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  • SWIM: Dressel sets American record in 50-free prelims, qualifies first overall in NCAA final

    SWIM: Dressel sets American record in 50-free prelims, qualifies first overall in NCAA final

    In his first competition at the 2018 NCAA Championships, Caeleb Dressel is once again putting on a show.

    Dressel’s first appearance took place in the final heat of the 50-yard freestyle where he claimed an American record by swimming an 18.11.

    The record-breaking run has Dressel in the top spot heading into the finals tonight. Dressel will look to become the first male swimmer in NCAA history to win the 50-free all four years of his collegiate career.

    In addition to tonight’s freestyle event, Dressel will also compete Friday in the 100-fly and on Saturday in the 100-free.

    Although Dressel has dominated the competition since arriving in Gainesville from Green Cove Springs, Florida, his name became well known with an incredible run at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest. Dressel earned seven gold medals to tie a record held by swimming legend Michael Phelps.

    Dressel also earned a pair of gold medals in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

    Florida currently sits fourth in team standings after one day. Tonight’s coverage of the 2018 World Championships will begin at 7:00 PM.

    *FINA doesn’t recognize records using (SCY) short course yards as they use (SCM) short course meters.

  • SB: Barnhill’s no-no leads Gators past South Florida

    SB: Barnhill’s no-no leads Gators past South Florida

    FLORIDA 9, SOUTH FLORIDA 0

    RUNS HITS ERRORS
    USF 0 0 1
    GATORS 9 6 0

    Gainesville, FL– The Florida softball team enjoyed a return to the friendly confines of Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Wednesday after a trip to Georgia that netted the Gators their first series loss of 2018. Florida defeated South Florida on Wednesday behind yet another no-hitter by Kelly Barnhill.

    Barnhill threw five innings and faced only seventeen hitters. She finished with twelve strikeouts and two walks for the contest. This was the fifth no-hitter that Barnhill has been involved in this season. After the game Barnhill said she has worked a lot with pitching coach this week after a rough weekend against Georgia.

    The Gators got on the board early, scoring two runs in the first as senior first baseman Kayli Kvistad hit the first triple of her career to score Amanda Lorenz. Jordan Matthews followed with an RBI groundout to second base that scored Kvistad.

    Kvistad had another RBI hit with her single in the second inning that scored Sophia Reynoso from second base to give Florida a 3-0 lead.

    The Gators added a trio of runs in the fourth highlighted by Lorenz’s two run double that scored Reynoso and Hannah Adams.

    Nicole DeWitt ended the game with a three-run blast to centerfield to push the Florida lead to 9-0 and thus, run-ruling the Bulls.

    Kvistad finished the game 2-2 with a triple, 2 RBI, and a run scored. Lorenz’s final stat line read: 2-3, a walk, three runs scored, and two RBI.

    NEXT: Florida will face Texas A&M to continue the 10-game homestand this weekend. The first game is scheduled for Saturday at 5:00 PM. The Aggies are 29-4 overall and 3-0 in SEC play after sweeping Ole Miss to open league play.

    W: Barnhill (12-1)

    L: Hannah Parker (5-3)

  • SB: #2 Gators drop series to Georgia

    SB: #2 Gators drop series to Georgia

    #2 Florida lost their first series of the 2018 season last weekend at the hands of their bitter rivals from Georgia. Florida lost game one of the series by a 5-4 score and followed that up with a run-rule loss on Saturday before escaping Athens, GA with a win in the series finale on Sunday. The Gators are now 23-3 on the season with a midweek game against South Florida and a home series against Texas A&M coming up.

    FRIDAY:

    GEORGIA 5, FLORIDA 4

    RUNS HITS ERRORS
    GATORS 4 6 0
    GEORGIA 5 9 2

    Athens, GA– The Gators dropped the series opener to Georgia via a walk-off two run blast by SS Alyssa DiCarlo.

    Florida got off to a good start giving starting pitcher Kelly Barnhill early run support as Kayli Kvistad doubled to center that scored Amanda Lorenz and put the Gators in front in the first.

    Georgia, however responded in a big way, hitting back-to-back-to-back homers off Barnhill in the first.

    The Gators responded though, Aleshia Ocasio hit a two-run blast to tie the game in the second. Barnhill ran into trouble again in the second as Georgia had runners on second and third, before the Georgia threat was retired.

    Florida added a run in the sixth inning as Ocasio drove in PR Haven Sampson with a single down the third base line that put Florida up 4-3.

