Tough loss with Stape heading elsewhere but it was an opportunity for him he could not pass up. He is very excited about this next chapter in his life. Right now, no decision has been made on a second OL coach or go as is. I am heading out of town Friday morning for my youngest, HS Baseball tourney so will be out of pocket some.
Gator News & Notes
Florida is a consensus top-four team in the country entering the season. The Gators were ranked as highly as No. 2 by D1Baseball and no lower than No. 4 at Baseball America and Perfect Game. Florida was also the SEC Coaches' preseason pick to win the SEC East and received two votes to claim the conference outright.
SERIES PROMOS
A wide array of giveaways and promotions will be available for fans throughout the 2024 season<https://floridagators.com/news/2024/2/13/gators-release-2024-baseball-promotions.aspx>. It all begins on Opening Night, with Gator Great BT Riopelle<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/bt-riopelle/15503> set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on the season. Thereafter, team posters will be given out to fans on Saturday and Sunday.
FOOD TRUCKS
There will be two food trucks located in the Dizney Grove area beyond the outfield wall on each day of the weekend series.
Friday: Chomp Truck by Sodexo, Mexi Cocina Mobile
Saturday: Chomp Truck by Sodexo, The Smoked Biscuit Company
Sunday: Chomp Truck by Sodexo, Tough Guy Cookies
SCOUTING THE RED STORM
St. John's went 28-15 last season including an 8-12 mark in Big East play. The Red Storm did finish strong, winning six of their final eight games featuring a series sweep of Butler on the road. As a team, St. John's batted .296/.401/.457 with 53 home runs while pitching to a 5.19 ERA in 463 1/3 innings. They are a strong defensive team, as evidenced by a .971 fielding percentage.
2024 SCHEDULE OUTLOOK
Florida has 56 games on its 2024 slate, 34 of which are at home and 26 against 13 unique non-conference opponents. 19 of those 26 non-con tilts will be played at home including a three-game road series at in-state rival Miami (March 1-3), who ranked 12th in RPI last season. Shifting gears, the Gators have the sixth-toughest overall SEC schedule based on 2023 winning percentages, featuring difficult road trips to LSU, Arkansas and Vanderbilt. Overall, UF plays 21 of its 56 games against top-25 RPI teams from last year (30 in top 50, 37 in top 100).
2024 ROSTER OUTLOOK
Florida returns 14 total players (12 letterwinners) from last year's roster headlined by positional starters in first baseman Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365>, second baseman Cade Kurland<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-kurland/16372>, catcher Luke Heyman<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/luke-heyman/16370>, left fielder Tyler Shelnut<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-shelnut/16376>, center fielder Michael Robertson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/michael-robertson/16375> and right fielder Ty Evans<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ty-evans/16368>. Six pitchers who saw action on the mound in 2023 are also back, frontlined by left-hander Cade Fisher<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-fisher/16369>, right-hander Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/16373>, Caglianone and righty Ryan Slater<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ryan-slater/16377>.
PRESEASON HYPE
Various publications have tabbed Caglianone (unanimous first team), infielder Colby Shelton<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/colby-shelton/16639> (second team) and Neely (first team, second team) as Preseason All-Americans. The Gators also secured a league-high four First Team Preseason All-SEC selections, twice more than the next-closest school (Caglianone, Kurland, Shelton, Neely). Individually speaking, Caglianone once again finds himself on the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List.
SULLY SUPERLATIVES
Since O'Sullivan's 2008 arrival, no college program has more CWS trips (eight), Super Regionals hosted (nine), top-eight national seeds (10) and NCAA Tournament bids (15) than the Florida Gators. Overall, Florida's 15-straight NCAA bids represent the second-longest active streak in the sport. The Gators have also hosted 12 NCAA Regionals out of a possible 15 during O'Sullivan's tenure (no NCAA Tournament in 2020), which ranks first in the nation. Looking at the SEC specifically, Florida's .617 winning percentage (277-172) since 2008 is the top mark in the conference.
YEAR TO REMEMBER
The 2023 Gators finished the season as the NCAA Runner-Up while winning a program-record 54 games and capturing the team's 16th SEC Regular-Season Championship. In making the program's 13th MCWS appearance including the eighth under O'Sullivan, the Gators claimed their 15th NCAA Regional Title and posted 50 victories for the seventh time ever. In the process, the Gators set single-season program records in home runs (145), pitching strikeouts (725), strikeouts per nine innings (10.6) and offensive hit-by-pitches (90).
2023 STANDOUTS
Seven different Gators collected All-American honors in 2023 including two unanimous first team selections in outfielder Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> and Caglianone. That is on top of Florida's league-high seven All-SEC selections. Of those seven All-Americans, four are back in Orange & Blue including Caglianone, Neely (second team), Kurland (freshman team) and Fisher (freshman team). Florida also saw O'Sullivan honored as the ABCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year and Caglianone as the ABCA National Position Player of the Year.
RELENTLESS REPTILES
The 2023 Gators showed resiliency all season long, posting 22 come-from-behind victories that equated to 40.7% of the team's overall win total. Florida won five games when trailing after seven innings and went 17-8 in games when the opponent scored first.
ROTATIONAL STABILITY
Florida had the only rotation in NCAA Division I to go the entire season without a single starter to miss a start, as the trio of Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508>, Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> and Caglianone all posted 18 or more times. The three hurlers combined for 377 strikeouts, with Waldrep (156) and Sproat (134) becoming the ninth 100-strikeout duo in program history and setting a UF pitching duo record with 290 strikeouts. Waldrep's 156 rank second all-time in a season at UF, just one behind Alex Faedo's team record set in 2017.
