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Hello, my name is Griffin Foll. I graduated from the University of Florida in August 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a specialization in sports and media. I am passionate about my writing and reporting, and I hope you enjoy my personal website. Welcome!
  • Five Gators Earn All-SEC Honors

    Five Gators Earn All-SEC Honors

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk.com

    After Julia Cottrill’s walk-off home run lifted Florida to victory Sunday and clinched its conference-leading ninth regular season title, the sophomore catcher became one of five Gators to earn All-SEC honors.

    Cottrill took home All-SEC Newcomer Team honors after the Wichita, Kansas, native started 45 games behind the plate and hit .348 in conference action. She turned in seven multi-RBI games and drove in the game-winning run on five separate occasions this year.

    Senior second baseman Hannah Adams and junior third baseman Charla Echols each won All-SEC First Team and Defensive Team accolades.

    Adams led the team in batting average (.395) and on-base percentage (.481) and was one of only two Gators with double-digit homers (10). The Hoschton, Georgia, native ranked top-10 in the SEC in hits (60) and runs scored (47). She scored the game-winning run in 17 games this season and reached base safely in 47 out of 48 contests. In the field, Adams turned 14 double plays and recorded a team-high 104 assists — No. 4 in the conference. She was named a USA Softball Player of the Year Top 25 Finalist.

    Echols led the Gators in home runs (13), RBIs (49) and total bases (102). The Newnan, Georgia, native drove in the fourth most runs in the SEC and trailed only four players in slugging percentage (.750). At the hot corner, Echols committed only three errors on 137 chances (.978 fielding percentage). The junior delivered a pair of walk-off hits — including a three-run, walk-off home run against Texas A&M last Friday — and made the USA Softball Top 50 Watch List.

    Junior right-hander Elizabeth Hightower and fifth-year utility player Kendyl Lindaman each qualified for the All-SEC Second Team.

    In the circle, Hightower racked up a team-high 16 wins, 10 complete games and 93 strikeouts while boasting a team-low 1.57 ERA. The junior Monticello, Florida, native started 21 games in 2021 after she started just 13 contests in her first two seasons. Hightower ranked top-10 in the SEC in nearly every pitching category: ERA (1.57-6th), batting average against (.179-3rd), wins (16-T5th), saves (3-T7th). She took home SEC Pitcher of the Week twice and D1Softball.com Pitcher of the Week after she hurled a complete-game shutout against Florida State. Hightower’s breakout season included a career-long 20.2 scoreless inning streak.

    Lindaman led the team in walks (39) and trailed only two players in free passes. The fifth-year Iowa native started all 48 games this season and alternated playing first base and designated player. The former Minnesota transfer notched a 26-game on-base streak en route to being named a 2021 Senior Class Top 10 Finalist. Among active NCAA softball players, Lindaman ranks top-5 in games played (260-T2nd), home runs (68-T4th), RBIs (236-4th) and walks (215-2nd).

    These five standouts will look to lead the No. 4 team in the nation to their third straight SEC Tournament title. Florida will face the winner of Ole Miss and Mississippi State in Tuscaloosa Thursday at noon on the SEC Network. The Gators swept the Bulldogs in a road series shutout, but they’ve yet to play the Rebels.

  • BSB: Gators Fall to Stetson in Final Midweek Contest of Season

    BSB: Gators Fall to Stetson in Final Midweek Contest of Season

    Final: Stetson 6, Florida 1

    Following a one hour and fifteen minute rain delay, Florida’s bat struggled to get going as the team dropped a 6-1 decision to Stetson on Tuesday in DeLand.

    Florida opened the scoring as Jacob Young plated Kirby McMullen on an RBI groundout.

    The Gators kept the slim lead until the seventh inning when the Hatters finally evened the score. Despite entering with the bases loaded in a tie ballgame, Christian Scott entered and immediately struck out the first three batters he faced.

    However, Stetson bounced back again and added five runs to the scoreboard in the eighth to put the game out of reach for the Gators.

    On the mound, Brandon Sproat earned his first career start and despite the no-decision, he pitched really well. In four innings, the flamethrower allowed just one hit and a walk while striking out two.

    Florida falls to 33-15 overall on the season and are now 7-9 in road games.

    Pitching Decision:

    • W: Danny Garcia (3-1)
    • L: Ben Specht (0-2)

    Individual Stats:

    • McMullen: 2-3, 2B, R, BB
    • Acton: 0-0, 3 BB
    • Sproat: 4 IP, 1 H, 2 K, BB
    • Luethje: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 K, BB

    On Deck:

    Florida is down to its final two conference series as they face rival Georgia this weekend and will take on No. 1 Arkansas in Fayetteville the following weekend.

