sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Rachel Spicer performs a floor routine during Florida’s 197.525-196.025 win against Arkansas on Feb. 14 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Florida ahead of championship team’s pace

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Mar. 17, 2014

Florida may have won its national championship in 2013, but the 2014 squad is far ahead of its predecessor.

Taylor Gushue bats during Florida’s 1-0 win against Arkansas on Saturday at McKethan Stadium. UF went 3 for 15 with runners on base in its 9-3 loss Sunday.

Sports

Gators’ offense struggles in first SEC series of 2014

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 17, 2014

The Gators could not buy runs against the Razorbacks.

Sports

Disappointing finish at nationals ends Florida’s indoor season

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Mar. 17, 2014

There was not anyone coach Mike Holloway wanted to blame for the sub-par National Indoor Championships performance other than himself.

A.J. Puk pitches during Florida's 4-0 win against Maryland on Feb. 14 at McKethan Stadium. Puk surrendered four runs against Arkansas on Sunday.

Sports

Poor pitching dampens Bader’s return to lineup

By ADAM PINCUS< | Mar. 16, 2014

The problems began four pitches in.

Santiago Gavino hits the ball during the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Saturday at the Mark Bostick Golf Course. Gavino totaled a score of 232 (+16) as an individual competitor at the Chris Schenkel Invitational last weekend.

Sports

Florida finishes 13th at Chris Schenkel Invitational

By LAYNE WEITZEL< | Mar. 16, 2014

It seems that as the Gators have moved through the season, they haven’t gotten better — they’ve gotten worse.

Camilla Hedberg celebrates after shooting a birdie during the third round of the SunTrust Women’s Gator Invitational.

Sports

Strong winds hinder Gators during eighth-place finish

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Mar. 16, 2014

The Gators battled wind and a first-round, 25-over-par deficit to finish eighth out of 14 teams in their only home tournament of the season.

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

Sports

Gators' first-inning offense buries Tigers

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 16, 2014

Florida only needed one inning on Sunday to clinch its first road series of the season.

Maxx Lipman swings at the ball during Florida’s 4-2 win against TCU on Jan. 26 at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

Georgia snaps Florida's home winning streak

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Mar. 16, 2014

After a tough fight in singles, No. 17 Florida (7-6,2-2 Southeastern Conference) dropped its match and its home winning streak after falling to the Georgia (10-5, 5-0 SEC) 4-3.

Olivia Janowicz returns the ball during Florida’s 4-0 win against Harvard on Jan. 26 at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

Doubles play dooms Florida

By IAN COHEN | Mar. 16, 2014

Down 3-2, Florida’s seniors could only watch as their younger teammates tried to complete a comeback bid in front of a deafening Georgia crowd.

Sports

Relay dooms Gators to third place

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Mar. 16, 2014

Florida ran out of oxygen.

Sports

Florida drops one spot in second round

By LAYNE WEITZEL< | Mar. 16, 2014

It’s not about how you start but how you finish, and in Buddy Alexander’s eyes, Florida did not finish well.

Sports

UF pitching keeps infielders busy; Harrison Bader makes season debut

By ADAM PINCUS | Mar. 16, 2014

Attack the zone. Keep the ball down. Give the defense a chance. Through two games against Arkansas, Florida’s pitchers are doing just that. Logan Shore earned his first collegiate victory with 6.1 innings of work on Friday while Eric Hanhold held the Razorbacks scoreless over five to get the win Saturday night.

Sports

Peter Alonso powers Gators to series-clinching win against Razorbacks

By ADAM PINCUS | Mar. 16, 2014

Peter Alonso was all smiles as he rounded third base and embraced Taylor Gushue who was waiting for him at home following the freshman’s first-career home run.

Sports

Defense key for Florida in top-five victory

By EDEN OTERO | Mar. 15, 2014

If it weren’t for solid goalkeepers, No. 4 Florida (8-2, 1-0 American Lacrosse Conference) might not have held it’s 17-12 loss within reach of a win.

Kasey Hill attempts a free throw during Florida's 56-49 win against Tennessee on Saturday in the Georgia Dome. Hill scored all five of the Gators' points off the bench against the Volunteers.

Sports

Florida bench struggles in SEC Tournament semifinal win over Tennessee

By LANDON WATNICK< | Mar. 15, 2014

ATLANTA — UF’s bench did not provide much production Saturday, and it’s something Billy Donovan cannot be too happy about.

Scottie Wilbekin guards Tennesse guard Jordan McRae during the Gators' 56-49 win against the Volunteers on Saturday in the Georgia Dome.

Sports

Wilbekin's leadership carries Gators down the stretch

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Mar. 15, 2014

ATLANTA — After scoring a team-high 13 points in the first half of Florida’s semifinal matchup with Tennessee, Scottie Wilbekin was almost nonexistent in the second half in terms of point production.

Bridget Sloan performs a bar routine during Florida’s 198.125-197.625 win against LSU on Feb. 21 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Sloan sets career high in Florida's regular-season finale

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Mar. 15, 2014

Bridget Sloan led the No. 3 Gators to finish their regular season on a high note—a season-high note.

Sports

Sprinters excel, distance runners falter

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Mar. 15, 2014

Altitude was a factor in Albuquerque, N.M., for the NCAA Indoor Championships as the No.1 Gators track and field team had their ups and downs through Day 1.

Sports

Gators sit in 11th after first round

By LAYNE WEITZEL< | Mar. 15, 2014

Florida has some ground to make up in the next two days in order to have a shot at a good tournament finish.

Sports

Florida's home course fails to bring success for Gators

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Mar. 15, 2014

It was a dismal day for the Gators at the Mark Bostick Golf Course on Friday.