BABY BOMBERS
Florida received remarkable contributions from the Freshman All-SEC tandem of Kurland and Heyman, who both earned everyday spots in the starting lineup while swatting double-digit homers. Kurland in particular was named First Team All-SEC and a Freshman All-American, slashing .297/.404/.555 with a program-record 17 homers at the second base position - the most by a UF freshman since JJ Schwarz's 18 in 2015. Meanwhile, Heyman concluded the year hitting .314/.366/.555 backed by 12 homers, 39 RBI and 30 runs over 51 starts.
SECOND TO CAGLIA-NONE
The two-way playing Caglianone set single-season program records with 33 home runs and 90 RBI while slashing .323/.389/.738 last season. As the lone Gator to start all 71 games, Caglianone's 33 homers led the nation and established a new BBCOR era record in college baseball. On the mound, the 2023 ABCA Player of the Year went 7-4 with a 4.34 ERA, .190 BAA and 87 strikeouts across 18 weekend starts. He enters 2024 as the SEC Preseason Player of the Year and a Golden Spikes Award frontrunner.
BIG WHIFFS MISCONSTRUED
Of Florida's 12 position players that competed in NCAA Division I baseball last season, Caglianone has the second-lowest strikeout rate on the team behind Jaylen Guy<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jaylen-guy/16624> (12.6%) at 18.2%. In fact, Caglianone and Guy are the only players on UF's roster with a strikeout rate below 20% in 2023.
ON-POINT PEN
The Gators return four bullpen arms from last year's MCWS run in right-handed pitcher Fisher Jameson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/fisher-jameson/16371>, 2022 Freshman All-American right-hander Blake Purnell<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-purnell/16374>, Slater and Neely. Slater (10-1, 59.2 IP, 4.22 ERA, 48 K) and Neely (2-3, 55.1 IP, 3.58 ERA, 72 K) combined for 115 innings of 3.91 ERA ball in 2023.
NEELS THE DEAL
One year after being named Freshman All-SEC, Neely transitioned into the full-time closer role in 2023 and shined with an SEC-leading 13 saves in 14 chances - five more than the next-closest SEC player and good for sixth nationally. Neely fired 55 1/3 frames of 3.58 ERA ball with a .223 BAA and 72 strikeouts to earn First Team All-SEC and Second Team All-America accolades.
FRIDAY NIGHT FISH
Following a 2023 Freshman All-American campaign, the lefty-throwing Fisher is set to take over Florida's Friday night starter role. Across 27 appearances including two starts last year, Fisher worked 49 1/3 innings with a 6-0 record, 3.10 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, .262 BAA, 8.8 strikeouts per nine and 2.4 walks per nine. In his two starts, Fisher went 1-0 backed by a 0.82 ERA, .214 BAA and 12-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 11 innings. In his last 12 outings of the year, Fisher posted a 1.64 ERA in 22 innings, wielding a team-best 2.04 ERA in 17 2/3 postseason frames.
FRESHIE START
Arriving as the No. 34 recruit nationally, right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/liam-peterson/16631> dazzled in fall and spring practice to grab hold of Florida's Saturday starter job. From 2022-23 at Calvary Christian, Peterson delivered a 10-2 record, 1.28 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings - good for a 16.6 K/9.
TYBO TANKS
Entering play in Omaha with four homers on the season, Evans erupted for a MCWS-record five home runs and finished with nine RBI and seven runs scored. His .400 batting average and 1.250 slugging percentage paced the Gators at the 2023 College World Series.
PORTAL PROWESS
Ranked No. 11 nationally by D1Baseball, Florida's incoming transfer class features seven players highlighted by Alabama infielder Colby Shelton<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/colby-shelton/16639> and Virginia Tech catcher Brody Donay<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brody-donay/16621>. Infielder Armando Albert<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/armando-albert/16619>, catcher Tanner Garrison<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/tanner-garrison/16622>, Guy, infielder/outfielder Landon Russell<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/landon-russell/16636> and infielder/outfielder Ashton Wilson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ashton-wilson/16638> round out the talented contingent.
BELTIN' SHELTON
As a Freshman All-American at Alabama in 2023, Shelton slashed .300/.419/.729 with 25 homers. He led the Crimson Tide in homers, slugging and OPS (1.148) while adding 10 doubles, 51 RBI and 49 runs scored. He is projected to serve as Florida's primary shortstop this spring.
PARKING/SHUTTLES
Fans are encouraged to park at the Fifield and IFAS lots during the weekend. An increased number of shuttles will be available for transportation to the ballpark each day.
Click HERE<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/2/14/2024_BB_Parking_Map_copy.pdf> for a Parking map.
* General Parking is available in the west Condron Family Ballpark baseball lot and the Fifield parking lot located directly across Hull Road.
* Disabled parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Condron Family Ballpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard.
* Fans can follow this link<http://floridagators.com/EventParking> to an interactive parking map.
* RV Parking is available in the Fifield Flat lot. Reserved RV parking is not available for Florida baseball games. All motor home parking is on a first come, first-served basis.
* On-board generators are permitted, however exterior or pull-along generators are prohibited at all times. For safety reasons, all motor homes/RVs are required to utilize exhaust extensions or "smoke stacks" to channel exhaust fumes to the top of the motor home/RV.
* Overnight stays are only allowed on weekend series in the Fifield Flat lot.
