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  • BSB: Gators Rally To Top Georgia in Extras

    BSB: Gators Rally To Top Georgia in Extras

    Photo by Wesley Hitt | Getty Images

    The Gators bounced back and were able to get a much-needed win to stay above .500 on the season, beating Georgia 7-4 in ten innings Friday afternoon. Kurland was able to tie the game to go to extra innings, while Luke Heyman hit his third home run of the series and was the hero of the day, putting the Gators ahead in the 10th inning. The pitching staff was rock solid with Peterson and Neely combining for 10 strikeouts on the day.

    The Gators did something they have rarely done all season: take the lead first. They took a 1-0 lead off a RBI double from Caglianone to score Robertson in the third inning.

    The Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead in the fifth with a two run home run. They then added on another run in the sixth to go up 3-1.

    Robertson had a three hit day, one of them coming in the seventh inning as a RBI double to score Thomas and make it 3-2. But, the Bulldogs had a response in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-2 off of a solo home run.

    Kurland tied things up, hitting his 11th home run of the season, making it 4-4 in the eighth inning.

    The game remained tied in the ninth, so it went to extra innings. In the 10th, Luke Heyman stayed hot and hit his third home run of the series, his fifth in the last week and 14th on the season. The home run scored Caglianone and Wilson to go up 7-4.

    Neely remained in and looked sharp as he closed out the game to get the crucial win.

    Peterson pitched 5.1 innings, striking out four and again having a great outing. Neely earned the win, pitching 4.2 innings with six strikeouts. He was phenomenal out of the bullpen.

    The Gators get the much needed win, 7-4. They stay above the crucial .500 mark at 27-26, 12-17 SEC. They will play the series finale Saturday at 2 p.m. and again look for their first SEC series victory since Mississippi State at the end of March.

  • BSB: Georgia Powers Past Gators in Opener

    BSB: Georgia Powers Past Gators in Opener

    Photo by Wesley Hitt | Getty Images

    The Gators continued to struggled both offensively and defensively Thursday night in the series-opening game to the Bulldogs. Despite two home runs from Heyman, they were out-hit by the Bulldogs, dropping the game 9-4.

    The Bulldogs got off to a quick start in the bottom of the first, putting three runs on the board to take a 3-0 lead. They added another in the second with a solo home run, making it 4-0.

    The Gators had a response from Luke Heyman in the third to keep them in the game. He hit a solo home run, his 12th of the season.

    Donay also hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, the Bulldogs lead now cut in half, 4-2.

    Georgia added three more runs in the sixth, now starting to pull away with a 7-2 lead. They extended their lead to 9-2 with a home run in the seventh.

    Kurland singled to center field to give the Gators some life in the ninth. Luke Heyman hit his second home run of the day, now having back to back games with multiple home runs.

    Despite the late blast from Heyman, the Gators fall 9-4 to the Bulldogs in game one.

    The Gators used six different pitchers and had a total of four strikeouts, two coming from Clemente. Pierce Coppola suffers the loss.

    The Gators fall to .500 on the season, 26-26, 11-17 SEC. They will need to be above .500 on the season to qualify for postseason play.

    Due to inclement weather, game two on Friday was moved to a 1 p.m. start.

  • Gators Land Commitment From CB Cormani McClain

    Gators Land Commitment From CB Cormani McClain

    Photo by Bruce Yeung | Getty Images

    Former Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Cormani McClain has committed to play football at the University of Florida.

    McClain visited the Gainesville campus last week and even came back this week.

    McClain was one of the most highly sought after prospects out of Lakeland, FL as he was the No. 1 ranked cornerback and top-15 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class.

    During the early signing period in December 2022, McClain was widely expected to join the Florida class, but spurned the Gators for Miami on signing day in one of the biggest surprises of the cycle. McClain, however, never signed his letter of intent with Miami and ultimately signed with Colorado during the February signing period.

    As a freshman at Colorado, McClain played in nine game and made thirteen tackles. He also recorded a pair of passes defensed. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

    Additionally, there are several reports that he may join Florida as a walk-on with his tuition, book, room and board, all covered by NIL funding. Florida is currently at its limit of 85 scholarship football players. This is unconfirmed at this time.

