sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Outfielder Harrison Bader bats during Florida’s 4-0 win against Ole Miss on March 31, 2013, at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

UF completes sweep of LSU

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 30, 2014

When Florida visited LSU in May 2013, the Tigers greeted the Gators with a dominating three-game sweep.

Nora Barry drives toward the ball during Florida’s 21-5 win against Jacksonville on Feb. 12 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Barry had one assist in Florida’s 13-9 win against Penn State on Sunday.

Sports

Junior midfielder leads Gators in win against Nittany Lions

By EDEN OTERO | Mar. 30, 2014

For three years, Nora Barry has played the supporting role of the unsung hero.

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

Sports

Hedberg finishes third as Florida ends tourney in ninth

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Mar. 30, 2014

Junior Camilla Hedberg’s second consecutive top-five placing while braving both sleet and wind led the Gators to a ninth-place finish Sunday.

Alexandra Cercone swings during Florida’s 7-0 victory against Baylor on Feb. 2, 2013, at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

Gators sweep Tigers in home match

By IAN COHEN | Mar. 30, 2014

With four matches left in the season and the Southeastern Conference Tournament drawing closer, the Gators will soon try to capture their third national title in four years.

Sports

Florida men have best showing at NCAA Championships in 23 years

By Logan McGuire | Mar. 30, 2014

There just wasn’t enough left in the tank for the Gators to make a push down the stretch at the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships, which ended Saturday.

Sports

UF rides doubles victory to shutout win against LSU

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Mar. 30, 2014

After losing to Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday, Florida (10-7, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) didn’t waste any time getting back on track in its 4-0 victory over LSU (11-10, 2-7 SEC) in Baton Rouge, La., on Sunday.

Kelsey Stewart swings during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22, 2014 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Florida fails to hold leads in Tennessee sweep

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 30, 2014

After opening up the second game with a leadoff single to right field, Stewart made it on base for her 38th consecutive game, topping UF’s record of 37 set by Michelle Moultrie’s in 2011.

Sports

Gators set records while competing at three meets

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Mar. 30, 2014

Splitting the team up so it could compete at three different meets didn't hinder Florida this weekend.

Justin Shafer bats during Florida’s 4-0 win against Maryland on Feb. 14 at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Florida sweeps doubleheader against LSU to open series

By ADAM PINCUS< | Mar. 29, 2014

In a game where one swing can decide a game, Florida had two carry them to a Game 1 victory in Saturday’s doubleheader against No. 4 LSU.

Kirsti Merritt bats against Florida’s 6-0 win against Jacksonville on Feb. 19 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Home runs lift Tennessee over Florida

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 28, 2014

The long ball favored Tennessee on Friday.

Kourtney Keegan swings at the ball during Florida’s 7-0 win against Florida State on Feb. 18 at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

Gators women shut out Razorbacks at home

By IAN COHEN | Mar. 28, 2014

The Gators walked onto the courts at the Ring Tennis Complex on Friday having won their last 127 dual-matches at home.

Sophomore Gordon Watson hits the ball during Florida's 5-2 win against North Florida on Jan. 22.

Sports

Florida men struggles in doubles in loss to Arkansas

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Mar. 28, 2014

In its first match of the weekend, No. 15 Florida fell 4-2 to Arkansas in Fayetteville.

UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan watches from outside the dugout during the Gators' 9-7 loss to Southern Miss. in game one of NCAA Super Regional play in McKethan stadium Saturday, June 6, 2009. O'Sullivan and the Gators were eliminated from the 2014 NCAA Tournament in the regional round on Saturday.

Sports

Gators facing one of nation’s top pitchers in series opener

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 27, 2014

The Gators defeated the top team in the nation Tuesday, but now they have to beat one of the best pitchers.

Hannah Rogers pitches during Florida’s 4-2 win against Mississippi State on April 6, 2013. Rogers has the fifth-best ERA (1.57) in the Southeastern Conference.

Sports

Florida, Tennessee look to dominant pitchers for series

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 27, 2014

When No. 4 Florida starts its three-game series against No. 2 Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., tonight at 6, it’s going to be a pitcher’s duel.

Sports

Gators face difficult road trip against SEC foes

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Mar. 27, 2014

Florida has had some trouble on the road the season with five of its six losses coming on the road to UCLA, USC, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Texas A&M.

Sports

Cieslak captures gold with career-best record

By Logan McGuire | Mar. 27, 2014

The top four teams after Day 1 of the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Austin, Texas, weren’t much of a surprise, but the order was. Texas sits in first with 146 points, Cal behind by just one point, Florida trails by 9 points and Michigan down 37 points as the Gators sit in third through the first six events.

Sports

Harrell moves up three spots

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Mar. 27, 2014

With a significant improvement on Day 2 of the women’s heptathlon, Brittany Harrell distanced herself from the field again.

Taylor Schwarz bats during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Schwarz hit a solo home run in UF’s 10-6 win against UCF on Wednesday.

Sports

Fuller, Schwarz power Florida past Central Florida

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 26, 2014

Taylore Fuller plated only eight hits this season heading into No. 4 Florida’s midweek matchup against UCF.

Lily Svete drives to the lane during Florida’s 75-67 win against Alabama on Jan. 30 in the O’Connell Center. Svete’s last game was Florida’s 81-63 loss to Penn State on Tuesday.

Sports

Florida overcomes low expectations despite tourney loss

By GORDON STREISAND< | Mar. 26, 2014

Like a game in the NCAA Tournament, this season was “do-or-die” for coach Amanda Butler.

Senior Sebastien Rousseau swims the butterfly in the men’s 400-meter individual medley on Aug. 28 in the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational. Rousseau and the Gators start competition at the NCAA Championships today.

Sports

Florida men’s swimming team opens NCAA Championships

By Logan McGuire | Mar. 26, 2014

The Gators men’s swimming and diving team is No. 1 in the country, has the third most NCAA qualifications, top-10 times in 14 out of 18 events and is the favorite to walk away from Austin, Texas, with the NCAA Championships crown.