* Do Not Park Illegally
* Park in designated parking spots (Do not park on grass or in No Parking Zones).
* Vehicles are subject to towing if they block streets, sidewalks, service drives, or fire lanes, or if illegally parked in a disabled space.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON GAME DAY
Those visiting Condron Family Ballpark on game day should be aware of updated traffic patterns surrounding the ballpark. Fans are advised to utilize Ballpark Way, which will serve as a connecting route to the ballpark from Archer Road. For departures, a postgame traffic flow pattern guide can be found here.<https://floridagators.com/common/co...s/2022/4/22/BB_Post_Game_Traffic_20220421.png>
MOBILE TICKETING & FLORIDA GATORS APP
As a reminder, mobile ticketing is required. There will be two ways to access your tickets:
1) through the Florida Gators app<http://s1445136311.t.en25.com/e/er?...8773d47758819914b4936bd42&elqaid=3046&elqat=1> from your mobile device or
2) through FloridaGators.com/myaccount<http://s1445136311.t.en25.com/e/er?...8773d47758819914b4936bd42&elqaid=3046&elqat=1>. Fans will also be able to transfer or donate their tickets easily within the app or online.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets are currently on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_baseball_.aspx> or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directly here.<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/virtual-venue/QlMyNA==>
Tickets are currently on sale for the 2024 season, including both season tickets and single-game options. Tickets can be purchased online<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_baseball_.aspx> or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directly here<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/virtual-venue/QlMyNA==> while single-game tickets<https://www.ticketmaster.com/florida-gators-baseball-tickets/artist/1294070> as well as On-Deck Flex Passes<https://floridagators.com/sports/2021/12/10/baseball-flex-pass.aspx> are currently on sale now.
ON DECK
Florida's next action comes in the form of a home-and-home midweek series with North Florida. The Gators travel to Jacksonville, Fla. to visit the Ospreys on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. before hosting UNF in Gainesville on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Florida's closer is one of 73 relief pitchers on the preseason watch list.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Florida Gators right-handed pitcher Brandon Neely was named to the Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List on Wednesday, as announced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
A grand total of 73 players were added to the watch list. That includes three 2023 Stopper of the Year Finalists and 11 preseason All-Americans - both of which include Neely.
Earning mention on the watch list for the second-straight year, Neely made a team-high 34 appearances while posting a 3.58 ERA. The Seville, Fla. product led the SEC with 13 saves in 14 opportunities - a total that ranked sixth nationally. He also fanned 72 batters in 55 1/3 innings and held hitters to a .223 batting average.
The Southeastern Conference led the way with the most representatives with 12 players finding their names on the watch list. The Atlantic Coast Conference followed with 10, while the Big 12 and Big Ten each had six and the Pac-12 had five.
Of the initial 73 members, 12 were featured on last year's midseason watch list. In total, 21 conferences are represented on this list, with at least two players coming from 16 different leagues.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player and the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year to the nation's top coach. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I, II and III Players of the Week and Division I, II and III Players of the Year.
No. 16 Gators Blow Past Dolphins in Midweek Action. The Florida softball team cruised by Jacksonville to close out midweek action.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of Florida softball team defeated Jacksonville, 9-1 (6), to complete the midweek sweep during its home opener Wednesday evening at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators (6-1) picked up another complete game performance in the circle from freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock (2-1, 1 SV) in the victory over the Dolphins (2-4). The Whiteland, Ind. native hurled six complete innings and struck out a season-high nine batters for her third complete-game of the year.
Rothrock received plenty of help from her offense as UF immediately broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning of play. Junior Kendra Falby immediately put pressure on the JU defense and forced an errant throw after racing to first for an infield single that allowed her to advance to second.
Junior Korbe Otis followed up with a four-pitch walk that put runners on first and second for graduate senior Skylar Wallace. Wallace struck the 1-1 offering from Dolphins starting pitcher Skylar Waggoner (1-2) and blasted it to center field for an RBI double that gave UF a 1-0 lead.
Wallace to make an impact for the Orange & Blue in the bottom of the third inning when she recorded her first triple of the season with a two-out shot off the wall in right field. Sophomore Jocelyn Erickson followed up with a clutch RBI single up the middle to easily score Wallace during the following at-bat to extend the lead out to 2-0.
Meanwhile, Rothrock kept the Jacksonville offense off balance as she didn't allow a hit until the top of the fifth inning. JU finally strung together back-to-back-to-back hits to open the frame, but was only able to plate one run and close down the lead to 2-1.
The Gators bounced back and scored six runs in the home half of the fifth inning to take an 8-1 lead. Falby picked up her second hit of the game with a single up the middle, which was promptly followed by Otis' second home run of the season that stretched the lead out to 4-1. Wallace produced her third hit of the day, Erickson then notched her second single and Baylee Goddard loaded the bases via a walk to set the stage for back-to-back squeeze bunts from freshman Ariel Kowalewski and graduate senior Avery Goelz that scored Wallace and Erickson.
Florida put the game away in the bottom of the sixth inning for the run-rule victory. Otis earned her second walk of the day to lead off the frame, while Skylar Wallace drew a walk that moved Otis into scoring position for Erickson. Erickson ended the game moments later with a line drive double to center field that scored Otis from second.
The Gators return to action this Friday, Feb. 16, to take on Georgia Southern at 3 p.m. during the first day of the Bubly Invitational.
Notables:
* Freshman Keagan Rothrock hurled her third complete-game of the year and struck out a season-high nine batters in the effort, while allowing only one run on three hits with one walk.
