sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida’s Ashley Bruns (13) attacks the net against Ohio State defender Tayler Kuzma (24) in the Gators’ 13-7 win against the Buckeyes on March 23 at Dizney Stadium. Northwestern held Bruns to one goal in Florida's 8-3 loss on Sunday.

Sports

Senior attacker enjoys historic day in UF lacrosse team’s win

Apr. 14, 2013

Ashley Bruns was unstoppable on Sunday.

Gordon Watson hits a ball during Florida’s 7-0 win against St. John’s on Jan. 6, 2013. The junior won the singles event of the Gainesville ITA Circuits Draw on Monday.

Sports

Gators end regular season with win

Apr. 14, 2013

The first undefeated weekend in Southeastern Conference play came at the perfect time for the Gators.

Junior pitcher Daniel Gibson winds up for a pitch during Florida’s 14-5 win against South Carolina on Saturday at McKethan Stadium. Gibson allowed two home runs during the seventh inning in Florida's 9-2 loss to Georgia on Saturday.

Sports

USC inopportune in losses

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Apr. 14, 2013

The outcome of Florida’s series finale against South Carolina was not in doubt after the Gators exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on Saturday.

Senior Vickash Ramjit hits the ball during Florida’s 14-5 win against South Carolina on Saturday at McKethan Stadium. Ramjit scored three times in the victory, which completed the Gators’ first sweep against the Gamecocks since April 2009.

Sports

Offensive outburst seals sweep of South Carolina

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 13, 2013

Richie Martin yelled into the Florida dugout from second base, unleashing a fury of emotion that rivaled his team’s offensive outburst in the sixth inning. Martin drove in the third and fourth runs of the sixth on a single. Florida would add six more in its first 10-run inning since plating 11 against Kentucky on April 2, 2005.

Kelsey Stewart gets tagged out at home during Florida’s 9-1 win against UNC Wilmington on Feb. 17 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Stewart picked up two hits in the Gators' 3-2 loss to Georgia on Friday.

Sports

Florida bats struggle against Kentucky

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 13, 2013

Kentucky officially dedicated its new softball complex on Saturday, and the Wildcats opened it with a victory.

Catcher Taylor Gushue throws the ball back to the mound during warmups between innings in Florida’s 4-0 victory against Ole Miss on March 31 at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Gators move to .500 with win

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Apr. 12, 2013

It looked as if the Gators were going to rely on unearned runs again on Friday night, but another big inning changed that.

Sports

Senior carries team against Kentucky

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Apr. 12, 2013

For a moment, it looked like Bob van Overbeek would revert to the the form that led to him struggling in a 46-day drought without a victory.

Sophomore pitcher and first baseman Lauren Haeger swings during Florida’s 6-5 win against Tennessee on March 15 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Haeger hit her first home run since March 22 in the Gators' 7-4 win against the No. 18 Wildcats.

Sports

Home runs power Gators to win

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 12, 2013

Hannah Rogers came into Friday’s game with bad memories of Lexington, Ky.

Senior Lauren Embree returns a ball during Florida’s 4-1 win against Georgia on March 15. Embree lost to Stanford's Nicole Gibbs 6-0, 6-1 as the Cardinal defeated the Gators 4-3 to advance to the NCAA title match.

Sports

Freshman clinches winning point for Gators

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Apr. 12, 2013

Brianna Morgan dominated the tennis court Friday.

Junior Jonathon Crawford warms up on the mound during Florida’s 3-2 win against South Carolina on April 11 at McKethan Stadium. Crawford and No. 3 seed Florida will face No. 2 seed Austin Peay in its first NCAA Tournament game on Friday.

Sports

Gators hold off Gamecocks

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Apr. 11, 2013

With South Carolina trailing Florida 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Gamecocks right fielder TJ Costen rounded third and was heading home to tie the game on a hit to right field. Halfway there, Costen tripped.

Junior Hannah Rogers pitches during Florida’s 7-3 win against FSU on March 27 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Rogers struck out 11 in her complete-game victory against Longwood on Saturday.

Sports

Opposing pitchers hitting Florida left fielder at historic rate

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 11, 2013

Briana Little gets on base the hard way.

Florida attacker Ashley Bruns (13) runs past Ohio State defender Tayler Kuzma (24) in the Gators’ 13-7 win against the Buckeyes on March 23 at Dizney Stadium. Bruns scored four goals in Florida's 16-5 win against Denver in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Sports

Midfield rotation paying dividends

Apr. 11, 2013

Senior attacker Ashley Bruns started 50 of her 51 games at Florida before this season.

Junior Florent Diep strikes the ball during Florida’s 5-2 victory against Miami on Jan. 19 at Linder Stadium.

Sports

Gators looking to boost ranking against SEC foes

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Apr. 11, 2013

Florida’s men’s tennis team had not received an individual honor since February 2012, but that changed on Wednesday.

Gators sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Burke makes a save against the Tennessee Volunteers during a game in 2011. Burke played the second half in Florida's 3-0 home loss on FSU on Friday night.

Sports

Sophomore excels as two-sport athlete

By GORDON STREISAND< | Apr. 11, 2013

Taylor Burke stays busy.

Freshman Richie Martin (12) bats in Florida’s 7-4 loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 24 at McKethan Stadium. Martin was the only player with more than one hit in the Gators' 4-2 loss to the Volunteers on Sunday.

Sports

Freshman impressive since return from finger injury

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Apr. 10, 2013

TALLAHASSEE — After missing nearly a month, Richie Martin was excited to return in time for the game he had been eying all season.

Lauren Haeger stands in the circle between pitches during Florida's 4-1 home loss to USF on March 28, 2012. Haeger struck out five in the Gators 9-1 win against the Bulls on Wednesday.

Sports

Power-hitting Florida uses small ball to defeat South Florida

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 10, 2013

Lauren Haeger does not let what happens in the batter’s box carry into the pitching circle.

Sports

Junior carrying Gators in SEC play

Apr. 10, 2013

Florida has struggled throughout the season to find a player it can consistently rely on.

T.J. Vogel watches one of his drives during a tournament last spring. Vogel will begin competition at The Masters today.

Sports

Florida senior competing at The Masters

By RJ Schaffer | Apr. 10, 2013

T.J. Vogel is competing against the world's best at The Masters this weekend. Although the Florida senior is competitive, he is starstruck by some of his opponents in Augusta, Ga.

Antoinette Bannister claps during pregame warmups before Florida's 68-57 loss to Vanderbilt on Feb. 21 in the O'Connell Center. Bannister decided to leave North Carolina and transfer to UF in order to be closer to her mother, who has battled serious illness since October 2012. Bannister will be eligible to play for the Gators at the conclusion of the Fall 2013 semester.

Sports

Living a new dream: Promising guard puts family first

By PHIL HEILMAN< | Apr. 9, 2013

Long before making the difficult decision to transfer from North Carolina to Florida, Antoinette Bannister grew up watching T.J., her half brother, flourish on the basketball court.

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

Sports

Freshman’s baserunning helps Gators beat ‘Noles

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 9, 2013

TALLAHASSEE — No one deserved to catch the final out of Florida’s 4-3 victory against Florida State on Tuesday night more than Harrison Bader.