sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Coach Tim Walton studies the field during Florida’s 11-1 win against USF on May 18 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Gators ride pitching to WCWS

By LANDON WATNICK< | May 26, 2013

For the fifth time in six seasons, the Gators are bound for Oklahoma City.

Throwers coach Steve Lemke (left) and coach Mike Holloway walk across the field at Percy Beard Track at Pressly Stadium during the 2012 Florida Relays. Seventeen Gators qualified Sunday for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which are set to begin June 5.

Sports

Gators to send school-record 28 qualifiers to NCAA Outdoor Championships

By GORDON STREISAND< | May 25, 2013

The Gators are headed to the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships with the most qualifiers in school history.

Katie Medina jogs out of the batter’s box during Florida’s 9-1 win over UNC Wilmington on Feb. 17 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Medina singled with bases loaded to help Florida to a 4-3 walk-off victory against UAB on Saturday in the NCAA Super Regional.

Sports

Medina propels Florida to walk-off victory in Super Regionals

By LANDON WATNICK< | May 25, 2013

After Florida stumbled with bases loaded in the sixth against UAB, sophomore shortstop Katie Medina delivered the winning hit in the bottom of the seventh.

Sports

Eight more Gators advance to NCAA Outdoor Championships

By GORDON STREISAND< | May 25, 2013

With the second day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round in the books, the Gators will send eight more athletes to Eugene, Ore., for the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships – upping their total to 10 athletes.

Piccio finished her college career Friday with a 75 (+3) in UF's final round of the NCAA Championships. The Gators finished 17th overall.

Sports

Florida finishes 17th at NCAA Championships

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 24, 2013

The Florida women’s golf team’s season ended not with a bang, but merely a whimper.

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

Gators have up-and-down performance at first day of NCAA Prelims

By GORDON STREISAND< | May 24, 2013

The first day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round was a tumultuous one for the Gators.

Sports

Gators drop to 23rd after third day at NCAA Championships

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 23, 2013

On moving day of the NCAA Championships, the Florida women’s golf team continued to fall on the leaderboard.

Sophomore Casey Turgeon hits a pop fly to first base in the bottom of the eighth inning against Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 22. Turgeon’s batting average fell from .281 in 2012 to .269 this season.

Sports

Results not there for UF

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | May 22, 2013

It’s time for Gators fans to face the facts. This year’s baseball team is not good.

Lauren Embree reaches for a backhand against Georgia at the USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Singles final on Oct. 24, 2011. Embree lost her final dual match as a Gator in Florida’s 4-3 loss to Stanford in the NCAA semifinals on Monday.

Sports

Embree deserves to be in conversation of all-time UF greats

By PHIL HEILMAN< | May 22, 2013

Lauren Embree’s list of collegiate accomplishments is nothing short of astounding.

Taylore Fuller fist-bumps coach Tim Walton as she rounds third base after hitting a home run on May 18 against USF.

Sports

Florida catcher finding hitting stroke in NCAA Tournament

By LANDON WATNICK< | May 22, 2013

When Taylore Fuller arrived at Florida, the expectations were high.

Jimmy Clark celebrates winning the men’s 10,000-meter at the SEC Outdoor Championships in Columbia, Mo., on May 10. Clark was named SEC Men’s Freshman Runner of the Year on Friday.

Sports

Freshman long-distance runner garners conference honor

By GORDON STREISAND< | May 22, 2013

The outdoor track and field season isn’t a sprint – it’s a marathon.

Junior Alexandra Cercone swings during Florida’s 7-0 victory against Baylor on Feb. 2 at Linder Stadium.

Sports

Three Gators eliminated during NCAA Singles competition

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | May 22, 2013

After suffering a rough loss in the semifinals Monday, three Gators continued their losing streak at a rain-delayed NCAA Singles Championship.

Sports

Gators fall down the leaderboard at NCAA Championships

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 22, 2013

It was a new day on the golf course, but much of the same on the scorecard for Florida in the second round of competition at the NCAA Championships.

Sophomore Johnny Magliozzi pitches against Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 24. Magliozzi surrendered five runs in 6.1 innings against Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament Tuesday.

Sports

Florida eliminated in first round of SEC Tournament

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | May 21, 2013

With a chance for the Southeastern Conference title and a possible NCAA Tournament bid on the line, Florida needed someone to step up.

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

Florida stumbles on first day of NCAA Championships

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 21, 2013

On an opening day of the NCAA Championships that saw few teams shoot negative, the Florida women’s golf team wasn’t one of them.

Sports

Gators hoping to take next step at NCAA Championships

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 20, 2013

The Florida women’s golf team begins play in the NCAA Championships today after a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Central Regional on May 11.

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

Florida falls short of three-peat

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | May 20, 2013

History shows that when Florida and Stanford meet, Stanford wins.

Right-handed pitcher Johnny Magliozzi (left) celebrates with catcher Taylor Gushue during Florida’s 4-0 win against Ole Miss on March 31 at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Gators struggle with runners on

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | May 20, 2013

Down by a run in the top of the fourth in Saturday’s rubber game against Georgia, Florida had a chance to start a two-out rally.

Senior Vickash Ramjit swings at a pitch against Florida State on March 12,at McKethan Stadium. UF will play in the Southeastern Conference Tournament today against TAMU.

Sports

The Rally: What will be Florida’s biggest weakness in the postseason?

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | May 20, 2013

The Florida baseball team could have played itself into being an NCAA Tournament lock with a strong finish to its season. Instead, the Gators lost seven of those 12 games, including two of three to unranked Auburn and Georgia. Today, alligatorSports baseball writers Josh Jurnovoy and Adam Lichtenstein debate what will give Florida more trouble in this week’s Southeastern Conference tournament: hitting or pitching.

Senior Carolina Hitimana clinched Florida's 4-2 victory against California on Sunday at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex in Urbana, Ill.

Sports

Hitimana excels as Florida earns fourth straight Final Four berth

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | May 19, 2013

Caroline Hitimana found her edge on the court.