Sports | Baseball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Junior right fielder Preston Tucker (25) decided to return to the Gators after being selected by the Colorado Rockies in June’s MLB draft. He is seven RBI shy of a UF record.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida baseball gets boost from Tucker’s return

Jan. 29, 2012

Preston Tucker could be leading an entirely different life.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

While You Were Away ...

Aug. 21, 2011

CWS Run Ends On Sour Note: Florida’s baseball team rode Preston Tucker’s bat and a strong pitching staff to its first SEC Tournament Title since 1991. But the season will be remembered by a sweep at the hands of South Carolina in the CWS Finals in Omaha, Neb.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators' season ends with disappointment, hope for next year

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 29, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — Josh Adams' lips quivered as he spoke. With tears streaming down his face, Florida's second baseman was helpless at the podium, unable to process where it all went wrong.

South Carolina players celebrate after beating Florida 5-2 in
Game 2 of the NCAA baseball College World Series best-of-three
finals.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

South Carolina repeats as Florida's season bitterly ends

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 28, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — It wasn’t supposed

South Carolina and closer Matt Price defeated Florida 2-1 in
Monday's College World Series Finals opener. The Gators blew
multiple late chances, eventually falling in the 11th inning after
two costly throwing errors.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

'Cocks shock Gators

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 27, 2011

Just call them the Cardiac ‘Cocks or Houdini's Heroes. South Carolina did it again.

Florida baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan, left, and South
Carolina coach Ray Tanner pose with the College World Series
trophy. The Gators and Gamecocks will play a best-of-three
championship series starting Monday at 8 p.m.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators, Gamecocks ready to battle in CWS finals

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 26, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — Ray Tanner can tell a story. But if he turns out to

Florida players erupt out of the dugout after defeating
Vanderbilt 6-4 to advance to the CWS championship series.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators find success through focus, confidence

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 25, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — When Texas was eliminated from the College World

Florida catcher Mike Zunino had his aluminum bat sawed off in
the eighth inning of UF's 6-4 win over Vanderbilt on Friday at the
College World Series

SPORTS | BASEBALL

News and Notes from the College World Series

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 25, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — College baseball’s championship trophy is headed

Florida beat Vanderbilt 6-4 Friday to advance to its second-ever
College World Series championship series. The Gators will play
either Virginia or South Carolina starting Monday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators rally to advance to CWS finals

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 24, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — Entering Friday, the Gators were in the driver's seat at the College World Series. After six long months and 70 games, their rolling train finally reached its destination.

Preston Tucker and the Gators have dropped Vanderbilt four times already this seaso, including a 3-1 victory just four days ago at the College World Series. The two teams square off Friday at 2 p.m. in a semifinals matchup.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators, 'Dores ready to duke it out again

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 23, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — For the second time in four days a pair of conference titans will clash at the College World Series in a critical semifinals matchup.

Despite his youth, Florida freshman Karsten Whitson (8-0, 2.43
ERA) has flummoxed hitters all season. The powerful right-hander
was a key caveat in Florida 3-1 win over Vanderbilt Tuesday in the
weather-suspended contest at the College World Series.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Whitson's progression, growth on display Monday night

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 22, 2011

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Florida southpaw Steven Rodriguez shutdown Vanderbilt Monday and
Tuesday in a weather-suspended winner's bracket game at the College
World Series. The Gators downed the Commodores 3-1 as Rodriguez
punched-out a career-high seven in relief.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Atonement, redemption come at last for Rodriguez

By JESS SIMONTON | June 22, 2011

OMAHA, Neb. — Baseball relievers are supposed to have short

Florida celebrates after beating Vanderbilt 3-1 in a weather-delayed College World Series contest. The Gators dropped their SEC foes for the fourth time in five tries.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Stifling pitching, Tucker's blast lead Gators over Commodores at CWS

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 21, 2011

OMAHA, Neb., — Not wind, not hail, not even a day without touching

Florida's coach Kevin O'Sullivan is best friends with Vanderbilt's manager Tim Corbin. Their relationship dates back to their days together as assistants on Jim Levett's staff at Clemson (1999-2002). Vanderbilt and Florida square off tonight at 7 in a winner's bracket contest at the CWS.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

CWS pre-game notebook: O'Sullivan, Corbin and dueling aces

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 20, 2011

OMAHA, Neb., — Two old friends and a pair of conference titans will

Gators third baseman Cody Dent has become a key cog during Florida's championship quest. The sophomore has solidified the hot corner with his slick glove work and his renewed offensive approach.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Dent turning into key contributor for Gators

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 19, 2011

OMAHA, NEB. — Florida vs. Vanderbilt isn't quite Yankees vs. Red

Bryson Smith, (1) pictured center, reached base in all five plate appearances in Florida's 8-4 win over Texas Saturday at the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Smith met with reporters afterwards for the first time since his embarrassing arrest in mid-March.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

After propelling Gators comeback, Smith reflects on difficult road

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 19, 2011

OMAHA, Neb., — Bryson Smith never lost faith.

No. 2 national seed Florida seed defeated Texas 8-4 in Saturday's College World Series opener in Omaha, Neb. The Gators will now play Vanderbilt on Tuesday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida drops Texas on opening day of the CWS

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 18, 2011

OMAHA, Neb., — Since postseason play began, the top-ranked Gators baseball team has shown a unique capability of rising from the dead.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Maddox and Johnson set to return for Saturday's CWS opener

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 17, 2011

OMAHA — Florida (50-17) will receive an added boost when it faces off against perennial powerhouse Texas (49-17) Saturday at 7 p.m. on the opening day of the 2011 College World Series.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida takes business-like attitude back to Omaha

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 15, 2011

In the opening baseball media session in February — still stinging from a bitterly short trip nearly eight months before — the top-ranked Gators spoke about their motivation to get back to the College World Series.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators headed back to Omaha after Tucker’s blast

By JESSE SIMONTON | June 13, 2011

The top-ranked Gators were eight outs away from clinching back-to-back College World Series appearances Saturday. Instead, they imploded twice, culminating in Mississippi State’s Nick Vickerson’s stunning walk-off two-run homer.