Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida players celebrate during a 14-5 victory against South Carolina on Saturday at McKethan Stadium. The victory sealed the Gators' series sweep against the Gamecocks.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators return to polls with No. 19 ranking

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 15, 2013

Florida has been through baseball hell and back.

Guard Carlie Needles shoots during Florida's 69-58 loss to Arkansas on Feb. 28 in the O'Connell Center. Needles hit 34.1 percent of her three-point shots last season.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women's basketball team aims for better 2013-14

By PHIL HEILMAN< | Apr. 15, 2013

Coach Amanda Butler had a message for her team during its first offseason meeting last week: The best fruit ripens slowly.

Freshman outfielder Harrison Bader slides into home during Florida's 14-5 win against South Carolina on Saturday. Bader scored a run in the Gators' 7-1 win against the Owls on Tuesday.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Freshman key to UF baseball's turnaround

By JOE MORGAN< | Apr. 15, 2013

Harrison Bader stood before reporters following Florida’s 4-1 loss to Florida State on March 12.

Junior Camilla Hedberg watches her shot during the SunTrust Gator Invitational on March 15 at Mark Bostick Golf Course.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Sophomore places 72nd at LPGA event

By RJ Schaffer | Apr. 15, 2013

While all eyes were on Florida senior T.J. Vogel at The Masters this weekend, another Gators golfer was making headlines on the professional circuit.

Freshman running back Kelvin Taylor (21) scores a touchdown during drills at the Orange and Blue Debut on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

The Rally: Which football freshman will have the biggest impact on offense?

By JOE MORGAN< | Apr. 14, 2013

Joe: Florida desperately needs a playmaker in the passing game.

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 clinches share of fourth straight SEC championship

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Apr. 14, 2013

Four years, four Southeastern Conference championships for Lauren Embree and Caroline Hitimana.

Florida first baseman Taylor Schwarz (49) hits during Florida's 4-2 victory against Mississippi State on April 6 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Schwarz had one run after two attempts at bat. Schwarz homered twice in Florida's 9-5 win against Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Freshman first baseman breaks out of slump in series finale

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 14, 2013

Taylor Schwarz struggled through Florida’s first two games against Kentucky.

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 | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

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 | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

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 | BASEBALL

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 | BASEBALL

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 | SOFTBALL

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 | BASEBALL

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 | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

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 | SOFTBALL

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 | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

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 | BASEBALL

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 | SOFTBALL

Opposing pitchers hitting Florida left fielder at historic rate

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 11, 2013

Briana Little gets on base the hard way.

Will Yeguete (15) cheers for his teammates during Florida’s 79-59 loss to Michigan on March 31 in Arlington, Texas.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Offseason surgery possible for forward

By LANDON WATNICK< | Apr. 11, 2013

Forward Will Yeguete could end up on the operating table again this summer.

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 | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Midfield rotation paying dividends

Apr. 11, 2013

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