    First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 PM. Tommy Mace is expected to get the nod on the mound.

  • The Gridiron Growl Podcast: Talking NIL with Darren Heitner And More

    The Gridiron Growl Podcast: Talking NIL with Darren Heitner And More

    Check out the latest episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast as David Soderquist and Brian Fox talk to Darren Heitner of Heitner Legal to discuss the NIL bill that he helped draft and promote in the state of Florida.

    The two are then joined by former Florida TE Clifford Taylor IV for his thoughts on the bill and other Florida football tidbits.

    Finally, Brian is joined by Jake Hitt to discuss the happenings in other sports around campus including softball, baseball, lacrosse, and tennis.

    Click play on the following audio player to listen to this week’s episode of The Gridiron Growl Podcast:

    You can also follow The Gridiron Growl Podcast on the following platforms:

  • SB: Cottrill’s Walk-Off Clinches Florida’s Ninth SEC Regular Season Title

    SB: Cottrill’s Walk-Off Clinches Florida’s Ninth SEC Regular Season Title

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk.com

    With one out in the bottom of the seventh and the tying run on second base, Florida catcher Julia Cottrill fouled off three consecutive pitches before she belted a walk-off, two-run homer onto the roof of the home bullpen behind the left-field fence.

    Following Saturday’s series-clinching shutout victory, Florida defeated Texas A&M 6-5 at home Sunday to complete the sweep and pick up its 40th win of the year.

    Senior right-hander Natalie Lugo started for the Gators and surrendered three runs in the top of the first. After she fielded a groundout for the first out, Lugo gave up four straight singles before a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch yielded two additional runs.

    In the top of the fourth, an RBI double extended Texas A&M’s the lead to 4-0 before Florida southpaw Katie Chronister relieved Lugo and finished the game in the circle. Barring a solo home run in the top of the sixth, Chronister held the Aggies hitless en route to earning her ninth win this season.

    Aggies pitcher Kayla Poynter started again and hurled four hitless frames until Florida second baseman Hannah Adams went yard in the bottom of the fifth. Right fielder Baylee Goddard drew a leadoff walk and broke the shutout on Adams’ two-run homer to center. With two outs and the bases loaded, left fielder Jaimie Hoover tied the game on a two-run single into center field.

    An inning later, Texas A&M shortstop Rylen Wiggins hit a go-ahead solo shot before Florida third baseman Charla Echols’ seventh-inning double put the tying run in scoring position ahead of Cottrill’s walk-off heroics.

    Final (R/H/E)

    Texas A&M: 5 / 8 / 0

    No. 4 Florida: 6 / 5 / 0

    Pitching Decision

    Win: Chronister (9-2)

    Loss: Poynter (9-8)

    Individual Stats

    Lugo: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

    Chronister: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

    1. Adams: 1-4, 1 R, 2 RBIs, 1 HR (10)
    2. Lindaman: 0-3, 1 BB
    3. Echols: 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B
    4. Cottrill: 1-2, 2 R, 2 RBIs, 1 HR (4), 1 BB
    5. Wilkie: 0-0, 3 HBP
    6. Hoover: 1-3, 2 RBIs
    7. Longley: 0-3
    8. Goddard: 0-1, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 HBP
    9. Lindsey: 0-3

    SEC Tournament

    After they secured the No. 1 seed with a 19-5 conference record, the Gators will travel to Tuscaloosa for the SEC Tournament set to begin Wednesday. They’ll face the winner of Ole Miss and Mississippi State Thursday at 11 a.m. on the SEC Network. Florida didn’t play Ole Miss in the regular season, but it swept Mississippi State on the road.

  • BSB: Gators Claim Series Behind Barco’s Gem

    BSB: Gators Claim Series Behind Barco’s Gem

    Final: Gators 9, Kentucky 2

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk.com

    Hunter Barco hurled a gem and the offense broke out as Florida claimed the series in Lexington to improve to 33-14 overall and 15-9 in SEC play.

    How It Happened:

    The Gators got on the board first as Jud Fabian recorded a sacrifice fly to score Nathan Hickey, who tripled in the previous at-bat.

    Florida added to the lead in the second with a Jacob Young RBI single that plated Kendrick Calilao to make it a 2-0 lead.

