Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Sophomore right fielder Connor Mitchell (13) swings during Florida’s 11-5 loss to Kentucky on Saturday at McKethan Stadium. Mitchell went 3 for 8 in the Gators' series against the Wildcats.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

UF drops SEC series to UK

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Mar. 17, 2013

The Gators are still waiting for everything to come together.

Junior forward Will Yeguete attempts a layup during Florida’s 66-40 victory against Vanderbilt on March 6 in the O’Connell Center. Yeguete underwent arthroscopic debridement on his right knee Wednesday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

March Madness preview: East Region

By GREG LUCA< | Mar. 17, 2013

The Favorite: Indiana

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 | COLUMNS

Greg’s tips for ‘March Madness’ survival

By GREG LUCA< | Mar. 17, 2013

With Sunday’s announcement of the NCAA Tournament field, bracket season is finally upon us. Here are a few tips to help you win your pool.

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 | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators lose SEC tourney title, earn No. 3 seed

By LANDON WATNICK< | Mar. 17, 2013

After falling 66-63 to Ole Miss on Sunday in the Southeastern Conference Tournament final, Florida will travel to Austin, Texas, for the NCAA Tournament.

Sophomore Lauren Haeger (17) swings during an at-bat in Florida’s 6-5 win against Tennessee on March 15 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Haeger went 2 for 3 with a home run, a double and five walks in Friday's doubleheader against Arkansas.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Sophomore homers twice in Gators’ win against Volunteers

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 17, 2013

Lauren Haeger had the luck of the Irish with her on St. Patrick’s Day.

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

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

No. 4 Gators sweep Tennessee

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Mar. 17, 2013

Olivia Janowicz set the tone with her strong on-court mentality on Sunday.

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 | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators finish third at SunTrust Gator Invitational

By RJ Schaffer | Mar. 17, 2013

Mia Piccio was just inches away from potentially helping Florida grab a third consecutive win in the SunTrust Gator Women’s Invitational.

Senior Billy Federhofer returns a volley during Florida’s 5-2 win against Miami on Jan. 19 at Linder Stadium. Federhofer hasn't lost a match since Feb. 9.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Men's tennis upsets No. 6 Tennessee on the road

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Mar. 17, 2013

Going into the match, freshman Luke Johnson didn’t know he was going to be in a deciding-match scenario.

Sophomore Kytra Hunter performs her beam routine in a dual meet against Ball State on Jan. 4 in the O’Connell Center. Hunter won the all-around title at the NCAA Regionals on Saturday.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida falls on the road in final meet of regular season

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Mar. 16, 2013

Florida’s trek of dominance came to a close on Saturday night in Salt Lake City, UT.

Senior attacker Gabi Wiegand prepares to take a shot during Florida’s 16-9 win against Stony Brook on Feb. 20 at Dizney Stadium. Wiegand scored four goals against Oregon on Saturday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Florida defeats Oregon on West Coast trip

Mar. 16, 2013

Up 9-3 at halftime, the Gators looked to be rolling, but then they hit a lull.

Infielder Zack Powers (5) speaks to assistant coach Craig Bell on third base during Florida’s 7-4 loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 24 at McKethan Stadium. Powers is 1 for 8 in the series against No. 10 Kentucky.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Wild seventh overshadows Crawford's successful start

By ADAM PINCUS< | Mar. 16, 2013

Jonathon Crawford walked off the mound after a start that began with promise but ended with frustration. He left the bases loaded in the seventh. Crawford threw his glove in the dugout for good reason.

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 | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators improve on second day of SunTrust Gator Invitational

By RJ Schaffer | Mar. 16, 2013

The No. 5 Florida women’s golf team has battled through tough competition through the first two rounds of the SunTrust Gator Invitational to set themselves up for a win in their annual home tournament.

Kenny Boynton attempts a shot over the outstretched arm of an Alabama defender. Boynton ranks No. 2 on Florida's all-time scoring list.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators advance to SEC Tournament finals

By LANDON WATNICK< | Mar. 16, 2013

As Florida trailed Alabama 37-27 with 16:05 remaining, Kenny Boynton woke up from a scoreless slump and put No. 13 UF on his back.

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 | BASEBALL

Pitching collapse costs Florida game against Kentucky

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Mar. 16, 2013

After Corey Stump pegged his second batter in a row, he put his face in his glove.

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 | SOFTBALL

Florida falls to Tennessee in extra-inning duel

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 16, 2013

In a game between two top-10 Southeastern Conference softball teams, it was the men in blue who took center stage at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Saturday.

Josh Tobias throws the ball to first base during Florida’s 9-8 win against N.C. State in Game 2 of the NCAA Super Regional on June 10 at McKethan Stadium. Against Georgia on Friday, Tobias notched Florida's only RBI of the match on a ground-rule double.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators earn first Friday win beating Kentucky in SEC opener

By ADAM PINCUS< | Mar. 15, 2013

Tempers flared in the early going between Florida and Kentucky. Wildcats shortstop Matt Reida found himself in middle of rundown while stealing second. First baseman Vickash Ramjit applied a hard tag. Reida fell and pushed Ramjit while getting up. Benches cleared. First-base umpire Steve Manders yelled at the Florida dugout to get off the field.

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 | SOFTBALL

Game-ending walk gives Florida win over Tennessee

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Mar. 15, 2013

Lauren Haeger was two strikes away from sealing a 5-3 Gators victory and notching her second save of the season.

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 | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida wins match after losing doubles point to Georgia

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Mar. 15, 2013

The Gators found their master in doubles and it came in the form of Bulldogs.

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

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida shut out by rival Georgia

By CHRIS KIRSCHNER< | Mar. 15, 2013

Tied at 8-8 in No. 1 doubles, Stephane Piro and Bob van Overbeek needed to win the 7-point tiebreaker to gain an early lead for the Gators over the Bulldogs.

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

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators in third after first round of home tournament

By RJ Schaffer | Mar. 15, 2013

The Florida women’s golf team got back to business on Friday, landing in third place after the first round of their annual home tournament, the SunTrust Gator Invitational.