It's too early to say anything for sure, but this team certainly doesn't look like the one that coaches predicted to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference East before the season.
In the opening weekend of SEC play, UF swept Auburn, capping the series with a 6-2 victory Sunday. The Gators blasted past the Tigers 12-8 Saturday and also won 7-1 Friday night.
"Hopefully, this weekend proved to some people we can compete in the SEC," first baseman Brandon McArthur said. "We'll see down the road, but this is only three out of 27."
It was UF's first SEC series sweep since defeating Georgia at the end of last March.
"It's a long season and I don't want to get too excited," UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "We're excited with where we're at - don't get me wrong - but it's just three games."
The Gators (14-3, 3-0 SEC) had no trouble putting up runs when traditional thought would say their offense should trail off entering conference play.
Freshman Josh Adams went 8 for 11 in the series with six RBIs, four runs, three doubles, two stolen bases, two walks and a home run.
By Sunday, the Tigers had learned their lesson - both of their pitching changes came before Adams at-bats.
"I guess they figured a different look might throw me off a little bit," Adams said.
But it wasn't just Adams, who said he would have had a good laugh if you told him back in February that he'd be batting cleanup and performing as well as he is. The entire UF lineup walloped Auburn (11-8, 0-3 SEC) all series: The Gators had 35 hits and 25 runs on the weekend.
"Today it all came together," freshman pitcher Tommy Toledo said. "Confidence-wise, everyone's building a little bit of momentum."
All six UF runs came with two outs.
"The inning's never over until the third out is made, and the game's not over until the last out is made," O'Sullivan said.
The Gators took a 1-0 lead into the fourth inning when Adams led off with a double, and Jonathan Pigott followed with a double of his own two outs later. Clayton Pisani singled, adding another run, and an Auburn error gave UF one last run in the inning. The 4-0 lead was more than the Gators' pitchers needed.
Toledo (3-0, 2.14 ERA) did not have his most solid start of the year, but he got the job done. He recorded two strikeouts, both in the fifth inning, and walked four batters.
"He's given us four quality starts now," O'Sullivan said. "What else can you ask for from a freshman?"
UF has already matched last season's total with 39 stolen bases.
Saturday's victory saw UF turn its first triple play since March 15, 1997.
With two runners on in the fourth inning, Auburn's Ben Jones lined a pitch right back to starter Patrick Keating. Keating smacked the ball with his glove, and the ball flew toward second baseman Josh Adams. Adams made the catch before the ball hit the ground, flipped it to Cole Figueroa behind his back at shortstop and then Figueroa threw to Brandon McArthur at first for the third out.
Fans erupted after the play was over, as did the UF dugout.
"I was more fired up than I think Keating was," O'Sullivan said.
UF scored six runs in the first inning, and the game was out of reach from that point.
Friday's contest was also a blowout in UF's favor.
The Gators combined for seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a lead Auburn could not match.
