Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Alex Faedo stares at home plate during Florida's 1-0 win against LSU on March 24, 2017, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Faedo dominant for Gators in 3-0 win to open CWS

By Dylan Dixon | June 19, 2017

Alex Faedo remembered the pain of last year’s College World Series.

Jim McElwain (left) and Mike White received contract extensions and raises on Friday afternoon. McElwain's new deal runs through 2022, while White's runs through 2023.

SPORTS

Stricklin announces raises, contract extensions for McElwain and White

By Dylan Dixon | June 16, 2017

Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin likes the direction UF’s football and men’s basketball programs are heading toward.

Frank Rubio pitches during Florida’s 2-0 win over Miami on Feb. 25, 2017, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators see eight players selected in 2017 MLB Draft

By Dylan Dixon | June 14, 2017

The three-day, 40-round, 1215-pick marathon that is the MLB Draft came to a close on Wednesday afternoon with a total of eight Gators selected by major league clubs.

Tyler Dyson allowed three runs on four hits through 2.0-plus innings in Florida's 3-2 loss to Kentucky on Saturday. He didn't record a strikeout in his shortest outing of the season.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators finding offensive groove ahead of College World Series

By Jake Dreilinger | June 14, 2017

Once the rain subsided and Game 3 of the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional was ready to resume, the Gators turned to an unlikely hero to keep Wake Forest’s red-hot offense at bay.

Kelly Barnhill pitches during Florida's 5-0 win against Georgia on April 8, 2017, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS

Alligator Awards: Who was Florida’s best female athlete of 2016-17?

June 14, 2017

In this edition of the Alligator Awards, we debate which UF female athlete was the best of the 2016-17 season. Sports writers Andrew Huang, Morgan McMullen and Spencer Thompson join alligatorSports editors Dylan Dixon and Jake Dreilinger in a roundtable discussion to debate the five nominees. Debates will go in alphabetical order by the writer’s last name.

Catcher JJ Schwarz is 8-for-19 from the plate with a pair of home runs over the last five games.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators advance to CWS after win over Wake Forest

By Jake Dreilinger | June 12, 2017

Wake Forest left fielder Jonathan Pryor started running back on a deep JJ Schwarz shot to the outfield in the bottom of the third inning after a three-hour long rain delay. As he reached the warning track, he started to slow down.

Alex Faedo pitches during Florida's 1-0 win against LSU on March 24, 2017, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Faedo taken 18th overall in 2017 MLB Draft

By Dylan Dixon | June 12, 2017

Florida’s third consecutive berth to the College World Series wasn’t the only thing worth celebrating for junior Alex Faedo on Monday night.

Former UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball (right) and his father, LaVar, shake hands after a game during the 2016-17 college basketball season.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: People need to focus on other NBA draft prospects besides Lonzo Ball

By Jake Dreilinger | June 12, 2017

When anyone talks about this year’s NBA Draft, the first name that always comes up is former UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball.

Grant Holloway competes in the 60-meter hurdles final at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators conclude season with individual and team national titles

By Andrew Huang | June 12, 2017

The Florida track and field program has a decorated past, championship present and promising future.

Former Gators left-hander Brian Johnson pitches during Boston’s 8-7 win against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, 2017, at the Rogers Centre.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators in the MLB: Brian Johnson trying to make his mark in BoSox rotation

By Morgan McMullen | June 12, 2017

When the Red Sox began the 2017 regular season, their pitching staff alone seemed enough to propel them to the playoffs.

UF outfielder Ryan Larson jogs to the dugout during Florida's 3-2 loss against Tennessee on April 8, 2017, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Larson hits walk off in Game 1 of Gainesville Super Regional

By Dylan Dixon | June 11, 2017

Ryan Larson couldn’t have found a better way to make up for lost time on Saturday night.

Kyra Jefferson sprints during the 2015 Pepsi Florida Relays at Percy Beard Track.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Jefferson sets NCAA record, Gators wrap up NCAA Outdoor Championships

By Andrew Huang | June 11, 2017

Kyra Jefferson saved her best for last—literally.

UF coach Mike Holloway smiles as he talks with his team during the 2016 Florida Relays at Percy Beard Track.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

National Champions: UF men's track and field takes home second straight title

By Mari Faiello | June 10, 2017

The Florida men’s track and field team are national champions for the second consecutive season, winning the NCAA outdoor title on Friday night behind four individual champs at Historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

UF sprinter Shayla Sanders runs the 100-meter at the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational on March 25, 2017.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators complete day two of NCAA Outdoor Championships

By Mari Faiello | June 9, 2017

One one-hundredth of a second was all it took to halt Skylar Ross-Ransom from advancing through the field of the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Florida defeated LSU 7-0 in its first game of a three-game series. Junior Alex Voss led the Gators offensively with two RBIs.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball “lived the dash” from start to finish in 2017

By Cassie Amundson | June 8, 2017

After game two of the Women’s College World Series, coach Tim Walton was asked about the fight and competitiveness his team exhibited against Oklahoma.

Michael Byrne pitches during Florida's 3-2 loss against Tennessee on April 8, 2017, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Byrne continues to play a big role for UF this postseason

By Dylan Dixon | June 8, 2017

When Michael Byrne trots out of Florida’s bullpen and makes his way towards the pitcher’s mound, his teammates automatically feel an added sense of confidence and relief.

Nashville Predators right wing Craig Smith (left) shoots during the third period of game three in the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: The NHL playoffs have outdone the NBA postseason

By Jake Dreilinger | June 8, 2017

If you’re anything like me, you’re sitting at home watching the NBA Finals and feeling a little bit disappointed. With the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers going a combined 24-1 in the first three rounds of the playoffs, this series between the two heavyweights was supposed to be an exciting one.

UF hurdler Eric Futch races during the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 10, 2016, in Eugene, Oregon.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators duo finishes 1 and 2 in long jump on day one of NCAAs

By Andrew Huang | June 8, 2017

The Florida men’s track and field team was almost 3,000 miles away from home, but it only took 8.05 meters for them to get on the board.

Tim Walton speaks with his players in the dugout during Florida's 5-0 win against Georgia on April 8, 2017, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida falls short of national title in 5-4 defeat against Oklahoma

By Cassie Amundson | June 6, 2017

With two outs and the bases loaded in the second inning, Oklahoma’s Shay Knighten hammered a ball to center field.

Austin Langworthy stands in the batter's box during UF's 2-0 win against Miami on Feb. 25, 2017, at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators win NCAA Regional in dramatic fashion

By Jake Dreilinger | June 6, 2017

A pair of errors from Bethune-Cookman first baseman Danny Rodriguez put Mike Rivera and Nelson Maldonado on second and third base, respectively, in the top of the sixth.