Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Freshman Richie Martin (12) bats in Florida’s 7-4 loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 24 at McKethan Stadium. Martin was the only player with more than one hit in the Gators' 4-2 loss to the Volunteers on Sunday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Tennessee ace silences Florida offense

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Apr. 28, 2013

The Gators had a chance to go for the sweep on Sunday.

Taylor Schwarz prepares for the pitch during Florida’s 8-0 win against Arkansas on March 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators shut out Bulldogs to clinch final home series

By LANDON WATNICK< | Apr. 28, 2013

Florida jumped out to an early lead Sunday afternoon and cruised past Georgia courtesy of Taylor Schwarz’s bat.

Sophomore jumper Marquis Dendy competes in the long jump at the SEC Indoor Track Championships on Feb. 23 in Fayetteville, Ark. Dendy qualified for the men's triple jump in next week's NCAA Outdoors Championships.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Gators pick up 11 victories in Fayetteville

By GORDON STREISAND< | Apr. 27, 2013

At its second-to-last meet of the regular season, Florida’s track and field team shined.

Sophomore Zack Powers is congratulated by teammates at home plate after hitting his second grand slam during Florida’s 16-5 win against Duke on Feb. 17 at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida takes game from Tennessee in extras

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Apr. 27, 2013

After two straight games where the Florida lineup put the game out of reach early, it looked like the pitching staff would have to win the game on Saturday night.

Sophomore catcher Taylor Gushue swings Florida’s 14-5 win against South Carolina on April 12 at McKethan Stadium. Gushue leads the Gators with 30 RBI.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gushue hitting stride in second season

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 27, 2013

Taylor Gushue pointed to the Florida dugout as McKethan Stadium awoke from its Saturday night slumber. The sophomore catcher gave Florida a 1-0 lead on a double down the left-field line to score Casey Turgeon from first base.

Jelani Jenkins (3) returns an interception during Florida’s 37-26 win against Florida State on Nov. 24 at Doak Campbell Stadium. Jenkins was one of three former Gators chosen by the Miami Dolphins on Friday.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Dolphins pick three Gators on Day 3 of NFL draft

By PHIL HEILMAN< | Apr. 27, 2013

Florida had only two players drafted a year ago — the Seattle Seahawks took Jaye Howard in the fourth round, and Chris Rainey went to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth.

Sophomore Lauren Haeger swings during Florida’s 4-2 win against Mississippi State on April 6 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Haeger hit a three-run homer in Florida's 5-2 win against Georgia on Saturday.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Haeger's homer helps even series with Georgia

By LANDON WATNICK< | Apr. 27, 2013

After three quiet innings from the Gators offensively, Lauren Haeger woke up Florida with a blast in the bottom of the fourth.

Freshman pitcher Danny Young warms up on the mound before Florida’s 4-0 victory against Ole Miss on March 31 at McKethan Stadium. Young picked up the loss in the Gators' 18-6 loss to the Tigers on Saturday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Young injured during solid outing

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 26, 2013

The buzz generated from three home runs and seven runs disappeared for a moment. Florida left-hander Danny Young lay face down on the saturated mound clay with his glove off to the side Friday night.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida uses three homers to defeat Tennessee

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Apr. 26, 2013

The Gators might have thought their offense was cooling down on Sunday right after their best stretch of the season.

Kelsey Stewart gets tagged out at home during Florida’s 9-1 win against UNC Wilmington on Feb. 17 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Stewart picked up two hits in the Gators' 3-2 loss to Georgia on Friday.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators drop series opener to Bulldogs

By LANDON WATNICK< | Apr. 26, 2013

Georgia right-hander Chelsea Wilkinson had Florida swinging at air all Friday afternoon.

Senior linebacker Jon Bostic (1) runs down South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw during Florida’s 44-11 win on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Bostic was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft with the 50th overall pick.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Bostic taken in second round of NFL draft, Reed selected in third

By PHIL HEILMAN | Apr. 26, 2013

Jon Bostic could become the next great linebacker for an organization steeped in history at the position.

Defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (73), now a member of the Minnesota Vikings, celebrates after making a tackle during Florida’s 33-23 loss to Louisville during the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2 at the Superdome in New Orleans.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Two former Gators selected in first round of NFL Draft

By PHIL HEILMAN< | Apr. 25, 2013

Florida entered the 2012 NFL Draft with the nation’s longest active streak of having at least one player selected in the first round — a span dating back to 2007 — before being shut out in the opening round.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Freshman nears return to shortstop

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 25, 2013

The remnants of a 16-game absence couldn’t be seen on the field. White athletic tape was all that was left of a fractured finger. Richie Martin looks ready to play shortstop, but for now he’s providing solid defense in centerfield.

UTEP defensive coordinator Jeff Choate was hired as Florida’s special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach on Wednesday. Choate was Washington State’s linebackers coach last season.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

New special teams coach fits Gators' style

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 24, 2013

Jeff Choate walked to the folding table inside the Gator room at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium after coach Will Muschamp formally announced him as the new special teams coach.

Redshirt senior guard Jon Halapio (left) blocks Vanderbilt defensive tackle Jared Morse (97) during the Gators’ 31-17 win against the Commodores on Oct. 13 in Nashville, Tenn. Halapio is listed as a starter on Florida's most recent depth chart.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Jessamen Dunker leaving Gators football program

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 24, 2013

Redshirt freshman guard Jessamen Dunker has decided to transfer from Florida, coach Will Muschamp announced Wednesday afternoon.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Departing senior columnist owes sanity to statistics

By GREG LUCA< | Apr. 23, 2013

Quarterback Tim Tebow (15) embraces wide receiver Percy Harvin (1) during Florida’s 24-14 win against Oklahoma on Jan. 8, 2009, in the BCS National Championship Game in Miami.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

The Rally: Which Gators first-round NFL draft pick in past 10 years is best?

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 23, 2013

The NFL Draft begins Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall in New York, and former Gators Sharrif Floyd and Matt Elam could both hear their names called on the first night. Nine Florida players have been selected in the first round since 2003. alligatorSports staff writers Adam Pincus and Phillip Heilman debate which former Gator has enjoyed the best NFL career so far.

Florida celebrates during a 4-0 win against Ole Miss on March 31 at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Offense breaks out after slow start in lopsided win

By ADAM PINCUS< | Apr. 23, 2013

USF pitcher Mike Clarkson had a night he’d like to forget. After the right-hander held Florida to two hits through the first four innings, the Gators sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs on five hits in the fifth en route to a 12-1 victory on Tuesday night at McKethan Stadium.

Ron Davis has been attending Florida basketball games since his days as a student in the early 1960s. In 1988, he adopted a routine involving a green Speedo and a moose hat in an attempt to distract opposing free-throw shooters.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Fear the Moose: Fan adds to crazed O’Dome atmosphere

By GREG LUCA< | Apr. 23, 2013

Before becoming an O’Connell Center staple with thousands of Rowdy Reptiles cheering his name, Ron “Moose” Davis was just a teacher on his way home from swim practice.

Lerentee McCray, a potential late-round selection in this week’s NFL Draft, plans to use his new income to help his incarcerated brother, single mother and deported father.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

The Provider: Former Gator chases NFL dream to support family

By GREG LUCA< | Apr. 23, 2013

When they arrived at Union Correctional Institution after an 85-mile drive from their home in Ocala, Lerentee McCray and his mother, Sybil, were met by a gaunt figure.