sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Rhonda Faehn watches her teammates compete during Florida's win against Georgia on Jan. 30.

Sports

UF gymnastics falls on the road at LSU

By GRAHAM HACK | Feb. 20, 2015

Bridget Sloan’s comeback was spoiled Friday night as No. 2 Florida fell to an energized No. 3 LSU in Baton Rouge.

Buddy Reed runs toward home plate during Florida’s 4-0 win against Maryland on Feb. 14 at McKethan Stadium. Reed is hitting .154 in his first five college games.

Sports

Florida wins series opener against Miami on walk-off single

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 20, 2015

Buddy Reed was poised when he stepped up to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Taylore Fuller bats during Florida's 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22, 2014 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

UF softball run rules Liberty

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 20, 2015

On a frigid night, the Gators were lining frozen ropes left and right at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Shannon Gilroy runs toward the net during Florida's win against San Diego State at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

Sports

Florida lacrosse tops San Diego State for third straight win

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Feb. 20, 2015

On a frigid night at Donald R. Dizney Stadium, Florida continued its recent trend of domination to win its third game in a row and move one Gator even closer to history.

Former Florida wide receivers coach Joker Phillips watches the Gators warm up before Florida’s 24-7 victorty against Kentucky on Sept. 28 in Lexington, Ky. Phillips resigned Wednesday after just one year as UF’s wide receivers coach.

Sports

NCAA Committee on Infractions rules in Joker Phillips case

By RICHARD JOHNSON | Feb. 20, 2015

R. Kelly saw nothing wrong with a little bumping but on Friday the NCAA did.

Sports

UF looks to continue hot start in three-game series against Miami

By IAN COHEN | Feb. 19, 2015

Kevin O’Sullivan bounded down the steps of McKethan Stadium’s first base dugout on Thursday, clad in a hoodie, gloves and knee-high gym shorts in 40-degree weather.

Sports

Pitch counts helping ease Florida pitchers into season

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 19, 2015

Coach Kevin O’Sullivan invests a lot of time developing his pitchers.

Bailey Castro bats during Florida’s 6-0 win against Jacksonville on Feb. 19, 2014, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Middle of lineup providing power as UF prepares for invitational

By Luis Torres | Feb. 19, 2015

The Florida softball team has an advantage a lot of teams around the country wish they could have in their lineup.

Coach Tim Walton was more than happy to empty his bench in Florida's 19-3 win over Florida A&M on Wednesday. “I think overall the main priority is to get everybody at-bats and to keep our timing right," he said.

Sports

Notebook: softball coach looking for more quality at-bats, clutch hitting

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 19, 2015

While the UF softball team has had no problem driving in runs this season, Florida has left its fair share of runs on the basepaths.

Sports

UF women’s basketball comeback attempt versus Vanderbilt falls short in OT

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 19, 2015

Florida’s strength lies in its resilience.

Camilla Hedberg putts the ball during the SunTrust Gator Invitational on March 15.

Sports

UF women’s golf heads to New Orleans for next tournament

By JUSTEN ROSENBERG | Feb. 19, 2015

After a disappointing end to last week’s Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, the Florida women’s golf team will look to regroup as participants in this weekend’s Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Sports

Sophomore attacker rebounding from slow start to season

By ALEX MAMINAKIS | Feb. 19, 2015

Following up a breakout freshman year can put a lot of pressure on a young player, especially one who is asked to do so much.

Sports

Sloan returns for Gators vs. LSU

By GRAHAM HACK | Feb. 19, 2015

She’s back.

Brett Morales pitches during Florida’s loss against Maryland on Feb. 15, 2014, at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Solid pitching, quality at-bats lift UF to road win over USF

By IAN COHEN | Feb. 18, 2015

In his first start of the season on Wednesday, Brett Morales did not have a blemish on his statline.

Brianna Morgan hits a two-handed backhand during Florida's 4-0 win against Elon on Saturday at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

UF women’s tennis looking to junior for leadership versus FSU

By Eneisy Rodriguez | Feb. 17, 2015

The UF women’s tennis team has a rough week ahead.

Sports

Men win 800-meter relay, women’s diver shines to open SECs

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 17, 2015

The Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams locked up a combined four ‘A’ cuts during Day 1 of the five-day Southeastern Conference Championships on Tuesday, but both teams still have a ways to go if either wants to secure a conference title.

The Gators began their championship run with a bang after Delanie Gourley no-hit the Rattlers in the opening game of the NCAA Regionals.
In a shortened five-inning contest (UF run ruled FAMU 8-0), Gourley struck out seven and only surrendered one walk.
She recorded Florida’s 15th no-hitter in program history and the first ever during the postseason.

Sports

Dominant UF pitching staff giving batters trouble during practice

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 17, 2015

Florida’s pitching is dominant – so dominant, that even UF’s own hitters will tell you that they hate facing the Gators’ trio of pitchers in practice.

Ryan Larson celebrates with A.J. Puk (10) after hitting a home run during Florida's 22-3 win against Rhode Island on Saturday at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Notebook: Outfielder anticipating more hits after 37-run weekend

By IAN COHEN | Feb. 17, 2015

Right fielder Ryan Larson wanted a solid start to the season.

Kayla Lewis prepares to shoot during Florida’s 64-56 loss to Tennessee on Feb. 8 in the O’Connell Center. Lewis is the lone senior on the Gators’ roster this season.

Sports

Gators women's basketball ready for tough, fun SEC finish

By GRAHAM HALL | Feb. 17, 2015

It’s a fair statement to say the Gators women’s basketball team has been dealt a heaping scoop of adversity this season.

J.D. Tomlinson swings during Day 1 of the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Feb. 14 at the Mark Bostick Golf Course.

Sports

Florida men’s golf attributing recent success to culture change

By Ryan Summers | Feb. 16, 2015

Just about halfway through the first year of his head-coaching career, men’s golf coach J.C. Deacon is creating an atmosphere on and off the course that will set the precedent for what’s to come.