Sports | Baseball - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF starting pitcher Brady Singer picked up the win in his final home game as a Gator. The junior was drafted 18th overall by the Kansas City Royals in the MLB Draft on Monday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Blaine Knight bests Brady Singer in Arkansas’ win over Florida

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 23, 2018

At the end of the seventh inning, Arkansas starter Blaine Knight was the first to meet his teammates at the mouth of the Razorbacks’ dugout. After being removed from the game just one out away from completing seven innings of work, his defense got the job done, as it ended Florida’s one-run inning and shut the door on a potential Gators comeback.

Shortstop Deacon Liput was perfect from the plate Tuesday night against USF, going 3-of-3 with three RBIs and scoring two runs.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Liput finding his swing again ahead of Arkansas series

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 22, 2018

If Deacon Liput had any doubts hanging over his head coming into Wednesday night’s game against Jacksonville, he let them all blow away with the gusty winds at McKethan Stadium.

Shortstop Deacon Liput was a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate Wednesday night against Jacksonville.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Every Florida starter records a hit in seven-run win over Jacksonville

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 22, 2018

The ball seemed to pause in the air, as if painted onto the Carolina-blue, jet exhaust-scarred sky. Then it descended.

Freshman Jordan Butler has allowed six runs in his last 9.1 innings pitched

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Bullpen still seeing moderate struggles through early portion of season

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 20, 2018

Bright rays of sunshine, a nice breeze and a partly cloudy sky engulfed Gainesville on Tuesday evening, right around the time Florida’s baseball team was supposed to have its first pitch. But a horrendous forecast earlier in the day forced UF to postpone its game against the Jacksonville Dolphins.

Third baseman Jonathan India slugged a two-run home run in Florida 3-1 victory over Auburn on Thursday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Over/Under: Florida baseball’s over- and underachievers this week

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 19, 2018

The No. 2 Gators baseball team went 3-1 over the past week, and the games couldn’t have been much more different from one another.

Florida pitcher Tyler Dyson pitched five innings against South Carolina on Sunday. He allowed two runs on two hits and struck out five Gamecock batters.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Behind strong pitching, Florida’s baseball team claims SEC-opening series over South Carolina

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 18, 2018

The ball rocketed off Jacob Olson’s bat like a satellite designed for orbit.

Right fielder Wil Dalton registered the game-winning RBI in UF's 7-6 win over Georgia on Friday night.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gamecocks wallop Gators pitchers for 15 runs on Saturday

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 17, 2018

Gamecocks designated hitter Noah Campbell stared down the barrel of a 6-foot-6 human cannon and didn’t blink. On a 2-2 pitch to lead off the first inning, Campbell took a 94-mph fastball from Florida starting pitcher Jackson Kowar deep to right-center field.

Junior right-hander Brady Singer allowed one run on two hits and struck out seven batters through six innings in Florida's win Friday night.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida baseball powers past South Carolina in SEC opener

By Ethan Bauer | Mar. 16, 2018

Graham Lawson didn’t even look up.

Outfielder/pitcher Andrew Baker has developed a reputation as being one of the funnier players on the Florida roster. But it was the young lefty's faith and family helped guide him through his low points.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Family, faith and baseball: Andrew Baker’s evolution from little league novice to UF two-way player

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 15, 2018

Andrew Baker leaned forward with his hands on his knees. He oozed a confidence and swagger that would have made Muhammad Ali blush.

Center fielder Nick Horvath is hitting .345 this year after failing to break the .200 mark in his first two seasons.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Nick Horvath’s bat coming alive at perfect time for Florida

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 15, 2018

During the beginning of his career at UF, Gators center fielder Nick Horvath struggled in the batter's box. His average at the plate was below .200.

Florida center fielder Nick Horvath went 3-for-4, notched two RBIs and scored two runs on Tuesday against Florida State in a 12-6 win for the Gators.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators' offense explodes, blows past No. 7 Florida State

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 13, 2018

Nick Horvath stood tall on second base with his hand on his belt buckle. After the Gators center fielder sent a double to left center field that scored two Gator runners, he whipped out some familiar dance moves.

Freshman pitcher Jordan Butler came in to pinch hit against Rhode Island in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

After walk-off win, Gators set sights on ‘Noles, SEC schedule

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 11, 2018

When Jordan Butler hit a grounder to the right side of the infield that scored Deacon Liput for the game-winning run, the freshman was mobbed by his teammates down the first-base line.

Florida starter Tyler Dyson recorded six strikeouts and gave up one unearned run in 6.1 innings pitched on Saturday in UF's 9-2 win over Rhode Island.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators complete sweep of Rams behind pair of victories

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 10, 2018

Florida starter Tyler Dyson recorded six strikeouts and gave up one unearned run in 6.1 innings pitched on Saturday in UF's 9-2 win over Rhode Island.

Designated hitter Nelson Maldonado's lone hit Friday night against Rhode Island was a grand slam home run in the fourth inning.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Singer shines, offense rolls in Gators' win over Rhode Island

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 9, 2018

Brady Singer put on a show.

Freshman Jordan Butler pitched five innings while giving up three hits and two runs Wednesday night against UCF.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators’ bats go cold in loss to UCF

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 7, 2018

On a persistently breezy 53-degree night, the Gators faithful began to file out of the ballpark in bunches. After a quick 1-2-3 seventh inning from Knights reliever Eric Hepple, roughly a third of the 3,253 in attendance had had enough of the cold weather and UF’s cold bats.

Coach Kevin O'Sullivan was unsure why his pitching staff struggled Tuesday against UCF. “For whatever reason, we just weren’t able to finish innings," he said.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Jack Leftwich’s poor outing results in No. 1 Gators’ second loss of 2018

By Justin Ahlum | Mar. 6, 2018

Riding the high horse of a seven-game winning streak, UCF trampled over the kings of college baseball’s landscape on Tuesday.

Though he didn't record a hit or an RBI on Sunday, right fielder Wil Dalton was still responsible for the game-winning runs against Stony Brook.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators complete sweep of Stony Brook behind Dyson’s pitching, Dalton’s heads-up baserunning

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 4, 2018

It can be conveyed on a scorecard (FC5U, E5), but it can’t be explained or appreciated there. In the annals of Gators baseball individual plays, perhaps the strangest of them all — FC5U, E5 — now belongs to Wil Dalton.

Center fielder Nick Horvath threw out a runner at the plate Saturday against Stony Brook. He finished 1-for-2 from the plate with an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Defense lifts Florida baseball past Stony Brook in second shutout of season

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 3, 2018

Nick Horvath’s arm has more range than Madonna’s singing voice.

Center fielder Wil Dalton hit three home runs in Florida's Game 1 win over Stony Brook.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Dalton’s trio of homers powers Florida past Stony Brook

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 2, 2018

Wil Dalton was just getting started.

Senior captain JJ Schwarz was one of three Gators batters to homer during the fifth inning of Wednesday's win over North Florida.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators diversifying offense with power and fundamentals

By Morgan McMullen | Mar. 1, 2018

What do the magic bullet theory, particle physics and long-distance relationships have in common?