    Calilao made it a 3-0 game with an RBI single up the middle that scored Kris Armstrong in the top of the third.

    A Young sacrifice fly in the fifth made it a 4-0 game as Calilao once again crossed home plate.

    Barco, however, was in cruise control on the mound. The lefty went 6.2 innings in collecting his eighth win of the season. His ten strikeouts tied a career high.

    Florida sees to their lead in the eighth as Armstrong sacrificed to score Young and make it a 5-0 ballgame.

    Kentucky began to chip away with Christian Scott on the mound for Florida. Back to back homers by C_ Kessler and O_ Anu brought the Wildcats within three. Jack Leftwich came on and got the final out of the inning.

    Florida responded with four runs in the ninth to put the game out of reach. Young and Hickey each recorded two-run base hits to complete the scoring.

    Leftwich gave up a single in the ninth, but didn’t allow Kentucky to add to the line score.

    Pitching Decision

    • W: Hunter Barco (8-2)
    • L: Zack Lee (4-5)
    • S: Jack Leftwich (4)

    Individual Stats:

    • Young: 4-5, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R
    • Hickey: 2-6, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, R
    • Calilao: 2-4, RBI, R, BB
    • Rivera: 2-4, R, BB
    • Barco: 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 10 K, BB

    On Deck:

    The Gators will take on Stetson in midweek action for the second straight week. This time they will travel to DeLand for a sold out road matchup.

    This will be the fourth matchup between the two teams this season. Florida has won each contest. The Hatters are 23-20 on the season and have lost five straight entering Sunday’s game against UNF.

  • SB: Lugo Shuts Out Aggies as Gators Clinch Eighth Straight SEC Series

    SB: Lugo Shuts Out Aggies as Gators Clinch Eighth Straight SEC Series

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk.com

    With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Florida center fielder Cheyenne Lindsey and second baseman Hannah Adams hit back-to-back solo home runs to add a pair of insurance runs and double the Gators’ advantage.

    Following a thrilling walk-off victory in Friday’s series opener, Florida clinched its final conference series with a 4-0 win over Texas A&M at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium Saturday.

    Junior third baseman Charla Echols gave Florida an initial 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third when she pulled a two-run homer — her team-leading 13th long ball this year — over the right-field wall.

    Although they hit 8-25 (.320) and drew four free passes, the Gators failed to capitalize on a pair of bases-loaded opportunities in the first and fourth frames.

    Senior right-hander Natalie Lugo started in the circle for the Gators and went the distance — her fourth complete game this season. Lugo yielded just five baserunners on four hits and one walk.

    “It’s just one pitch at a time, one out at a time and as long as there’s 21 outs, we know we’ve got it,” Lugo said.

    Final (R/H/E)

    Texas A&M: 0 / 4 / 0

    No. 4 Florida: 4 / 8 / 0

    Pitching Decision

    Win: Lugo (14-2)

    Loss: Poynter (9-7)

    Individual Stats

    Lugo: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

    1. Adams: 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR (9), BB
    2. Lindaman: 0-1, 1 R, 3 BB
    3. Echols: 2-3, 1 R, 2 RBIs, 1 HR (13)
    4. Cottrill: 1-3
    5. Wilkie: 2-3
    6. Hoover: 0-3
    7. Longley: 0-2
    8. A. Goelz: 0-1
    9. Lindsey: 2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR (4)

    Next Up

    The Gators will look to sweep Texas A&M and pick up their 40th win Sunday at noon on the SEC Network.

  • LAX: Gators cruise past Temple for AAC Championship

    LAX: Gators cruise past Temple for AAC Championship

    Florida toppled the Temple Owls 19-4 to win their seventh consecutive conference championship

    Photo by Faith Buckley

    With eight minutes left in the most important game of the season, attacker Kassidy Bresnahan quickly passed the ball into the hands of Brianna Harris. In the blink of an eye, the senior led a clean overhand shot to give the Gators a 16-point lead. 

    The Gators lacrosse team held their sticks up victorious as they defeated Temple University 19-4 in the American Athletic Conference Finals Saturday. They clutched a conference win for the seventh consecutive season in a row – aside from the 2020 season that abruptly ended due to COVID-19. 

    Florida held their weight on both sides of the field, as the No. 3 team collected 35 shots, five saves and 11 draw controls.

    Brianna Harris broke out nine minutes into the game with a fierce pop shot into the back of the cage and pulled in a difficult wraparound shot to bring the score 

    The redshirt senior earned the Most Outstanding Player award for the AAC Championships as she topped the competition with a staggering seven goals.