* Korbe Otis launched her second home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning. She is now tied with Reagan Walsh and Skylar Wallace for the team lead in home runs.
* The Gators tallied two triples in tonight's contest and Wallace and Katie Kistler both ripped shots to the wall. UF now has three team triples on the year.
* Skylar Wallace was a home run shy of the cycle tonight as she hit a double in the first inning, a triple in the third and a single in the fifth to go 3-for-3 at the plate. She drew a walk during her last plate appearance in the bottom of the sixth inning.
* Jocelyn Erickson and Kendra Falby are now on six-game hitting streaks as Erickson went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Falby was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
* Wallace, Otis and freshman Ariel Kowalewski have reached base safely in all seven games so far this season.
No. 6 Florida Gymnastics at Missouri to the Lou Quad Friday
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No. 6 Florida gymnastics elevates competition this Friday at the Mizzou to the Lou Quad including No. 14 Missouri, No. 27 Illinois and Lindenwood. This quad meet will be contested on podium at the Family Arena<https://familyarena.com/event/mizzou-to-the-lou-quad-gymnastics/> in St. Charles, Mo. The meet begins at 7 p.m. ET and airs on the SEC Network.
This is Florida's first regular-season meet contested on podium. The UF program's first podium competition came at the 2004 NCAA Championships. Podium competition is similar to the set-up at many of the top gymnastics competitions, including Olympic, World and U.S. Championships. The podium is used at SEC and NCAA Championship (final site) meets. In 2006, the SEC was the first conference to use a podium for a league championship meet.
Gators Back in the Midwest:
Four Gators return to the Midwest for Friday's quad meet.
Junior Leanne Wong and freshman Gabby Disidore both trained at GAGE in Blue Springs, Mo., a suburb of Kansas City.
Besides sharing Overland Park, Kansas, as their hometown, both Wong and Disidore are fans of the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Graduate Payton Richards (Mokena, Ill.) and Ellie Lazzari (Wheaton, Ill.) are both from Chicago suburbs.
It is around a four-hour drive to St. Louis from Chicago (south on I-55) and Overland Park, Mo. (east on I-70).
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
SEC Network <https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/2d2b0d2b-108a-469c-ab9e-ab2c97a5005b> - Olympians John Roethlisberger and Sam Peszek call the action and Taylor Davis provides sideline reports
* Live Stats
* Tickets<https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/06005F8BDB6D3B9B>
Season-High in Gators Link to Pink:
Florida built on its season vault high (49.475) to post a 2024-high 197.85 to win the 18th Annual Gator Link to Pink versus No. 13 Arkansas (196.05) in front of sellout Exactech Arena crowd. Junior Leanne Wong wowed the Exactech Arena when she anchored the Gators uneven bars lineup with her first 10.0 of 2024. Wong used a season-best 39.725 to win her 11th career all-around title. Anya Pilgrim was second at 39.60, equaling the nation's high by a freshman and Sloane Blakely completed a Gator all-around sweep at 39.175.
Freshman Danie Ferris' collegiate best 9.95 earned her the vault win. Victoria Nguyen and Wong shared the balance beam win at 9.925 with Arkansas' Kalyxta Gamiao. The Razorback's Frankie Price won floor at 9.95 and UF sophomore Lori Brubach matched her collegiate best of 9.9 to share second with Arkansas' Lauren Williams.
Friday's performance earned two Gators weekly honors:
Anya Pilgrim: Feb.13 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week
Leanne Wong: Feb. 12 Inside Gymnastics National Gymnast of the Week
Quad Opponents:
Illinois turned in its season-best of 196.50 in a Jan. 13 home quad. Seniors Mia Takekawa and Abby Mueller share the Illini's season all-around high of 39.25.
Lindenwood set its program record of 197.075 to win the Tennessee Collegiate Classic on Jan. 19 in Lebanon, Tenn. Sophomore Jaly Jones' season-high 39.275 took second in the same meet. Lindenwood announced Dec. 4, 2023 that 10 sports, including women's gymnastics, would be dropped at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.
Missouri set its season high of 197.40 in its Jan. 20 win at Georgia. Among the Tigers' six 2024 wins was a 197.325-197.225 home win over then No. 3 LSU on Jan. 26. Graduate Sienna Schreiber set MU's 2024 high all-around of 39.525 Jan. 20 at Georgia and then equaled that total at Texas Woman's University on Feb. 3. Junior Jocelyn Moore is the reigning SEC Specialist of the Week after her near-perfect floor mark of 9.975 at Kentucky.
Series Record:
Florida leads Illinois 9-0
Florida leads Lindenwood 1-0
Florida leads Missouri 33-1
Gator Tales with Sean Kelley: Ron Coleman & Jac Caglianone. The podcast is hosted by the Voice of the Gators with this week's show featuring Ron Coleman and Jac Caglianone.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Gator Tales with the Voice of the Gators Sean Kelley returns this week as the weekly podcast will share the people, places and things "The Voice of The Gators" gets to experience.
Episode 22 celebrates Black History Month with a special visit from Ron Coleman. Coleman was the first Black scholarship athlete to sign with Florida and competed with the men's track and field program. He's a six-time SEC Champion, a UF Hall of Famer and a decorated veteran of the United States Navy.
Host, Sean Kelley, also starts the 110th season of Florida baseball by catching up with Gators star Jac Caglianone. Athletic Director Scott Stricklin is back with "Ask the AD," and Kenna McGinnis reports on the latest results from the teams in season.
