sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Junior right-hander Brady Singer allowed one run on two hits and struck out seven batters through six innings in Florida's win Friday night.

Sports

Florida baseball powers past South Carolina in SEC opener

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 16, 2018

Graham Lawson didn’t even look up.

First baseman Kayli Kvistad went 1-of-2 from the plate with an RBI double in the first inning Friday against Georgia.

Sports

Georgia takes down Florida softball in first game of the series

By Mari Faiello | Mar. 16, 2018

As the saying goes, catastrophes typically come in threes.

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

Sports

Georgia Bulldogs end UF women’s tennis win streak in Athens

By River Wells | Mar. 16, 2018

With her team down 2-0, Florida freshman McCartney Kessler defeated Mariana Gould and narrowed the Georgia lead. She could only watch helplessly, however, as the Bulldogs sealed UF’s fate.

Freshman Won Jun Lee was Florida's top performer on Friday in the first round of the Schenkel Invitational, shooting 1 under.

Sports

Gators men’s golf team struggles on first day of Schenkel Invitational

By Sam Campisano | Mar. 16, 2018

Coming off its first win of the season since Sept. 26, the No. 8 Florida men’s golf team was looking to carry its momentum into the first day of the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Georgia, on Friday.

The Gators begin a stretch of four matches in eight days tonight against Georgia. “That’s the SEC life," coach Roland Thornqvist said.

Sports

UF women’s tennis begins daunting SEC road stretch on Friday

By River Wells | Mar. 16, 2018

Right before the Gators faced off against Florida State in Orlando at the beginning of the tennis season, freshman Victoria Emma stated she didn’t consider Florida State much of a rival. She asserted that the SEC was where the real rivalries were, and she named one team in particular: the Georgia Bulldogs.

Senior Chase Perez-Blanco and his partner freshman Oliver Crawford are on a nine-match win streak in doubles play.

Sports

Florida’s men’s tennis team returns to SEC play against No. 21 Kentucky

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 16, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team returns to conference play for its second match in three days.

Shortstop Sophia Reynoso and the rest of the Gators' infield could have their hands full tonight against a speedy Georgia team.

Sports

UF’s softball team heads to Athens for weekend series with Georgia

By Mark Stine | Mar. 16, 2018

Coming off a weekend sweep of the No. 24 Kentucky Wildcats to begin its conference schedule, the No. 2 Florida softball team kicks off its first SEC road series tonight at 6 in Athens, Georgia.

Coach Mike Holloway claps as he watches his team.

Sports

UF’s men’s and women’s track and field teams ready for outdoor season

By Alanis Thames | Mar. 16, 2018

As soon as the final flash of the camera had captured the memories of the NCAA Indoor Championships, Florida’s track and field teams locked in on their next goal.

Coach Dan Mullen and the Gators will hold open practices on Friday and Saturday afternoon.

Sports

Three Gators football questions that merit answers entering spring practice

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 16, 2018

Dan Mullen knows expectations are high.

Outfielder/pitcher Andrew Baker has developed a reputation as being one of the funnier players on the Florida roster. But it was the young lefty's faith and family helped guide him through his low points.

Sports

Family, faith and baseball: Andrew Baker’s evolution from little league novice to UF two-way player

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 15, 2018

Andrew Baker leaned forward with his hands on his knees. He oozed a confidence and swagger that would have made Muhammad Ali blush.

Freshman Taylor Ault finished 39th out of 64 swimmers in the 500-yard free Thursday afternoon in her first NCAA Championship event.

Sports

Gators women’s swimming and diving team struggles on Day 2 of NCAA Championships

By Sam Campisano | Mar. 15, 2018

It was a rough afternoon for Florida on the second day of the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships.

Attacker Lindsey Ronbeck missed the second half of the game against Navy with an apparent knee injury.

Sports

Florida lacrosse team gearing up for conference action

By Tyler Nettuno | Mar. 15, 2018

If there’s one thing the Gators lacrosse team has going for it heading into Big East play, it’s momentum.

Junior Rachel Slocum said she is excited for the upcoming SEC Championships. “I'm just trying to leave it all out on the floor,” she said.

Sports

Gators focusing on “the little things” in week off before SEC Championships

By Alana Gomez | Mar. 15, 2018

The Gators gymnastics team is spending its week off between the regular season and SEC Championships in its usual spot — the practice gym.

Center fielder Nick Horvath is hitting .345 this year after failing to break the .200 mark in his first two seasons.

Sports

Nick Horvath’s bat coming alive at perfect time for Florida

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 15, 2018

During the beginning of his career at UF, Gators center fielder Nick Horvath struggled in the batter's box. His average at the plate was below .200.

Sydney Sell and three of her teammates will compete in the 200-yard IM on Thursday

Sports

Florida’s women’s swimming and diving team competes in 800-yard relay on Day 1 of NCAAs

By Jacob McManamon | Mar. 14, 2018

The Florida women’s swimming and diving team began the first day of the NCAA Championships in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, finishing 22nd in the 800-yard freestyle relay.

Junior Alfredo Perez advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA Individual Men's Tennis Championships.

Sports

Florida men’s tennis team drops hard fought battle to TCU on Wednesday

By River Wells | Mar. 14, 2018

Striking the ball down the middle of the court, junior Alfredo Perez’s tennis racket slipped from his hands. His opponent, TCU’s Alex Rybakov, gingerly returned the ball to the opposite side of the court.

Sophomore Johannes Ingildsen (pictured) and junior Alfredo Perez make up the No. 1 doubles pairing in the country. They're hoping to carry their momentum into a home matchup against TCU.

Sports

Florida returns home for midweek matchup against TCU

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 14, 2018

After a weekend road trip, the No. 12 Florida men’s tennis team returns to its home court to play No. 32 TCU on Wednesday. The midweek matchup is set to begin at 6 p.m. at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Florida's Taylor Ault will be the lone freshman on the Gators women's swimming and diving team to compete in the NCAA Championships this week in Columbus, Ohio.

Sports

Florida Women set to compete at NCAA Championships

By Jacob McManamon | Mar. 14, 2018

The No. 17 Florida women’s swimming and diving team is in Columbus, Ohio, this week for the NCAA Championships.

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks is looking to move on from a disappointing 2017 campaign.

Sports

Franks ready for a fresh start in 2018

By Dylan Dixon | Mar. 14, 2018

For Feleipe Franks, the start of spring football practice this week brings one thing to the forefront of his mind.

Craig Sager threw out the first pitch of a Cubs game in June 2016. He was a longtime NBA sideline reporter before his death in December 2016.

Sports

An honest assessment of bias in sports reporting

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 14, 2018

Long after the Florida basketball team’s lifeblood had trickled from its veins on Friday in St. Louis, the Arkansas Razorbacks continued to pound a beaten UF team that just wouldn’t stop trying. That was much to the frustration of one broadcaster on press row, who slammed a table with his open palm and mouthed something under his breath.