sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior guard Kenny Boynton (1) takes it to the basket during Florida’s 66-63 loss to Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament final on March 17 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Boynton and the Gators have lost in the Elite Eight each of the last two years.

Sports

Seniors' legacy hinges on Elite Eight

By GREG LUCA< | Mar. 30, 2013

Florida’s season begins on Sunday.

Senior center fielder Cody Dent swings during Florida’s 16-5 win against Duke on Feb. 17 at McKethan Stadium. Dent hit his first career home run against Florida A&M on Monday.

Sports

Bottom of the order provides offense for Florida

By ADAM PINCUS< | Mar. 30, 2013

Jonathon Crawford could tell warming up in the bullpen he’d be in for a gem. He unleashed a plus slider and live fastball from the get-go.

Right-hander Jonathon Crawford throws a pitch during Florida’s 8-2 loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Feb 22 at McKethan Stadium. Selected 20th by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the MLB Draft on Thursday, Crawford is the highest Florida pitcher taken since John Burke went sixth to the Houston Astros in 1991.

Sports

Junior pitches gem to even series with Ole Miss

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Mar. 30, 2013

The Gators got what they had been waiting all season for on Saturday: last year’s version of Jonathon Crawford.

Senior attacker Kitty Cullen looks to score against UAlbany on Feb. 24 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Cullen scored two goals in her final game for the Gators.

Sports

Florida drops first game of season to Penn State

Mar. 30, 2013

Florida did not leave Happy Valley, Pa., with a smile on Saturday afternoon.

Freshman Jay Carmichael warms up between innings during UF’s 8-2 loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 22. Carmichael walked four and hit two batters in Florida's 4-3 loss to Ole Miss on Friday.

Sports

Freshman begins series with uncharacteristic start

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Mar. 29, 2013

Jay Carmichael finally met his match on Friday night.

Freshman starting pitcher Jay Carmichael warms up between innings during Florida’s 4-1 win against Kentucky on March 15 at McKethan Stadium. Carmichael only pitched 1.2 innings in April while dealing with arm soreness.

Sports

Gators force extra innings, fall to Rebels

By ADAM PINCUS< | Mar. 29, 2013

Baseball can be a cruel game. Florida felt its wrath yet again Friday at McKethan Stadium. Baserunning mistakes killed rallies. Two-out baserunners taxed Florida pitchers. Three innings offered opportunities to win the game. Three times the Gators couldn’t come through.

Sophomore jumper Marquis Dendy competes in the long jump at the SEC Indoor Track Championships on Feb. 23 in Fayetteville, Ark. Dendy qualified for the men's triple jump in next week's NCAA Outdoors Championships.

Sports

Florida wins three events at Texas Relays

By GORDON STREISAND< | Mar. 29, 2013

UF senior Bob van Overbeek returns a volley. Van Overbeek won only his second match since Feb. 3 against Ole Miss on Friday.

Sports

Florida drops match to LSU without senior in lineup

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Mar. 29, 2013

Billy Federhofer’s hard work in practice shot him up from the No. 6 singles position in the beginning of the season to the No. 3 spot.

UF senior Lauren Embree returns a volley from Baylor sophomore Ema Burgic during the No. 1 Gators’ 7-0 win against the 15th-ranked Bears on Feb. 2. Embree has won four Southeastern Conference titles at Florida.

Sports

Gators sweep Tigers in road match

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Mar. 29, 2013

Junior starter Hannah Rogers pitches during Florida’s 9-1 victory against UNC Wilmington on Feb. 17 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Rogers gave up five runs to Mississippi State in the second inning on Sunday.

Sports

Gators take first game from Rebels

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 29, 2013

Coach Tim Walton revamped his lineup before Friday’s game against Ole Miss, and it did not take long for the changes to pay off.

UF golfer Mia Piccio carries her bag at the Betsy Rawls Invitational on Nov. 2, 2011. Piccio carded a 73 (+1) in Florida's first round at the NCAA Championships on Tuesday at the UGA Golf Course.

Sports

Gators struggle in first round of Bryan National Collegiate

By RJ Schaffer | Mar. 29, 2013

Freshman guard Sydney Moss (40) drives to the basket during Florida 69-58 win against Arkansas on Feb. 28 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Junior center not with team

By PHIL HEILMAN< | Mar. 28, 2013

After missing the past six games, junior Vicky McIntyre’s future with the Gators is in question.

Olivia Janowicz prepares to return a serve in a match against Duke in 2011.

Sports

Florida begins road swing against LSU

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Mar. 28, 2013

Olivia Janowicz has put points on the board for the Gators early in matches recently.

Junior center Patric Young (right) attempts a hook shot during Florida’s 66-40 win against Vanderbilt on March 6 in the O’Connell Center. .

Sports

Eight reasons FGCU has a shot

By JOE MORGAN< | Mar. 28, 2013

You’re not ready.

Senior Isabelle Lendl chips a shot onto the green. Lendl finished tied for 32nd at the Bryan National Collegiate this weekend.

Sports

Gators expect improved play in final regular-season tournament

By RJ Schaffer | Mar. 28, 2013

The Gators women’s golf team is looking to rebound in the Bryan National Collegiate this weekend after falling just short of winning their home tournament, the SunTrust Gator Invitational, nearly two weeks ago.

Junior Alaina Johnson performs her routine on the balance beam during Florida’s 196.575-190.55 victory against Ball State on Jan. 4 in the O’Connell Center. Johnson competed for the first time since Jan. 18 at the NCAA Regionals on Saturday.

Sports

Junior battling nagging back injury

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Mar. 28, 2013

No. 1 Florida’s Alaina Johnson has been cleared to participate in gymnastics after missing eight meets because of a stress fracture and stress reaction in her lower back. However, Johnson’s availability as Florida tries to claim its first national title under coach Rhonda Faehn is still in question.

Sports

Freshman pitcher aims to continue hot streak tonight

By ADAM PINCUS< | Mar. 28, 2013

Jay Carmichael is no stranger to facing elite Southeastern Conference hitting. The freshman right-hander toes the rubber against No. 11 Ole Miss (22-4, 3-3 SEC) on Friday night at 7 a week after shutting down No. 5 Vanderbilt on the road. Carmichael entered the season as an unknown bullpen commodity. He has since emerged as the Friday night starter, leapfrogging heralded ace Jonathon Crawford.

Bailey Castro bats during an exhibition against Santa Fe on Nov. 7, 2012, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Castro struck out in a key spot in Florida's 7-3 win against Florida State on Wednesday.

Sports

Gators struggle with strikeouts despite explosive offense

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 28, 2013

Bailey Castro strode to the batter’s box with Wednesday’s game against Florida State on the line.

Sports

Freshman impressing upperclassmen on defense

Mar. 28, 2013

Out of the 14 players that have gotten to start at least one game this season, Sydney DuPre is the only freshman among the pack, and she has started in all 13 of them.

Sophomore Matt Elliott competes in the 100-yard breaststroke against Tennessee on Feb. 1 at the O'Connell Center.

Sports

Gators finish strong on first day of NCAA Championships

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Mar. 28, 2013

Marcin Cieslak swam at a new level on the first night of the NCAA finals on Thursday.