Fans can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud as well as on FloridaGators.com. For more information, visit the Gator Tales page.
Gator News & Notes
Florida is a consensus top-four team in the country entering the season. The Gators were ranked as highly as No. 2 by D1Baseball and no lower than No. 4 at Baseball America and Perfect Game. Florida was also the SEC Coaches' preseason pick to win the SEC East and received two votes to claim the conference outright.
SERIES PROMOS
A wide array of giveaways and promotions will be available for fans throughout the 2024 season<https://floridagators.com/news/2024/2/13/gators-release-2024-baseball-promotions.aspx>. It all begins on Opening Night, with Gator Great BT Riopelle<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/bt-riopelle/15503> set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on the season. Thereafter, team posters will be given out to fans on Saturday and Sunday.
FOOD TRUCKS
There will be two food trucks located in the Dizney Grove area beyond the outfield wall on each day of the weekend series.
Friday: Chomp Truck by Sodexo, Mexi Cocina Mobile
Saturday: Chomp Truck by Sodexo, The Smoked Biscuit Company
Sunday: Chomp Truck by Sodexo, Tough Guy Cookies
SCOUTING THE RED STORM
St. John's went 28-15 last season including an 8-12 mark in Big East play. The Red Storm did finish strong, winning six of their final eight games featuring a series sweep of Butler on the road. As a team, St. John's batted .296/.401/.457 with 53 home runs while pitching to a 5.19 ERA in 463 1/3 innings. They are a strong defensive team, as evidenced by a .971 fielding percentage.
2024 SCHEDULE OUTLOOK
Florida has 56 games on its 2024 slate, 34 of which are at home and 26 against 13 unique non-conference opponents. 19 of those 26 non-con tilts will be played at home including a three-game road series at in-state rival Miami (March 1-3), who ranked 12th in RPI last season. Shifting gears, the Gators have the sixth-toughest overall SEC schedule based on 2023 winning percentages, featuring difficult road trips to LSU, Arkansas and Vanderbilt. Overall, UF plays 21 of its 56 games against top-25 RPI teams from last year (30 in top 50, 37 in top 100).
2024 ROSTER OUTLOOK
Florida returns 14 total players (12 letterwinners) from last year's roster headlined by positional starters in first baseman Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/16365>, second baseman Cade Kurland<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-kurland/16372>, catcher Luke Heyman<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/luke-heyman/16370>, left fielder Tyler Shelnut<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-shelnut/16376>, center fielder Michael Robertson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/michael-robertson/16375> and right fielder Ty Evans<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ty-evans/16368>. Six pitchers who saw action on the mound in 2023 are also back, frontlined by left-hander Cade Fisher<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-fisher/16369>, right-hander Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/16373>, Caglianone and righty Ryan Slater<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ryan-slater/16377>.
PRESEASON HYPE
Various publications have tabbed Caglianone (unanimous first team), infielder Colby Shelton<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/colby-shelton/16639> (second team) and Neely (first team, second team) as Preseason All-Americans. The Gators also secured a league-high four First Team Preseason All-SEC selections, twice more than the next-closest school (Caglianone, Kurland, Shelton, Neely). Individually speaking, Caglianone once again finds himself on the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List.
SULLY SUPERLATIVES
Since O'Sullivan's 2008 arrival, no college program has more CWS trips (eight), Super Regionals hosted (nine), top-eight national seeds (10) and NCAA Tournament bids (15) than the Florida Gators. Overall, Florida's 15-straight NCAA bids represent the second-longest active streak in the sport. The Gators have also hosted 12 NCAA Regionals out of a possible 15 during O'Sullivan's tenure (no NCAA Tournament in 2020), which ranks first in the nation. Looking at the SEC specifically, Florida's .617 winning percentage (277-172) since 2008 is the top mark in the conference.
YEAR TO REMEMBER
The 2023 Gators finished the season as the NCAA Runner-Up while winning a program-record 54 games and capturing the team's 16th SEC Regular-Season Championship. In making the program's 13th MCWS appearance including the eighth under O'Sullivan, the Gators claimed their 15th NCAA Regional Title and posted 50 victories for the seventh time ever. In the process, the Gators set single-season program records in home runs (145), pitching strikeouts (725), strikeouts per nine innings (10.6) and offensive hit-by-pitches (90).
2023 STANDOUTS
Seven different Gators collected All-American honors in 2023 including two unanimous first team selections in outfielder Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> and Caglianone. That is on top of Florida's league-high seven All-SEC selections. Of those seven All-Americans, four are back in Orange & Blue including Caglianone, Neely (second team), Kurland (freshman team) and Fisher (freshman team). Florida also saw O'Sullivan honored as the ABCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year and Caglianone as the ABCA National Position Player of the Year.
RELENTLESS REPTILES
The 2023 Gators showed resiliency all season long, posting 22 come-from-behind victories that equated to 40.7% of the team's overall win total. Florida won five games when trailing after seven innings and went 17-8 in games when the opponent scored first.
ROTATIONAL STABILITY
Florida had the only rotation in NCAA Division I to go the entire season without a single starter to miss a start, as the trio of Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508>, Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> and Caglianone all posted 18 or more times. The three hurlers combined for 377 strikeouts, with Waldrep (156) and Sproat (134) becoming the ninth 100-strikeout duo in program history and setting a UF pitching duo record with 290 strikeouts. Waldrep's 156 rank second all-time in a season at UF, just one behind Alex Faedo's team record set in 2017.
