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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!
  • SB: Florida run-rules Auburn to complete sweep

    SB: Florida run-rules Auburn to complete sweep

    Final: Florida 11, Auburn 0 (5)

    Photo by Brian Fox / ChompTalk.com

    #7 Florida completed the home series sweep over Auburn on Sunday afternoon with a 11-0 run-rule victory. The Gators improve to 20-4 overall (3-0 in-conference), while the Tigers drop to 14-11 (0-3 in-conference).

    Game Recap

    Auburn starting pitcher, Lexi Handley, had a very brief outing before being re-entered in the fourth inning. Handley got pulled from the circle after failing to record a single out in the first inning while getting torched by a red-hot Florida lineup for three quick runs.

    Hannah Adams, Kendyl Lindaman and Charla Echols each scored for the Gators on a pair of RBI-singles and a walk prior to senior right-hander Ashlee Swindle taking the circle for Auburn.

    Swindle entered the game with the bases loaded and all three baserunners scored on consecutive RBI-singles followed by a walk.

    As Florida successfully hit through its lineup, Hannah Adams drove in Jamie Hoover on a sacrifice fly for the seventh run of the inning. After Baylee Goddard drew a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to bring home one more run, Florida took a 8-0 lead into the second inning.

    In the bottom of the second, the Gators added another run on Sophia Reynoso’s RBI-bunt-single.

    Auburn got two baserunners in the third inning, but freshman Rylee Trlicek remained composed and worked the Gators out of the jam.

    Florida carried a commanding 11-0 lead into the fifth inning after scoring two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth.

    Florida head coach, Tim Walton, elected to leave Rylee Trlicek in the circle to complete the shutout. Trlicek did just that, earning her 9th win and Florida’s 20th win of the season.

    Notable Stats:

    • Trlicek (5 IP, 6 H, 2 K)
    • Lindsey (3-3, 2 RBI, 3 R)
    • Reynoso (1-1, 2 RBI, BB)
    • Goddard (1-2, 2 RBI)

    Pitching Decision:

    Win: Trlicek (9-2)

    Loss: Handley (3-6)

    Looking Ahead

    The Gators will face Penn at home on Tuesday ahead of a rivalry showdown against Florida State on Wednesday night at KSP Stadium. As for Auburn, the Tigers travel to Jacksonville for an away game on Tuesday night before returning home to play Georgia State on Wednesday.

  • BSB: Hickey’s homer leads No. 1 Gators past USF

    BSB: Hickey’s homer leads No. 1 Gators past USF

    Final: Florida 2, USF 1

    Photo by Kristen Oliff / ChompTalk.com

    Florida baseball is off to a 16-0 start after sweeping a weekend series from South Florida. The sweep was capped with a 2-1 decision over the Bulls on Sunday.

    How It Happened:

    After combining for twenty runs the day before, the Gators and Bulls engaged in a pitcher’s duel.

    It wasn’t until the fourth inning that a run would finally cross the plate, and even that had to be manufactured in an unusual way.

    After a pair of strikeouts to lead off the frame, Jacob Young extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a single up the middle. Nathan Hickey followed with a single to left that put runners on the corners.

    After a stolen base by Hickey, Kendrick Calilao struck out, but the pitch got behind the catcher – all the way to the backstop – allowing Young to score and Calilao to claim his spot on first base.

    South Florida tied it up in the sixth on a double from JD Dutka that scored Nick Gonzalez. The hit glanced off Kirby McMullen’s glove at third and banked into foul territory, allowing the run to score easily.

    In the bottom of the eighth, Florida took the lead as Hickey took flight. For the fourth straight game, Hickey crushed a home run, despite the wind blowing in. His solo shot banked off the scoreboard in right.

    But pitching ruled the day. Hunter Barco started the game shaky, allowing a walk in the first and second and even committing an error to put two runners in scoring position in the second.

    But he settled in by retiring the side in order in the third, fourth, and fifth before giving up a run in the sixth.