    “We created a lot of opportunities for ourselves,” head coach Amanda O’Leary said. 

    Parents and fans quickly raised to their feet three minutes into gameplay as human Dynamo Shannon Kavanagh mounted her feet and shot a quick pop shot from the right corner of the cage. 

    Kavanagh reeled in her second goal at 24:30 with a stellar behind-the-back shot. “This is the Shannon show,” one fan said. 

    The midfielder of the year earned a hat trick 18 minutes into the first as she came fiercely around the net for a wraparound shot. 

    Kavanagh holds 15 hat tricks an incredible 62 goals throughout this season.

    Attacker Grace Haus released a pop shot to bring the Gators lead 3-0 only seven minutes into gameplay and intimidated Temple as they called for a timeout shortly after.

    Haus ran it back as she pushed through the red and white for a clean overhand goal only a minute later to bring the Gators 4-0. 

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    Defender Kaitlyn Dabkowski stood tall in the defense and targeted Temple players left and right. Specifically, she protected the zone from midfielder Owl Belle Mastropietro. The senior collected three cross turnovers throughout the game.

    “It puts us at ease on the offensive end to do our thing,” Haus said regarding Florida’s defense.

    Whitney Albert, Kaala Puglisi, Emily Lortz and Bella Palagonia ran to the field as starters retired on the bench to finish the final six minutes of regulation in the second half.

    Sophomore Jill Quigley made her mark late in the game with a tight overhand shot with the help of Puglisi four minutes left in the second.

    In net, redshirt freshman Sarah Reznick held three saves and a .429 save percentage throughout the final game of the year. 

    The Gators go on to compete in the offseason as they work towards the NCAA Championships.

    Contact Faith Buckley on Twitter @_faithbuckley

  • BSB: Gators Rally for Win in Lexington

    BSB: Gators Rally for Win in Lexington

    Photo by Kristen Oliff | ChompTalk.com

    It felt just like Thursday’s series opening loss for the Florida Gators. The same refrain continued: get down early, battle back, make mistakes that allow the opposition to retake the lead.

    Unlike Thursday, after an error led to a Kentucky run in the eighth, Florida bounced back and scored four runs in the ninth to claim an 8-5 win with a chance to win the series on Saturday.

    But it almost wasn’t so. In fact, Florida was down to their last strike in the ninth. Moreso, that strike likely happened, but the inconsistency behind the plate called it a ball and set up the late inning heroics from Cory Acton.

    How It Happened:

    Cam Hill got the scoring started in the second inning with a two run single to right to give the Wildcats the early advantage.

    Then the pouring rain started to come down in buckets. That didn’t stop Florida CF Jud Fabian from connecting on a two-run homer to center.

    Two innings later, Fabian unloaded again. This time, sending a no-doubt, solo shot to left, putting the Gators up 3-2.

    As Florida has done all too often this year, they allowed Kentucky to strike for the rebound runs thanks to a pair of RBI singles by Austin Schultz and John Rhodes.

    The Gators would tie it up in the eighth when pinch hitter Kendrick Calilao singled to right to score Jordan Carrion from second. And things were even once again.

    Trey Van Der Weide took the mound in relief of Tommy Mace and promptly allowed a single. The runner then moved to second on a called balk (still didn’t see it). After a groundout, Ryan Ritter reached on an error by Carrion and the Wildcats were in business with runners on the corners and one out. Ritter stole second and Christian Scott hit Zeke Lewis with a 1-2 pitch to load the bases. A big hop off the turf resulted in a tough play that resulted in a fielder’s choice and the lead run to score.

    In the ninth, Young led off with a walk. Hockey and Fabian both went down relatively quickly. A single by Kris Armstrong kept the Florida hopes alive and put runners on first and second. Acton came on to pinch hit for Carrion and responded with a single to center scoring Young to tie the game. Calilao followed with a crushed three-run blast to left to seal the fate.

    After Jack Leftwich closed out the win with a strikeout, there was a lot of talk coming from both sides.

    Pitching Decision:

    W: Christian Scott (3-3)

    L: Austin Strickland (1-1)

    S: Jack Leftwich (3)

    Individual Stats:

    • Calilao: 2-2, HR, 4 RBI, R
    • Fabian: 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB
    • Butler: 2-5, 2B
    • McMullen: 2-4, 2B

    On Deck:

    Florida will complete the series with Kentucky with a getaway day contest scheduled for 2:00 PM.