BABY BOMBERS
Florida received remarkable contributions from the Freshman All-SEC tandem of Kurland and Heyman, who both earned everyday spots in the starting lineup while swatting double-digit homers. Kurland in particular was named First Team All-SEC and a Freshman All-American, slashing .297/.404/.555 with a program-record 17 homers at the second base position - the most by a UF freshman since JJ Schwarz's 18 in 2015. Meanwhile, Heyman concluded the year hitting .314/.366/.555 backed by 12 homers, 39 RBI and 30 runs over 51 starts.
SECOND TO CAGLIA-NONE
The two-way playing Caglianone set single-season program records with 33 home runs and 90 RBI while slashing .323/.389/.738 last season. As the lone Gator to start all 71 games, Caglianone's 33 homers led the nation and established a new BBCOR era record in college baseball. On the mound, the 2023 ABCA Player of the Year went 7-4 with a 4.34 ERA, .190 BAA and 87 strikeouts across 18 weekend starts. He enters 2024 as the SEC Preseason Player of the Year and a Golden Spikes Award frontrunner.
BIG WHIFFS MISCONSTRUED
Of Florida's 12 position players that competed in NCAA Division I baseball last season, Caglianone has the second-lowest strikeout rate on the team behind Jaylen Guy<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jaylen-guy/16624> (12.6%) at 18.2%. In fact, Caglianone and Guy are the only players on UF's roster with a strikeout rate below 20% in 2023.
ON-POINT PEN
The Gators return four bullpen arms from last year's MCWS run in right-handed pitcher Fisher Jameson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/fisher-jameson/16371>, 2022 Freshman All-American right-hander Blake Purnell<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-purnell/16374>, Slater and Neely. Slater (10-1, 59.2 IP, 4.22 ERA, 48 K) and Neely (2-3, 55.1 IP, 3.58 ERA, 72 K) combined for 115 innings of 3.91 ERA ball in 2023.
NEELS THE DEAL
One year after being named Freshman All-SEC, Neely transitioned into the full-time closer role in 2023 and shined with an SEC-leading 13 saves in 14 chances - five more than the next-closest SEC player and good for sixth nationally. Neely fired 55 1/3 frames of 3.58 ERA ball with a .223 BAA and 72 strikeouts to earn First Team All-SEC and Second Team All-America accolades.
FRIDAY NIGHT FISH
Following a 2023 Freshman All-American campaign, the lefty-throwing Fisher is set to take over Florida's Friday night starter role. Across 27 appearances including two starts last year, Fisher worked 49 1/3 innings with a 6-0 record, 3.10 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, .262 BAA, 8.8 strikeouts per nine and 2.4 walks per nine. In his two starts, Fisher went 1-0 backed by a 0.82 ERA, .214 BAA and 12-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 11 innings. In his last 12 outings of the year, Fisher posted a 1.64 ERA in 22 innings, wielding a team-best 2.04 ERA in 17 2/3 postseason frames.
FRESHIE START
Arriving as the No. 34 recruit nationally, right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/liam-peterson/16631> dazzled in fall and spring practice to grab hold of Florida's Saturday starter job. From 2022-23 at Calvary Christian, Peterson delivered a 10-2 record, 1.28 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings - good for a 16.6 K/9.
TYBO TANKS
Entering play in Omaha with four homers on the season, Evans erupted for a MCWS-record five home runs and finished with nine RBI and seven runs scored. His .400 batting average and 1.250 slugging percentage paced the Gators at the 2023 College World Series.
PORTAL PROWESS
Ranked No. 11 nationally by D1Baseball, Florida's incoming transfer class features seven players highlighted by Alabama infielder Colby Shelton<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/colby-shelton/16639> and Virginia Tech catcher Brody Donay<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brody-donay/16621>. Infielder Armando Albert<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/armando-albert/16619>, catcher Tanner Garrison<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/tanner-garrison/16622>, Guy, infielder/outfielder Landon Russell<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/landon-russell/16636> and infielder/outfielder Ashton Wilson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ashton-wilson/16638> round out the talented contingent.
BELTIN' SHELTON
As a Freshman All-American at Alabama in 2023, Shelton slashed .300/.419/.729 with 25 homers. He led the Crimson Tide in homers, slugging and OPS (1.148) while adding 10 doubles, 51 RBI and 49 runs scored. He is projected to serve as Florida's primary shortstop this spring.
PARKING/SHUTTLES
Fans are encouraged to park at the Fifield and IFAS lots during the weekend. An increased number of shuttles will be available for transportation to the ballpark each day.
Click HERE<https://floridagators.com/documents/2024/2/14/2024_BB_Parking_Map_copy.pdf> for a Parking map.
* General Parking is available in the west Condron Family Ballpark baseball lot and the Fifield parking lot located directly across Hull Road.
* Disabled parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Condron Family Ballpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard.
* Fans can follow this link<http://floridagators.com/EventParking> to an interactive parking map.
* RV Parking is available in the Fifield Flat lot. Reserved RV parking is not available for Florida baseball games. All motor home parking is on a first come, first-served basis.
* On-board generators are permitted, however exterior or pull-along generators are prohibited at all times. For safety reasons, all motor homes/RVs are required to utilize exhaust extensions or "smoke stacks" to channel exhaust fumes to the top of the motor home/RV.
* Overnight stays are only allowed on weekend series in the Fifield Flat lot.
* Do Not Park Illegally
* Park in designated parking spots (Do not park on grass or in No Parking Zones).