    Christian Scott provided two solid innings of relief, not allowing a hit and Ben Specht tossed the ninth to earn his third save.

    Individual Stats:

    • Barco: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 2 BB
    • Bullpen: 3 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 1 BB
    • Hickey: 2-3, HR, RBI, R, BB

    Pitching Decision:

    • W: Christian Scott (2-0)
    • L: Orion Kerkering (0-1)
    • S: Ben Specht (3)

    What’s Next:

    As one Twitter follower suggested, Spring Training is now complete. The Gators will host in-state rival Florida State on Tuesday before opening SEC play at the Mac against Georgia over the weekend.

  • Gators land commitment from 3-star TE Nick Elksnis

    Gators land commitment from 3-star TE Nick Elksnis

    Photo by Cory Fravel / 247Sports

    Florida football is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in the 24/7 recruiting ranking for the 2021 cycle.

    On Saturday, as part of the annual Junior Day event, three-star TE Nick Elksnis announced his commitment to the Gators.

    A 6’6, 220 lb prospect from Jacksonville, Elksnis decommitted from Penn State on March 1 and led by the recruiting efforts of new assistant coach Tim Brewster opted to stay in-state.

    Elksnis is rated a three-star prospect by the 24/7 Sports composite and is the No. 15 TE in the 2021 class. He held offers from all of the major in-state programs as well as top schools such as Michigan, Ohio State, and Nebraska.

  • SB: Adams lifts Gators over Auburn in extras

    SB: Adams lifts Gators over Auburn in extras

    Final: Florida 2, Auburn 1 (11)

    Photo by Benjamin Fox / ChompTalk.com

    The #7 Gators clinched their first conference series at home on Saturday night as they topped Auburn by a score of 2-1 in 11 innings.

    Game Recap

    It was a pitcher’s duel at KSP Stadium on Saturday night. Starters, Natalie Lugo and Samantha Yarbrough, combined for over 19 total innings pitched, while allowing just 1 run to each of the opposing lineups.

    In the top of the fourth, Auburn scored the first run of the game on Brittany Maresette’s RBI-single to right field.

    It took the Gators until the sixth inning to finally break the shutout thanks to Cheyenne Lindsey’s 2-out, RBI-single up the middle.

    Despite needing extra innings, both teams used only two pitchers. In the bottom of the eleventh, Hannah Adams hit a walk-off single off Auburn reliever, KK Dismukes, to drive in Cheyenne Lindsey and finally end the game.

    Notable Stats:

    • Adams (1-5, RBI, BB)
    • Lindsey (3-5, RBI, R)
    • Hoover (3-4)
    • Cottrill (3-5)
    • Lugo (9.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 9 K)
    • Chronister (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 K)
    • Yarbrough (10 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 8 K)

    Pitching Decision:

    Win: Katie Chronister (2-0)

    Loss: KK Dismukes (0-1)

    Looking Ahead

    Florida goes for the sweep in game 3 tomorrow at at 3 ET.

  • BSB: The Butler Did It: No. 1 Gators crush USF; move to 15-0 on season

    BSB: The Butler Did It: No. 1 Gators crush USF; move to 15-0 on season

    Final: Florida 15, USF 5

    For six innings Florida RHP Jack Leftwich was dealing. Then something funny happened. The junior from Orlando sat around while his team put up five runs in the bottom of the frame that saw eleven Gators come up to the plate.

    What ensued in the seventh was the result of the lengthy delay.

    But let’s back up a minute and enjoy what we saw in those six innings. Leftwich, coming off a horrendous outing against Troy last weekend, was perfect. No Bull had reached base through that point.

    Leftwich was tagged for three runs in the seventh before being taken out with two outs.

    Fortunately, the Florida offense stayed hot Saturday. The Gators jumped on the Bulls early and often to stretch their season-opening win streak to fifteen.

