sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Junior attacker Lindsey Ronbeck scored four goals in Florida's 20-4 win over Cincinnati on Wednesday.

Sports

Rout of Cincinnati puts Gators lacrosse team one win away from conference title

By Tyler Nettuno | Apr. 18, 2018

Florida dominates a conference opponent.

Florida pitcher Kelly Barnhill is 19-1 this season and was recently selected as SEC Pitcher of the Week.

Sports

UF takes on Florida A&M tonight as regular season winds down

By Mari Faiello | Apr. 17, 2018

After sweeping South Carolina at home this past weekend, Florida’s softball team will hit the diamond again tonight at 6 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium to take on Florida A&M.

The then-Florida Marlins won the 2003 World Series over Cleveland.

Sports

Seriously, why do sports matter?

By Ethan Bauer | Apr. 17, 2018

It was nearly dusk when I arrived, stepped out of my dad’s Nissan Sentra and inhaled the scent of high expectations.

Junior midfielder Sydney Pirreca scored four goals on five shots Saturday against Marquette.

Sports

Florida’s two-game road trip begins with Cincinnati

By Tyler Nettuno | Apr. 17, 2018

With the Gators’ 18-6 victory over Marquette on Saturday, UF lacrosse coach Amanda O’Leary said that her players are still focused heading into its longest road stretch of the season.

Coach Kevin O'Sullivan and the Gators dropped their first home game since March 23 in an 8-4 loss against Jacksonville Tuesday night. “We’ve gotta clean up some mistakes,” O'Sullivan said.

Sports

Gators falter against Jacksonville in midweek matchup

By Justin Ahlum | Apr. 17, 2018

No. 1 Florida (32-7, 12-3 SEC) fell to Jacksonville 8-4, ending UF’s nine-game home winning streak and snapping a four-game winning streak overall.

Kelly Barnhill has gained an appreciation for other cultures through traveling for softball tournaments.

Sports

FROM GEORGIA TO JAPAN: Kelly Barnhill is pursuing gems beyond the softball diamond

By Mari Faiello | Apr. 17, 2018

It’s a quiet morning in the summer of 2016 as Kelly Barnhill walks the streets of Takasaki, Japan.

Redshirt junior AJ McFarland placed sixth in the hammer throw at the SEC Outdoor Championship. His teammates, freshman Thomas Mardal and redshirt sophomore Anders Eriksson, finished fifth and second, respectively.

Sports

Gators’ throwers have contributed to much of teams’ outdoor success

By Alanis Thames | Apr. 15, 2018

The events at the Tom Jones Memorial unfolded like many of the Gators’ previous meets have this season.

Sophomore Andy Zhang is tied for first heading into the final day of the NCAA Kissimmee Regional. He's at 8 under with freshman John Axelsen just behind him at 7 under.

Sports

Florida finishes fourth at the Mason Rudolph Championship

By Sam Campisano | Apr. 15, 2018

From start to finish, the Mason Rudolph Championship did not go the way the No. 11 Florida men’s golf team wanted it to.

Senior Anna Danilina beat the No. 6 women's tennis player in the NCAA 6-2, 6-0 on Saturday in Florida's regular-season finale against Vanderbilt.

Sports

Gators women’s tennis can focus on positives heading into SEC Tournament

By River Wells | Apr. 15, 2018

The Florida Gators women’s tennis team is feeling major déjà vu.

Senior Chase Perez-Blanco played the last regular-season match of his Gators career in UF's 7-0 victory over Alabama on Friday. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “It’s just been the best four years.”

Sports

UF tennis player Chase Perez-Blanco reflects on his Gators career

By Dylan Rudolph | Apr. 15, 2018

As fans filed out of the Ring Tennis Complex on Friday for the last time this season, senior Chase Perez-Blanco, along with fellow seniors Jordan Belga and Josh Wardell, stayed on the court.

The Gators softball team will face Georgia at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Sports

Gators and Gamecocks unite in “Yellow Game”

By Mark Stine | Apr. 15, 2018

The Gators softball team will face Georgia at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Rookie of the Year candidate Ben Simmons led Philadelphia to its first playoff appearance since 2012.

Sports

NBA Playoffs are here and Ben Simmons is ready to rock the nation

By Benjamin Brandt | Apr. 15, 2018

Philadelphia has seen enough sports success in the past four months to last a decade.

Florida lacrosse coach Amanda O’Leary (left) was pleased with the way her bench performed in its 18-6 victory over Marquette on Saturday. "It is... good to see some players who typically don't get in and see what they can do,” O'Leary said.

Sports

Florida’s bench shining during conference play

By Tyler Nettuno | Apr. 15, 2018

There’s a reason that the Gators lacrosse team was a unanimous pick to win the Big East during the preseason: it hasn’t lost a conference game since 2015.

Uf quarterback Feleipe Franks went 8 of 12 for 117 yards and two rushing touchdowns during Florida's Orange and Blue game on Saturday. Franks is fighting to retain the starting role for 2018.

Sports

Orange and Blue game leaves quarterback situation unclear

By Jake Dreilinger | Apr. 15, 2018

The uncertainty surrounding the Florida football team’s quarterback situation is almost as murky as Jim McElwain’s prospects of ever landing another head coaching job.

Michael Byrne earned his 10th save of the season Saturday against Missouri.

Sports

UF’s top performers halfway through SEC play

By Ethan Bauer | Apr. 15, 2018

It’s so hard to choose.

Sports

Jordan Scarlett impresses during Florida’s spring game

By Jake Dreilinger | Apr. 15, 2018

When UF quarterback Kyle Trask handed the ball off to running back Jordan Scarlett at the 45-yard line, it appeared he was going to be tackled immediately.

Sophomore Sierra Brooks paced Florida with an even par at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic over the weekend.

Sports

Gators cap off forgettable outing at Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic

By Chris O'Brien | Apr. 15, 2018

This most likely wasn’t the weekend Florida’s women’s golf team was looking for in its final tuneup before the SEC tournament.

Freshman midfielder Shannon Kavanagh scored four goals and added three assists in Saturday's win over Marquette.

Sports

Florida dominates Marquette to take sole possession of first place

By Tyler Nettuno | Apr. 15, 2018

Every week, Florida lacrosse coach Amanda O’Leary speaks about the importance of playing hard all 60 minutes. In Big East play, the Gators have done just that. On Saturday, they earned their fourth consecutive win by double digits, blowing out Marquette 18-6 at home.

Senior Peggy Porter clinched the match for UF in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Gators will move on to face rival Florida State.

Sports

Vanderbilt spoils Florida women’s tennis team’s Senior Day following ‘monumental’ comeback

By River Wells | Apr. 15, 2018

Florida senior Peggy Porter saw a 3-1 lead slip away in her second set against opponent Summer Dvorak on Saturday at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville. When the fate of the SEC regular season championship rested in her hands and she was up 4-1 in the third set, she was determined not to let it happen again.

Infielder Nicole DeWitt socked a walk-off home run over the wall at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Saturday, capping off a sweep for Florida against South Carolina.

Sports

Nicole DeWitt’s walk off helps Gators sweep the Gamecocks

By Mark Stine | Apr. 15, 2018

South Carolina center fielder Kamryn Watts stuck her arm out to feel for the wall.