* Vehicles are subject to towing if they block streets, sidewalks, service drives, or fire lanes, or if illegally parked in a disabled space.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON GAME DAY
Those visiting Condron Family Ballpark on game day should be aware of updated traffic patterns surrounding the ballpark. Fans are advised to utilize Ballpark Way, which will serve as a connecting route to the ballpark from Archer Road. For departures, a postgame traffic flow pattern guide can be found here.<https://floridagators.com/common/co...s/2022/4/22/BB_Post_Game_Traffic_20220421.png>
MOBILE TICKETING & FLORIDA GATORS APP
As a reminder, mobile ticketing is required. There will be two ways to access your tickets:
1) through the Florida Gators app<http://s1445136311.t.en25.com/e/er?...8773d47758819914b4936bd42&elqaid=3046&elqat=1> from your mobile device or
2) through FloridaGators.com/myaccount<http://s1445136311.t.en25.com/e/er?...8773d47758819914b4936bd42&elqaid=3046&elqat=1>. Fans will also be able to transfer or donate their tickets easily within the app or online.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets are currently on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_baseball_.aspx> or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directly here.<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/virtual-venue/QlMyNA==>
Tickets are currently on sale for the 2024 season, including both season tickets and single-game options. Tickets can be purchased online<https://floridagators.com/sports/2015/12/10/_tickets_baseball_.aspx> or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directly here<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/en/virtual-venue/QlMyNA==> while single-game tickets<https://www.ticketmaster.com/florida-gators-baseball-tickets/artist/1294070> as well as On-Deck Flex Passes<https://floridagators.com/sports/2021/12/10/baseball-flex-pass.aspx> are currently on sale now.
ON DECK
Florida's next action comes in the form of a home-and-home midweek series with North Florida. The Gators travel to Jacksonville, Fla. to visit the Ospreys on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. before hosting UNF in Gainesville on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Florida's closer is one of 73 relief pitchers on the preseason watch list.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Florida Gators right-handed pitcher Brandon Neely was named to the Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List on Wednesday, as announced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
A grand total of 73 players were added to the watch list. That includes three 2023 Stopper of the Year Finalists and 11 preseason All-Americans - both of which include Neely.
Earning mention on the watch list for the second-straight year, Neely made a team-high 34 appearances while posting a 3.58 ERA. The Seville, Fla. product led the SEC with 13 saves in 14 opportunities - a total that ranked sixth nationally. He also fanned 72 batters in 55 1/3 innings and held hitters to a .223 batting average.
The Southeastern Conference led the way with the most representatives with 12 players finding their names on the watch list. The Atlantic Coast Conference followed with 10, while the Big 12 and Big Ten each had six and the Pac-12 had five.
Of the initial 73 members, 12 were featured on last year's midseason watch list. In total, 21 conferences are represented on this list, with at least two players coming from 16 different leagues.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player and the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year to the nation's top coach. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I, II and III Players of the Week and Division I, II and III Players of the Year.
No. 16 Gators Blow Past Dolphins in Midweek Action. The Florida softball team cruised by Jacksonville to close out midweek action.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of Florida softball team defeated Jacksonville, 9-1 (6), to complete the midweek sweep during its home opener Wednesday evening at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators (6-1) picked up another complete game performance in the circle from freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock (2-1, 1 SV) in the victory over the Dolphins (2-4). The Whiteland, Ind. native hurled six complete innings and struck out a season-high nine batters for her third complete-game of the year.
Rothrock received plenty of help from her offense as UF immediately broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning of play. Junior Kendra Falby immediately put pressure on the JU defense and forced an errant throw after racing to first for an infield single that allowed her to advance to second.
Junior Korbe Otis followed up with a four-pitch walk that put runners on first and second for graduate senior Skylar Wallace. Wallace struck the 1-1 offering from Dolphins starting pitcher Skylar Waggoner (1-2) and blasted it to center field for an RBI double that gave UF a 1-0 lead.
Wallace to make an impact for the Orange & Blue in the bottom of the third inning when she recorded her first triple of the season with a two-out shot off the wall in right field. Sophomore Jocelyn Erickson followed up with a clutch RBI single up the middle to easily score Wallace during the following at-bat to extend the lead out to 2-0.
Meanwhile, Rothrock kept the Jacksonville offense off balance as she didn't allow a hit until the top of the fifth inning. JU finally strung together back-to-back-to-back hits to open the frame, but was only able to plate one run and close down the lead to 2-1.
The Gators bounced back and scored six runs in the home half of the fifth inning to take an 8-1 lead. Falby picked up her second hit of the game with a single up the middle, which was promptly followed by Otis' second home run of the season that stretched the lead out to 4-1. Wallace produced her third hit of the day, Erickson then notched her second single and Baylee Goddard loaded the bases via a walk to set the stage for back-to-back squeeze bunts from freshman Ariel Kowalewski and graduate senior Avery Goelz that scored Wallace and Erickson.
Florida put the game away in the bottom of the sixth inning for the run-rule victory. Otis earned her second walk of the day to lead off the frame, while Skylar Wallace drew a walk that moved Otis into scoring position for Erickson. Erickson ended the game moments later with a line drive double to center field that scored Otis from second.
The Gators return to action this Friday, Feb. 16, to take on Georgia Southern at 3 p.m. during the first day of the Bubly Invitational.
Notables:
* Freshman Keagan Rothrock hurled her third complete-game of the year and struck out a season-high nine batters in the effort, while allowing only one run on three hits with one walk.
* Korbe Otis launched her second home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning. She is now tied with Reagan Walsh and Skylar Wallace for the team lead in home runs.