  • SB: Gators Set to Host NCAA Regionals

    SB: Gators Set to Host NCAA Regionals

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    Following an SEC Tournament title, the Florida Gators learned their post-season fate Sunday evening. Florida earned the No. 4 overall national seed, the selection committee announced Sunday.

    The Gators (46-12, 17-7 SEC) won seven of their eight conference series, dropping just the Missouri series in Columbia.

    The Gators will be joined in Gainesville by South Alabama, Florida Atlantic, and Florida Gulf Coast.

    South Alabama is 32-18-1 overall on the season and finished conference okay with a 16-8 record. The Jaguars fell in the Sun Belt Conference tournament semifinals to No. 2 seed Texas State.

    The Owls also dropped their conference tournament semifinal but finished the season 41-14 overall and 21-6 in the American Athletic Conference.

    FGCU won the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament with a walk-off. The Eagles were 37-19 overall and 16-8 in league play. They enter the NCAA tournament on a five game winning streak.

    The Gainesville regional is scheduled to take place May 15-17 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium at the University of Florida.

    The Gainesville regional will matchup against the Lafayette (LA) region in super regional play. No. 13 Louisiana, Princeton, Ole Miss, and Baylor are the programs in that regional.

    Check back later this week for a full preview of the Gainesville Softball Regional.

  • BSB: Gators Fall to Kentucky in Extras

    BSB: Gators Fall to Kentucky in Extras

    Photo by Wesley Hitt | Getty Images

    Sunday afternoon, the Gators honored their seniors and Caglianone had what was most likely the last time he would pitch at Condron Family Ballpark, but their struggles of closing out games that has been an issue all year prevailed. The lost the series finale to Kentucky, 7-5, in 10 innings.

    Kentucky got off to a quick start, going up 3-0 in the second inning, but they did not score again until the 10th inning, a huge part thanks to the Gators defense. The highlight of the defense being a home run robbing catch by Hayden Yost in the fourth inning.

    The Gators got on the board in the seventh inning with pinch hitter Ashton Wilson producing again on the weekend, hitting a two RBI double with two outs to score Yost and Shelnut. The Gators only down one, 3-2.

    Tyler Shelnut celebrated his senior day by hitting his 13th home run of the season to tie the game 3-3 in the ninth inning to give the Gators life.

    In the tenth, the Wildcats took the leading, adding four runs on to make it 7-3.

    The Gators had a response from Yost, doubling down the left field line to score Shelton and Caglianone, but the Gators couldn’t mount a full comeback.

    Caglianone pitched 6.1 innings, only allowing two hits and striking out three. His season ERA is a 4.07 after Sunday. He also extended his hitting streak to 30 straight games, which ties the program record.

    The Gators lose 7-5 in 10 innings. Brandon Neely suffered the loss, now 1-4 on the season.

    With the loss, the Gators are now just one game above .500, 26-25 overall, 11-16 SEC.

    Up next, the Gators will travel to Athens to take on rival Georgia in the last regular season series of the season. They will need to stay above .500 to qualify for the NCAA tournament. First pitch will be 6 p.m. Thursday.

  • LAX: Gators Upset No. 5 Virginia to Advance to Elite Eight

    LAX: Gators Upset No. 5 Virginia to Advance to Elite Eight

    The Florida Gators took the nation’s longest winning streak into Sunday’s Sweet 16 matchup with No. 5 Virginia. Led by senior Danielle Pavinelli’s four goals, the Gators defeated the Cavaliers 13-8 to advance to the Elite Eight.

    The Gators got out to a fast start with Pavinelli finding the back of the net just one minute into the game. By the end of the first quarter, the Gators possessed a 5-2 advantage.

    But the Cavs weren’t going to go down without a fight. Kiki Shaw scored her 30th goal for Virginia just twenty-three seconds into the second quarter. By halftime, the Florida lead shrunk to just one at 7-6.

    The third quarter was a physical battle with each team putting just one goal on the scoreboard . The Cavaliers evened the score with 10:44 to play in the period, but the Gators countered late in the third as Ashley Gonzalez put Florida back on top with her 33rd goal of the season.