    How It Happened:

    The Gators got started early as Jud Fabian led the game off with a double to left center and scored two batters later on a groundout by Kirby McMullen.

    Florida added three more in the second when Josh Rivera and Cal Greenfield made USF pay for a pair of leadoff walks. Greenfield’s RBI single snapped an 0-16 slump for the backstop.

    In the third Jacob Young extended his hit steak to 16 with an RBI single that plated Kirby McMullen to extend the lead to 5-0.

    The Gators added a pair of runs in the fourth as Butler and Young each came through with RBI singles.

    After a 1-2-3 fifth, Florida decided to pull away (if they hadn’t already) by adding five runs highlighted by Butler’s three-run blast to right and Nathan Hickey’s two-run shot that just kept carrying until it was over the right field wall. By the end of the inning, the Gators were on top 13-0.

    After the lengthy break, Leftwich came back to the mound clearly affected. He walked the leadoff hitter, allowed a single, a double and threw a wild pitch. In total he yielded three runs before being relieved by Justin Alintoff.

    Greenfield completed the scoring with a two-run homer in the eighth, before Ryan Cabarcas completed the win with a perfect ninth.

    Individual Stats:

    • Leftwich: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 5 K, 1 BB
    • Butler: 3-4, HR, 5 RBI, R
    • Young: 3-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
    • Greenfield: 2-4, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB
    • Fabian: 2-4, 2B, 3 R, 2 BB

    Pitching Decision:

    • W: Jack Leftwich (2-0)
    • L: Jack Jasiak (1-2)

    What’s Next:

    Florida and USF will complete the three game series with a matchup currently set for 1:00 PM.

    Freshman Hunter Barco (2-0, 1.35 ERA) is expected to get the start for the Gators.

  • MBB: Gators blow 18-point, second half lead against Kentucky

    MBB: Gators blow 18-point, second half lead against Kentucky

    Final: Kentucky 71, Florida 70

    Photo by Michael Reaves / Getty Images

    Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Florida dominated Kentucky for the first thirty minutes of Saturday afternoon’s matchup.

    Despite facing heavy criticism from Florida fans, the value of Kerry Blackshear might have been proven.

    Blackshear left the game after a brief appearance to open the second half. Unfortunately, Kentucky made up the difference on the offensive glass, including the winning basket off a putback by EJ Montgomery.

    How It Happened:

    The Gators opened the scoring just twenty seconds into the game and managed a 7-0 lead with 18:20 left in the first half, forcing a Kentucky timeout.

    The Wildcats would get to within two at 11-9 with 13:18 left, but Florida would stretch the lead to 20-9 just three plus minutes later.

    By half, the Gators were on top 40-30, but Florida missed on a pair of opportunities at the end of the half that proved costly in the final minutes. Tre Mann whiffed on a dunk and just before the buzzer, Keyontae Johnson missed a layup.

    Kentucky opened the second half with the first five points, closing the gap to five at 40-35, but Florida went on a 17-4 run that put Florida on top 57-39 with 11:55 to play.

    What happened next has become so typical of this Gators basketball team.

    Florida was outscored 32-12 over the rest of the game to secure an embarrassing finish to the regular season.

    The Wildcats finished with 14 offensive rebounds, recording 10 of those in the second half. Twenty-one of UK’s points came off those offensive boards, including the final basket.

    The Gators spoiled a career high 19 points from freshman Scottie Lewis as well as 14 from sophomore Noah Locke.

    Individual Stats:

    • Lewis: 19 points, 5-8 FG, 8-10 FT
    • Locke: 14 points, 3-8 3FG
    • Johnson: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
    • Nembhard: 7 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 turnover

    Team Stats:

    • FG% : 52
    • 3FG% : 50
    • FT% : 76
    • Reb+/- : -8
    • Assists : 13
    • Turnovers : 10
    • Bench Points: 18

    What’s Next:

    This concludes the regular season. Florida had a chance to clinch a double-bye in the SEC Tournament, but the loss and a win by Auburn forces the Gators to play Thursday.