* The Gators tallied two triples in tonight's contest and Wallace and Katie Kistler both ripped shots to the wall. UF now has three team triples on the year.
* Skylar Wallace was a home run shy of the cycle tonight as she hit a double in the first inning, a triple in the third and a single in the fifth to go 3-for-3 at the plate. She drew a walk during her last plate appearance in the bottom of the sixth inning.
* Jocelyn Erickson and Kendra Falby are now on six-game hitting streaks as Erickson went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Falby was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
* Wallace, Otis and freshman Ariel Kowalewski have reached base safely in all seven games so far this season.
No. 6 Florida Gymnastics at Missouri to the Lou Quad Friday
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No. 6 Florida gymnastics elevates competition this Friday at the Mizzou to the Lou Quad including No. 14 Missouri, No. 27 Illinois and Lindenwood. This quad meet will be contested on podium at the Family Arena<https://familyarena.com/event/mizzou-to-the-lou-quad-gymnastics/> in St. Charles, Mo. The meet begins at 7 p.m. ET and airs on the SEC Network.
This is Florida's first regular-season meet contested on podium. The UF program's first podium competition came at the 2004 NCAA Championships. Podium competition is similar to the set-up at many of the top gymnastics competitions, including Olympic, World and U.S. Championships. The podium is used at SEC and NCAA Championship (final site) meets. In 2006, the SEC was the first conference to use a podium for a league championship meet.
Gators Back in the Midwest:
Four Gators return to the Midwest for Friday's quad meet.
Junior Leanne Wong and freshman Gabby Disidore both trained at GAGE in Blue Springs, Mo., a suburb of Kansas City.
Besides sharing Overland Park, Kansas, as their hometown, both Wong and Disidore are fans of the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Graduate Payton Richards (Mokena, Ill.) and Ellie Lazzari (Wheaton, Ill.) are both from Chicago suburbs.
It is around a four-hour drive to St. Louis from Chicago (south on I-55) and Overland Park, Mo. (east on I-70).
How to Follow the Gators:
Follow the action live:
SEC Network <https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/2d2b0d2b-108a-469c-ab9e-ab2c97a5005b> - Olympians John Roethlisberger and Sam Peszek call the action and Taylor Davis provides sideline reports
* Live Stats
* Tickets<https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/06005F8BDB6D3B9B>
Season-High in Gators Link to Pink:
Florida built on its season vault high (49.475) to post a 2024-high 197.85 to win the 18th Annual Gator Link to Pink versus No. 13 Arkansas (196.05) in front of sellout Exactech Arena crowd. Junior Leanne Wong wowed the Exactech Arena when she anchored the Gators uneven bars lineup with her first 10.0 of 2024. Wong used a season-best 39.725 to win her 11th career all-around title. Anya Pilgrim was second at 39.60, equaling the nation's high by a freshman and Sloane Blakely completed a Gator all-around sweep at 39.175.
Freshman Danie Ferris' collegiate best 9.95 earned her the vault win. Victoria Nguyen and Wong shared the balance beam win at 9.925 with Arkansas' Kalyxta Gamiao. The Razorback's Frankie Price won floor at 9.95 and UF sophomore Lori Brubach matched her collegiate best of 9.9 to share second with Arkansas' Lauren Williams.
Friday's performance earned two Gators weekly honors:
Anya Pilgrim: Feb.13 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week
Leanne Wong: Feb. 12 Inside Gymnastics National Gymnast of the Week
Quad Opponents:
Illinois turned in its season-best of 196.50 in a Jan. 13 home quad. Seniors Mia Takekawa and Abby Mueller share the Illini's season all-around high of 39.25.
Lindenwood set its program record of 197.075 to win the Tennessee Collegiate Classic on Jan. 19 in Lebanon, Tenn. Sophomore Jaly Jones' season-high 39.275 took second in the same meet. Lindenwood announced Dec. 4, 2023 that 10 sports, including women's gymnastics, would be dropped at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.
Missouri set its season high of 197.40 in its Jan. 20 win at Georgia. Among the Tigers' six 2024 wins was a 197.325-197.225 home win over then No. 3 LSU on Jan. 26. Graduate Sienna Schreiber set MU's 2024 high all-around of 39.525 Jan. 20 at Georgia and then equaled that total at Texas Woman's University on Feb. 3. Junior Jocelyn Moore is the reigning SEC Specialist of the Week after her near-perfect floor mark of 9.975 at Kentucky.
Series Record:
Florida leads Illinois 9-0
Florida leads Lindenwood 1-0
Florida leads Missouri 33-1
Gator Tales with Sean Kelley: Ron Coleman & Jac Caglianone. The podcast is hosted by the Voice of the Gators with this week's show featuring Ron Coleman and Jac Caglianone.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Gator Tales with the Voice of the Gators Sean Kelley returns this week as the weekly podcast will share the people, places and things "The Voice of The Gators" gets to experience.
Episode 22 celebrates Black History Month with a special visit from Ron Coleman. Coleman was the first Black scholarship athlete to sign with Florida and competed with the men's track and field program. He's a six-time SEC Champion, a UF Hall of Famer and a decorated veteran of the United States Navy.
Host, Sean Kelley, also starts the 110th season of Florida baseball by catching up with Gators star Jac Caglianone. Athletic Director Scott Stricklin is back with "Ask the AD," and Kenna McGinnis reports on the latest results from the teams in season.
Fans can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud as well as on FloridaGators.com. For more information, visit the Gator Tales page.