    The Gators absolutely dominated the fourth quarter as they completed the victory. Sara Falk started the scoring in the frame with a goal less than 90 seconds in.

    As the final whistle blew at Virginia’s Klockner Stadium, the upset was complete and the Gators were advancing in the NCAA Tournament.

    Despite turning the ball over sixteen times, the Gators were able to take control thanks largely to their success in the draw circle. Florida won 19 of 25 draws in the contest, leading to a 24-14 edge in shots on goal.

    The Gators will now face No. 4 Maryland with a spot in the Final Four at stake. Maryland has cruised to a pair of easy victories in the tournament, 17-1 over Robert Morris and 17-7 over James Madison. The two teams played a memorable game early in the season with Florida taking a 13-12 overtime win for their first win of the season.

    If this matchup is anything like the earlier season meeting, the entire fan base is in for a treat.

  • Caglianone’s Curtain Call: One Last Ride at Condron

    Caglianone’s Curtain Call: One Last Ride at Condron

    Photo by Wesley Hitt | Getty Images

    The time has come to say goodbye, which also gives us time to reminisce.

    Like that time when Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan came to a talented slugger late in the 2022 season to gauge his interest in burning his redshirt to hit despite coming off Tommy John surgery to his arm.

    Obviously, O’Sullivan saw something special in the kid from Tampa, FL.

    A little more than three years later, all of Gator Nation sees something special. Even Gators broadcaster Nick Belmonte, who has called Florida games for 38 years, shared on Friday’s broadcast that he believed Caglianone was the best player in program history.

    The list of accolades seem never ending. The fact that he is even close to the program records for career home runs is stunning. Matt LaPorta hit 74 home runs over FOUR years from 2004-07. What Caglianone has accomplished in little less than two and a half years is insane.

    Accolades:

    2022 SEC All-Tournament Team

    2023 Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team

    2023 John Olerud Two-Way Player Award Finalist

    2023 Dick Howser Trophy Finalist

    2023 Golden Spikes Finalist

    2023 Unanimous First Team All-American

    (Many more to come this year)

    The Cags effect was immediate. Caglianone had just 115 plate appearances after burning his redshirt in late April of 2022 but the real result was in the team’s play. The Gators were 5-10 in league play before Cags, but went 10-5 after inserting the freshman slugger into the lineup. Overall, the Gators went 16-7, made a run to the SEC Tournament title game, and became a regional host.

    2023 saw one of the single greatest offensive seasons in college baseball history (he did set the BBCOR-era home run record, after all). In addition to swatting 33 home runs, he recorded 14 doubles, and drove in 90 runs. His OPS was an astounding 1.126. Caglianone also got to pitch for the first time since enrolling at UF. He maintained his status as the Sunday starter the entire season to the tune of an overall record of 7-4 on the mound. All while leading the Gators to a program record 54 wins and to within one win of a national championship.

    Despite losing a lot of production around Caglianone entering 2024, expectations were high. While the team hasn’t seen the success they’ve wanted, Caglianone’s star has shown even brighter. His batting average is .417 and his OPS is 1.397. He’s crushed 28 homers. Perhaps the biggest improvement to his game has been his eye. He’s struck out just 18 times all year (58 last year) while being intentionally walked 17 times. Caglianone has’t been just the team’s best hitter, but he’s also been their best pitcher. He’s 5-1 with a 4.39 ERA but has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the year.

    Due to the Gators struggles, it’s safe to say we’ve reached the end of Caglianone’s time at Condron Family Ballpark. Fans will have one last opportunity to see, perhaps, the best player in program history.

    Share your favorite Jac stories in the comments or on social media.

  • SB: Gators claim sixth SEC Tournament title

    SB: Gators claim sixth SEC Tournament title

    The Florida softball program won its sixth SEC championship on Sunday following a 6-1 victory over the Missouri Tigers.

    The 46-12 Gators hit five home runs against the 43-15 Tigers.

    Florida took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, with Mia Williams hitting a three-run home run.

    In the third, Korbe Otis hit her team-leading fifth triple to kick off the inning. SEC All-Tournament MVP Skylar Wallace then drove a grounder to second to allow Otis to run home extend Florida’s lead to 4-0.

