sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Elliott Orkin attempts to hit the ball during his singles match against UNF on Jan. 22.

Sports

Florida preparing for home matchup with Auburn

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Mar. 20, 2014

Coach Bryan Shelton enjoys playing in front of the home crowd. He enjoys the energy and the school’s tennis fans.

Will Muschamp instructs players during Florida’s first open practice on March 19 at Sanders Practice Fields.

Sports

Florida opens spring practice after disappointing ‘13 season

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Mar. 19, 2014

It may be a little more than five months until college football season begins, but with March comes a chance for fans to get a glimpse of what their team will look like in the fall.

Jaterra Bonds looks to pass the ball during Florida’s 81-76 loss against Missouri on Feb. 20 in the O’Connell Center. UF will start the NCAA Tournament against Dayton on Sunday.

Sports

UF looks for NCAA redemption

By GORDON STREISAND< | Mar. 19, 2014

A momentary sense of relief washed over the Gators on Monday night.

Gators basketball seniors Scottie Wilbekin, Will Yeguete, Casey Prather and Patric Young embrace after leaving the floor of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for the last time during Florida’s 84-65 win against Kentucky on March 8.

Sports

UF fans should savor basketball team while they have the chance

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 19, 2014

Enjoy this, Gators fans.

Sports

Troy adjusting lineup for NCAA Championships

By Logan McGuire | Mar. 19, 2014

A season of record-setting performances, close wins, near losses and hundreds of hours spent swimming tens of thousands of yards culminates in Milwaukee, Minn., at the three-day NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships that gets started today for the No. 8 Gators (5-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference).

Josh Tobias bats during Florida’s 3-1 win against Florida State on March 18.

Sports

Tobias’ home run, defensive play give Florida momentum

By ADAM PINCUS< | Mar. 18, 2014

Tuesday night, Josh Tobias watched his third-inning solo home run sail into the filled left-field bleachers longer than he normally would.

Aaron Rhodes pitches during Florida’s 3-1 win against Florida State on March 18 at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Bullpen secures upset victory against No. 2 Florida State

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 18, 2014

Normally, when your starting pitcher goes only three innings against the No. 2 team in the country, it means your bullpen is in for a long night of trying to contain a blowout.

Shannon Gilroy breaks away from a group of defenders during Florida’s 21-5 win against Jacksonville on Feb. 12 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

Sports

Gilroy leads offense to home blowout of Dartmouth

By EDEN OTERO | Mar. 18, 2014

Shannon Gilroy has become the star of a team in a sport where toughness beats perfection.

Sports

UF aiming to rebound from loss to UGA

By IAN COHEN | Mar. 18, 2014

With the season nearing its close, Florida (12-3, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) has already tallied the same number of losses as its last two regular seasons combined.

Cassie Peoples drives down the court during Florida’s 81-76 loss to Missouri on Feb. 20 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Gators get berth in Tournament

By GORDON STREISAND< | Mar. 17, 2014

After a quick two-game stretch in as many days at this year’s Southeastern Conference Tournament, the Gators got some much needed time off heading into the NCAA Tournament.

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.