  • SB: Florida shuts out Auburn in SEC opener

    SB: Florida shuts out Auburn in SEC opener

    Final: Florida 6, Auburn 0

    Photo by Benjamin Fox / ChompTalk.com

    The #7 Florida Gators took the first of a 3-game home series against Auburn on Friday night at KSP Stadium by a score of 6-0. Florida improves to 19-4 (1-0 in SEC play), while Auburn drops its first conference game and falls to 14-9 overall.

    Game Recap

    Auburn starting pitcher, Lexie Handley, tossed two strong innings before allowing the first run of the game in the bottom of the third. After Jamie Hoover was hit by a pitch and advanced to third base, she crossed home plate on Kendyl Lindaman’s single to right field, giving the Gators the 1-0 advantage.

    Florida’s bats remained hot in the fourth when E.C. Taylor scored as a pinch-runner on Sophia Reynoso’s sacrifice fly. The next at-bat, Hannah Adams punched a 2-out-RBI-single through the infield to drive home Cheyenne Lindsey. Before Charla Echols popped out to finally end the inning, Jamie Hoover safely stole home as the throw to catch Hannah Adams stealing second base was late.

    In the fifth, the Gators added two more insurance runs on Cheyenne Lindsey’s 2-RBI triple down the right-field line. Right-hander Ashley Swindle, however, was responsible for these two runs after she took the circle in relief for Handley.

    Florida carried a commanding 6-0 lead through the next two innings as Rylee Trlicek continued to deal. The freshman southpaw threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out three.

    Notable Stats:

    • Florida improves to 43-22 all-time vs Auburn
    • Trlicek (7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1.80 season ERA)
    • Adams (2-4, RBI, SB)
    • Lindsey (2-3 2 RBI, R, SB)
    • Lindaman (1-3, RBI, BB)
    • Cottrill (1-2, R, BB)
    • Hoover (1-2, 2 R)

    Pitching Decision:

    Win: Rylee Trlicek (8-2)

    Loss: Lexie Handley (3-5)

    Looking Ahead

    Games two and three of the series will take place tomorrow at 6 ET and Sunday at 3 ET.

  • BSB: No. 1 Florida routs USF 9-1 in series opener

    BSB: No. 1 Florida routs USF 9-1 in series opener

    Final: Florida 9, USF, 1

    Florida baseball is now 14-0 after defeating South Florida 9-1 in the series opener on Friday.

    Backed by a powerful offense and the arm of Tommy Mace, the Gators routed the Bulls to extend the program’s best ever start.

    How It Happened:

    Florida batted around and scored six runs despite just three hits in the first inning following a 1-2-3 top of the frame by Tommy Mace.

    Jacob Young opened the scoring by extending his hitting streak to 15 with a single to right that scored Jud Fabian and Austin Langworthy.

    Kendrick Calilao and Nathan Hickey completed the first inning scoring with back-to-back blasts. Calilao’s was a three-run shot that put Florida up 5-0.

    With Tommy Mace dealing, the run support was more than enough. The righty tossed seven innings allowing just two hits and two walks. He also recorded six strikeouts.

    Florida tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the seventh as a sacrifice fly by Hickey scored Cory Acton. Kirby McMullen added an RBI single before a bases loaded walk by Jordan Butler forced Josh Rivera across the plate to make it 9-0.

    Freshman Brandon Sproat tossed a clean eighth but allowed a solo homer to Dillon Besiner to lead off the ninth.

    Individual Stats:

    • Mace: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 6 K, 2 BB
    • Calilao: 3-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
    • Hickey: 3-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB, R
    • McMullen: 2-4, RBI, BB
    • Butler: 2-4, 2B, RBI, BB

    Pitching Decision:

    • W: Tommy Mace (3-0)
    • L: Collin Sullivan (1-2)

    What’s Next:

    Florida will continue its series against USF with a 4:00 PM first pitch on Saturday.