    The Orange and Blue went on to extent their lead to 6-1 following Wallace’s third home run of the tournament.

    The Gators settled in on defense and held the Tigers to just one hit over the final two innings.

    Pitcher Keagan Rothrock held Missouri to just six hits over seven innings. She allowed only two walks and threw six strikeouts.

    All Florida has to do now is wait to find out their placement in the NCAA Division I Softball Championship bracket. It will take place during the Selection Show that will air live on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.

  • BSB: Gators Defeat Kentucky in Must-Win Game

    BSB: Gators Defeat Kentucky in Must-Win Game

    Photo by C. Morgan Engel | Getty Images

    The Gators got some revenge Saturday in a dominant 10-1 win in game two against Kentucky. The offense was in full swing, highlighted by two home runs from Heyman. Liam Peterson and Ryan Slater had outstanding outings on the defensive side of things for a much-needed win to stay above .500.

    The offense got things started in the second inning with a RBI double from Yost. In the third, Kurland hit his 10th home run of the season to make it 2-0 Gators.

    Following that, Caglianone doubled to extend his hitting streak to 29 games. After, Caglianone was intentionally walked four times on the day. Shelton got a single to score Cags and made it 3-0 Gators.

    Thomas stayed hot with an RBI double to center field to score Shelnut in the fourth, and the Gators were up 4-0.

    Like Kurland, Heyman also hit his 10th home run of the season; Gators up 6-1.

    Kurland continued his offensive momentum with a two RBI double to left field, scoring Thomas and Shelnut. Ashton Wilson kept the inning going with a RBI single of his own. Gators up 9-1.

    Heyman hit his second home run of the game in the eighth to make it 10-1 Gators. They would go on to close out the game from there.

    Liam Peterson continued his recent dominating outings, pitching six innings, only allowing five hits and striking out six. He gets the win on the day. Ryan Slater got the save, his second of the season. Slater pitched three innings and had one strikeout.

    The Wildcats lone run came in the fifth inning off of an RBI single.

    With the 10-1 win, the Gators avoid dropping to .500 on the season. They are now 26-24 overall, 11-15 SEC.

    The series finale will be 12 p.m. Sunday. They will look for their first SEC series win since taking the series against Mississippi State at the end of March.

  • BSB: Bullpen Breaks Down in Opener vs Kentucky

    BSB: Bullpen Breaks Down in Opener vs Kentucky

    Photo by Wesley Hitt | Getty Images

    Every time it looked like the Gators were going to close out the game on Friday, the Wildcats made their presence known. The Gators fall to the Wildcats, 12-11, in 10 innings on a day where the pitching staff couldn’t find momentum. Dale Thomas had three hits on the day, and Caglianone got his 200th career hit.

    Kentucky got on the board first, 1-0, in the first, but the Gators had a response to tie it up in the bottom of the inning with an RBI from Evans.

    Shelton took the lead for the Gators with a three run home run in the third.

    Donay extended the Gators lead with a solo home run in the fourth. The Gators with a comfortable 5-0 lead.

    The Wildcats added on two runs in the fifth to keep it close, 5-3.

    The Gators added on another in the seventh making it 6-3.

    In a back and forth game, the Wildcats tied it, 6-6, in the eighth. The Gators took a 8-6 lead from an RBI double from Shelnut and a sacrifice fly from Thomas.

    McNeillie came in to pitch the ninth and got two quick outs, but the next two batters were walked and then the Wildcats took advantage and hit a three run home run to take a 9-8 lead.

    Three back-to-back singles from Shelnut, Yost and Thomas tied the game, 9-9, for the Gators and forced extra innings.

    Jac Caglianone got his 200th career hit on a solo home run in the 10th in the start of a comeback for the Gators.

    Shelton hit his second home run of the day to put the Gators down one with only one out. Heyman the singled into left field, but Donay hit into a double play to end the Gator’s chance at a comeback.

    With the 12-11 loss, Gators are now only one game above .500, 25-24, 10-15 SEC.

    Saturday’s first pitch will be at 12 p.m.