Sports | Baseball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Outfielder Harrison Bader bats during Florida’s 4-0 win against Ole Miss on March 31, 2013, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida defeats Kentucky, reaches SEC Tournament final

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 24, 2014

And on to the championship they go.

Florida celebrates after an inning during it’s 4-0 win against Maryland on Feb. 14 at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida advances to SEC Tournament semifinals

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 23, 2014

Mississippi State (37-22) entered its Southeastern Conference Tournament fourth-round tilt against No. 1 seed Florida (39-20) with a .981 fielding average, good for seventh in all of Division 1. In the 5-1 loss, the Bulldogs looked anything but stout defensively team behind its pitchers.

Casey Turgeon swings during Florida’s 4-0 win against Maryland on Feb. 14 at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida tops South Carolina, stays alive in SEC Tournament

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 22, 2014

UF played with its back against the wall on Thursday.

Braden Mattson dives toward first base during Florida’s 1-0 win against Arkansas on March 15 at McKethan Stadium. Mattson recorded one RBI and one run during UF’s 4-2 loss to Kentucky on Wednesday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida falls to Kentucky in second round SEC Tournament game

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 21, 2014

During a midgame interview with ESPN, coach Kevin O’Sullivan credited UF’s success late in the regular season to its ability to hit in the clutch.

Josh Tobias throws to first base against Georgia Tech on June 3, 2012, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida earns first-round bye

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 19, 2014

Florida’s quest for a seventh Southeastern Conference tournament championship begins this week as the top-seeded Gators descend upon Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Josh Tobias bats during Florida’s 3-1 win against Florida State on March 18.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida rests starters in regular season finale loss

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 17, 2014

With the 13th Southeastern Conference championship clinched the day before, Florida (37-19, 21-9 SEC) failed to sweep eastern division foe Tennessee (31-22, 12-18 SEC) losing 7-5 to close out the 2014 regular season.

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Florida baseball clinches share of SEC title with extra-innings win over Tennessee

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 15, 2014

Florida decided it was as good of a time for a dog pile as any after a 6-5 victory over Tennessee in the 11th inning to open the season’s last weekend series with a win on Thursday.

Richie Martin hits during Florida’s 9-7 loss against Maryland on Feb. 15 at McKethan Stadium. Martin went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs in UF's 8-2 win against USF on Tuesday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Top of the lineup comes up strong for Gators in home finale

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | May 13, 2014

In a season where non-conference midweek matchups have proved to be potential pitfalls for Florida, coach Kevin O’Sullivan needed a strong performance from the top of his lineup to turn the tide Tuesday night against USF.

Zack Powers walks back to the dugout after striking out during Florida’s 4-1 loss to Florida State on March 12, 2013 at McKethan Stadium.

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Florida baseball blanked by Vanderbilt in Game 2

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 9, 2014

There was a hot pitcher on the mound at McKethan Stadium Friday night, perhaps even better than UF’s Logan Shore to open the series.

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Shore leads Florida baseball to home win over Vanderbilt

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 8, 2014

On Thursday night in the ESPNU showcase game, pitcher Logan Shore did what he does best for No. 4 Florida (34-16, 19-6 Southeastern Conference) in its 1-0 win over No. 18 Vanderbilt (36-14, 14-11 SEC).

Taylor Gushue bats during Florida’s 3-1 win against FSU on March 18 at McKethan Stadium. Gushue was a second-team All-American in 2014 after batting a career-high .318

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida baseball drops third straight midweek contest

By RICHARD JOHNSON | May 6, 2014

For the third time in a row, No. 4 Florida (33-16, 18-6 Southeastern Conference) fell in a midweek game, dropping 4-2 to No. 24 Mercer (35-11, 16-5 Atlantic Sun) on Tuesday.

Ryan Larson stands at the plate during No. 20 Florida's 9-7 loss against Maryland on Feb. 15.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators earn walk-off victory over Tigers in 10th

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 27, 2014

It took extra innings, five pitchers and the Gators’ fourth outfielder Ryan Larson to scratch out a series-finale win against the Missouri Tigers.

Aaron Rhodes pitches during Florida’s 3-1 win against Florida State on March 18 at McKethan Stadium.

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Rhodes tosses one-hit shutout

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Apr. 26, 2014

If Aaron Rhodes was still fighting for the Saturday starter spot entering Game 2 of the Missouri-Florida series, he has it all but secured now.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida rebounds from two-game losing skid to defeat SEC foe

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 26, 2014

Zack Powers found himself in the middle of a bench-clearing tussle against Florida State. A month later, he came a call away from hitting into a triple play. The bizarre sequence started in the second inning with Powers roping a line drive to Missouri first baseman Kendall Keeton who snagged the liner, stepped on first and fired to third to complete the rare trifecta.

Bobby Poyner pitches during Florida’s 3-2 victory against Georgia on Saturday at McKethan Stadium. Poyner has a 3.99 ERA in 19 appearances in 2014.

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Florida lineup changes

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 21, 2014

Bobby Poyner watched most of Sunday’s finale from the dugout railing next to coach Kevin O’Sullivan and hitting coach Brad Weitzel. He was a day removed from striking out a career-high seven batters in four innings of relief.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida sweeps Georgia for first time since 2010 season

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Apr. 20, 2014

With fewer than 24 hours separating Florida’s first and final game of the series against Georgia, the Gators’ bats came on strong Saturday and stayed hot through Sunday’s afternoon contest.

Harrison Bader slides into home during Florida’s 14-5 win against South Carolina on April 13, 2013. Bader and the Gators will look to sweep Georgia in their final matchup Sunday at noon.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida captures two wins Saturday, look to sweep series Sunday

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 19, 2014

John Sternagel raised his finger to the sky as he rounded first base. He did it again once he crossed home plate. The freshman just delivered a one-run lead by sending a baseball into the tan glove of a fan standing in the left-field bleachers.

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Florida finishes road trip with victory over Florida Gulf Coast

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 15, 2014

The Gators had their work cut out for them two weeks ago. An eight-game road trip that included three top-10 teams awaited them.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators need 13 innings to topple Gamecocks

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 13, 2014

A Justin Shafer sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run against South Carolina on Saturday night to even up the Southeastern Conference series and keep Florida tied at the top of its division.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida falls short of No. 5 South Carolina

Apr. 12, 2014

The Gators got on the board first Friday night, but the Gamecocks got the best of them.