  • SB: Echols Powers Gators Past Aggies in Final Series Opener

    SB: Echols Powers Gators Past Aggies in Final Series Opener

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk.com

    With one out and the winning run aboard in the bottom of the seventh inning, Florida third baseman Charla Echols dug into the batter’s box to face Texas A&M right-hander Makinzy Herzog.

    On a 2-2 count, Herzog hurled her 124th pitch of the game over the heart of the plate and Echols found her sweet spot. The junior Newnan, Ga., native belted a three-run, walk-off homer to dead center and greeted her animated teammates at the plate.

    Echols’ 12th home run this year — which leads the team — lifted the Gators to a 5-3 series-opening victory over the Aggies Friday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

    Florida junior Elizabeth Hightower started in the circle and gave up an unearned run in the top of the second. With two outs, shortstop Sarah Longley committed her team-leading fourth error, which led to an RBI single the next at-bat.

    An inning later, Hightower allowed a leadoff walk and a double before Aggies cleanup hitter Bre Warren’s two-run single opened up a 3-0 Texas A&M advantage.

    But Florida’s bats woke up in the bottom half of the frame. Center fielder Cheyenne Lindsey and second baseman Hannah Adams led off with back-to-back doubles to put the Gators on the board.

    The next batter, designated player Kendyl Lindaman, singled home Adams to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Gators stranded three baserunners in the third and failed to record a hit off Herzog until Echols’ long ball in the seventh.

    Florida southpaw Katie Chronister relieved Hightower following a pair of leadoff singles in the top of the fourth and pitched four hitless innings. The Gainesville native yielded only two baserunners — one of which came via an intentional walk — en route to picking up her eighth win this season.

    Final (R/H/E)

    Texas A&M: 3 / 7 / 0

    No. 4 Florida: 5 / 5 / 1

    Pitching Decision

    Win: Chronister (8-2)

    Loss: Herzog (12-5)

    Individual Stats (season totals)

    Hightower: 3 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (1.64 ERA)

    Chronister: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (1.78 ERA)

    1. Adams: 1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB (.400 BA)
    2. Lindaman: 1-4, 1 RBI (.307 BA)
    3. Echols: 2-4, 1 R, 3 RBIs, 1 HR (12), SB (.357 BA)
    4. Cottrill: 0-3 (.290 BA)
    5. Wilkie: 0-1, 1 HBP (.222 BA)
    6. Hoover: 0-1, 2 BB (.243 BA)
    7. Longley: 0-2, 1 R, 1 BB (.169 BA)
    8. A. Goelz: 0-2 (.245 BA)
    9. Lindsey: 1-2, 2 R, 1 BB (.326 BA)

    Next Up

    The Gators — who have yet to lose an SEC series this season — will look to clinch their eighth straight conference series at 4 p.m. Saturday on SEC Network+.

  • Pair of Gators Selected in Top-10 of PFF’s Way Too Early 2022 NFL Mock Draft

    Pair of Gators Selected in Top-10 of PFF’s Way Too Early 2022 NFL Mock Draft

    Mike Renner’s mock draft has three Gators selected in the first round

    Photo by Matthew Pearce | Getty Images

    ProFootballFocus.com released a “way too early” 2022 mock NFL Draft on Friday, and surprisingly, two Gators were selected in the top eight picks of the draft.

    Mike Renner, PFF’s lead draft analyst, projects Emory Jones to be selected number six overall by the Philadelphia Eagles.

    Renner acknowledges the leap of faith in ranking Jones stating, “This one is obviously a massive projection, as he’s only taken 95 career dropbacks.” Renner believes Jones to be one of the best dual-threat QBs in the country and has him as the third signal caller taken behind only Spencer Rattler of Oklahoma (No. 1) and North Carolina’s Sam Howell. (No. 2).

    With the eighth pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Renner projects the Las Vegas Raiders to select CB Kaiir Elam. Renner praises Elam’s coverage ability but cites his frame being ideal for the NFL, “At 6’2, 193 pounds, the Florida product is built to play in the league. Elam is predicted as the second CB drafted behind only Derek Stingley, Jr of LSU.

    Also making an appearance in the first round of this mock draft is edge rusher Brenton Cox, Jr. Cox is projected as the final pick to Kansas City. Renner cited his ability to get to the passer and his 48 hurries in 2020 for his rise into the first round.

    What do you think of these choices? Is there another Gator that you think may play his way into the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft?