a combined four points. Winning every game as the underdog. Sister freaking Jean.

Designated player Jordan Matthews drove in three runs in Florida's 7-3 win over Texas A&M on Monday.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators complete sweep of No. 8 Texas A&M

By Mark Stine | Mar. 26, 2018

“Now here’s a little something that needs to be heard.”

Florida's gymnastics team is heading to Pennsylvania for the regional round of the NCAA Championships.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators to travel to Pennsylvania for NCAA Regional Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 26, 2018

After finishing in third place at the SEC Championships on Saturday, the No. 5 Gators gymnastics team is hoping to redeem itself at the NCAA Regional Championships on April 7. The field for the event was announced on Monday afternoon by the NCAA.

Gary Smith has covered topics from Muhammad Ali to segregation in football.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Sports reporting has become shallow

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 26, 2018

I’m pretty sure I’ve written some variation of this column every semester for as long as I’ve been writing columns at the Alligator, but it’s a topic that really touched me this weekend.

Florida senior Alex McMurtry stumbled and fell during her floor routine at the SEC Championships. The Gators eventually finished third in the meet behind LSU and Alabama.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

UF falls short on floor, finishes third at SEC Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 26, 2018

Alex McMurtry didn’t show any signs of anxiety as she took a quick breather and rolled her shoulders back for the final pass of her floor routine.

Florida senior Caeleb Dressel finished his career with a bang at the NCAA Championships, breaking American, NCAA and UF records in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Dressel shatters records, steals show at NCAA Championships

By Sam Campisano | Mar. 26, 2018

For the fourth consecutive year, the Texas men’s swimming and diving team finished first at the NCAA Championships.

Senior Aleshia Ocasio struck out 10 Missouri batters in a complete game shutout of the Tigers at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida’s softball team blanks TAMU, clinches weekend series

By Mark Stine | Mar. 25, 2018

In the home half of the third inning on Sunday night, UF third baseman Nicole DeWitt stood on second base with an ear-to-ear grin.

Duarte Vale and McClain Kessler helped set the pace with a doubles win in Florida's 6-1 victory over Arkansas on Sunday at the Ring Tennis Complex. “I think those two really complemented themselves nicely today,” coach Bryan Shelton said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida’s men’s tennis team wins fourth consecutive match in victory over Arkansas

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 25, 2018

Duarte Vale and McClain Kessler opened doubles play with something they were missing in their loss to Ole Miss on Friday: intensity.

Despite allowing a run on three hits, UF relieving pitcher Michael Byrne recorded his first win of the season in Florida's 5-4 win against Arkansas on Sunday. “Michael Byrne is just special,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He’s just got a different temperament.”

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida’s unsung ace leads UF baseball to series win over No. 4 Arkansas

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 25, 2018

William Shakespeare once compared his beloved to a summer’s day. Michael Byrne’s 2018 season could be compared to something more like a sturdy dam.

Caeleb Dressel set an American, NCAA and UF record, swimming a 39.90 in the 100 free at the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Dressel breaks records once again, Gators finish fifth at NCAA Championships

By Sam Campisano | Mar. 24, 2018

As Florida swimmer Caeleb Dressel emerged from the water after completing the 100 free at the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships, he pumped his fists and splashed water all around him.

Freshman Alyssa Baumann posted the high score in beam for the second time in her career with a 9.90.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators gymnastics team finishes third at SEC Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 24, 2018

Alyssa Baumann finished her beam routine amongst chants for a 10 from her teammates.

UF pitcher Kelly Barnhill recorded her 13th win of the season with 111 pitches against Texas A&M, allowing only two hits while striking out 12 batters. "She doesn’t try to overtalk to herself. She doesn’t try to overdo it,” Walton said.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Barnhill wins 13th game of the year to lead Florida past Texas A&M

By Mari Faiello | Mar. 24, 2018

Gripping her bat tightly in the bottom of the first, Florida catcher Janell Wheaton patiently waited on a pitch from Texas A&M’s Samantha Show.

Freshman McCartney Kessler continued her winning streak with the clinching match against Tennessee on Friday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida women’s tennis team defeats Auburn to end SEC road stretch

By River Wells | Mar. 24, 2018

With the Alabama sun beating down upon them, Florida’s McCartney Kessler and Auburn’s Georgie Axon found themselves in the middle of a back-and-forth slugfest.

Florida lacrosse coach Amanda O'Leary recorded her 300th career victory on Saturday in UF's 16-11 win over Georgetown.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Seven-goal surge leads Gators lacrosse team to victory over Georgetown

By Tyler Nettuno | Mar. 24, 2018

Florida’s lacrosse team has relied on offensive outbursts in the second half all season long, and the story was no different on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Caeleb Dressel broke his own American, NCAA and UF record in the 100 fly on Friday night at the NCAA Championships, posting a first-place time of 42.80.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Dressel continues to rewrite record books on third day of NCAA Championships

By Sam Campisano | Mar. 23, 2018

Florida swimmer Caeleb Dressel picked up right where he left off on Day 3 of the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships.

Florida men's tennis player teammate McClain Kessler (above) and teammate Duarte Vale defeated UCF doubles pair Mikhail Sokolovskiy and Gabriel Decamps 6-4 on Monday. The Gators as a whole beat the Knights 6-1 for the team's 2018 home opener at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators men's tennis team overpowers Ole Miss for third straight win

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 23, 2018

Court 6 at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex had all eyes on it on Friday night as junior McClain Kessler whooped and hollered his way to a match-clinching victory over Ole Miss.