  • WBB: Gators Fall to LSU in SEC Tournament’s Second Round

    WBB: Gators Fall to LSU in SEC Tournament’s Second Round

    Final: LSU 73, Florida 59

    Photo by Kristen Oliff /ChompTalk.com

    Florida’s young women’s basketball team dropped it’s SEC Tournament second round contest against an LSU team that needed the win for it’s NCAA Tournament resume.

    The Gators (15-15 overall) will now await the NIT selection process to see if the season will continue.

    How It Happened:

    The Tigers opened the game by edging Florida in a back and forth first quarter. Both teams possessed leads, with Florida leading 12-11 late in the period. A Jaelyn Richard-Harris off balance basket at the buzzer gave LSU a 17-12 lead through one.

    LSU increased its lead to as many as twenty before the half, but a Lavender Briggs trey cut the deficit to 41-24 going into the break. The Tigers were extremely resourceful against the UF 2-3 zone as they made ten of eleven shot attempts in the second period.

    Despite shooting at just a 50% clip in the third, LSU added to its lead, thanks largely to going 7-8 from the charity stripe. Entering the final quarter, the Gators found themselves down 61-39.

    Florida was never able to cut the deficit to less than fourteen in the fourth quarter and LSU advanced with a 73-59 victory.

    Freshman Lavender Briggs scored a game high 22 points, but she was the only Gator in double figures as Brylee Bartram added nine points on 3-5 from the 3-point line.

    Individual Stats:

    • Briggs: 22 points, 9-16 FG, 5 rebounds
    • Bartram: 9 points, 3-5 3FG
    • Smith: 8 points, 5 assists

    Team Stats:

    • FG% :
    • 3FG% :
    • FT% :
    • Reb+/- :
    • Assists:
    • Turnovers:
    • Bench Points:

    What’s Next:

    Florida has met the qualifications for the NIT, but must be selected to play in the post-season. The NIT field will be revealed on March 16.

  • SB: Lugo deals complete game, Gators get back on track ahead of SEC opener

    SB: Lugo deals complete game, Gators get back on track ahead of SEC opener

    Final: Florida 3, Florida Gulf Coast 1

    Photo by Brian Fox / ChompTalk.com

    The #7 Florida Gators topped the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Wednesday night by a score of 3-1. Florida improves to 18-4 (10-2 at home), while FGCU drops to 13-7, losing its first road game of the season.

    Game Recap

    Despite a minor hiccup in the first inning, Florida starting pitcher, Natalie Lugo, threw a complete-game gem versus the FGCU offense. Lugo got tagged for a two-out solo shot in the top of the first courtesy of Mikenzie Vaughn, but the right-hander proceeded to pitch six consecutive shutout innings with ease.

    The Gators tied the game up at 1 in the second inning via Hannah Adams’ four-pitch, bases-loaded walk, which scored Julia Cottrill.

    After several quiet innings, Baylee Goddard broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth on a 2-run homer to centerfield, giving Florida a 3-1 lead. It was the freshman’s fourth home run of the season, putting her behind only Kendyl Lindaman (5) and Charla Echols (7).

    Notable Stats:

    • Natalie Lugo (7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 K)
    • Baylee Goddard (1-1, HR, 2 RBI, 2 HBP)
    • Julia Cottrill (2-2, 1 R, 1 BB)
    • Florida is now 5-1 all-time vs FGCU

    Pitching Decision

    Win: Natalie Lugo (7-2)

    Loss: Sarah Lawton (6-3)

    Looking Ahead

    Florida will look to carry its momentum into the weekend as they open up conference play with a 3-game home series against Auburn. Meanwhile, FGCU faces a quick turnaround as they travel south for the Madeira Beach Tournament where they’ll take on Loyola-Chicago tomorrow afternoon followed by double-headers on both Friday and Saturday.