    The bottom of the seventh started innocently enough with Ocasio retiring the always dangerous Courtney Emanuel before Justice Mills singled to third, allowing for the dramatic finish by DiCarlo.

    W: Brittany Gray (12-0)

    L: Aleshia Ocasio (9-2)

    SATURDAY:

    GEORGIA 11, FLORIDA 1

    RUNS HITS ERRORS
    GATORS 1 6 3
    GEORGIA 11 10 0

    Athens, GA– The Gators fell to Georgia 11-1 on Saturday in a game that only went five innings. It was the first time this season that Florida was run-ruled and represented the worst margin of defeat since 2011.

    The Gators only managed six hits in the contest, highlighted by a RBI single by Amanda Lorenz that scored freshman Hannah Adams.

    Kelly Barnhill had her second short outing in consecutive nights. Barnhill pitched two innings, allowing three runs (one earned) while striking out two and walking two in earning her first loss of the season. Freshman Natalie Lugo allowed six runs in her one inning of work while Katie Chronister gave up two more in the loss.

    W: Brittany Gray (13-0)

    L: Barnhill (11-1)

    SUNDAY:

    FLORIDA 5, GEORGIA 1

    RUNS HITS ERRORS
    GATORS 5 6 1
    GEORGIA 1 4 1

    Athens, GA– Florida bounced back in the series finale against Georgia behind a strong performance from Aleshia Ocasio.

    Ocasio hurled a complete game, striking out nine Bulldogs hitters while allowing no walks. Ocasio gave up only four hits and one unearned run to Georgia on Sunday as the Gators won 5-1.

    Florida took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Jordan Matthews doubled to right field to score Kayli Kvistad.

    The Gators would add a run in the fifth inning with Alex Voss scoring on in the midst of a throwing error by Alysen Febrey of Georgia.

    Florida would add a trio of insurance runs in the seventh. Sophia Reynoso singled in Hannah Adams, and Amanda Lorenz followed with a two-run homer to extend Florida’s lead to 5-0.

    Georgia added a single run in the bottom of the seventh, but no further damage was done.

    W: Ocasio (10-2)

    L: Kylie Bass (9-1)

    _______________

    Florida is now 23-3 on the season and sit at 4-2 in conference play. The Gators will face South Florida on Wednesday in midweek action before taking on the Texas A&M Aggies in conference play this weekend.

    SEC STANDINGS (THROUGH MARCH 18):

    TEAM SEC W SEC L OVERALL W OVERALL L
    Tennessee 3 0 30 1
    Texas A&M 3 0 29 4
    Georgia 5 1 26 2
    Florida 4 2 23 3
    Miss State 2 1 25 4
    S. Carolina 2 1 24 4
    LSU 3 2 23 4
    Kentucky 2 3 19 6
    Auburn 2 4 27 6
    Alabama 1 2 19 7
    Mississippi 1 5 15 9
    Missouri 1 5 17 14
    Arkansas 0 3 21 5
  • BSB: #2 Gators take series vs South Carolina to open SEC play

    BSB: #2 Gators take series vs South Carolina to open SEC play

    #2 Florida opened SEC play with a trip to South Carolina. The Gators clinched the series with a 3-2 victory on Sunday. Florida took game one on Friday by a 7-3 score, but the Gamecocks rallied for a 15-7 thumping of the Gators on Saturday. Florida is now 18-4 overall and 2-1 in SEC action while South Carolina falls to 13-7, 1-2.

    FRIDAY:

    FLORIDA 7, S. CAROLINA 3

    RUNS HITS ERRORS
    GATORS 7 9 1
    S. CAROLINA 3 6 0

    Columbia, SC– The Gators opened SEC play with a 7-3 win over South Carolina on Friday night.

    Starting pitcher Brady Singer pitched six innings for Florida to improve to 5-0 on the season. Singer allowed just one run on two hits while striking out seven. Closer Michael Byrne pitched the eighth and ninth frames for the Gators to earn his fourth save of the year.

    Florida fell behind in the first inning when LT Tolbert singled up the middle to score TJ Hopkins. The Gators came back in the fourth, taking the lead with a Blake Reese single that scored JJ Schwarz and Jonathan India.

    Florida added a run in the fifth as Deacon Liput hit an RBI single that scored Nelson Maldonado. The Gators added two more in the sixth inning with a Maldonado double that scored Austin Langworthy and Wil Dalton.

    Carolina wouldn’t go down quietly, though as they put a run up in the seventh and eighth innings.

    India hit a two-run, no doubt homer to left center to add some insurance to the Gators lead in the ninth before Byrne closed the door for good.

    W: Singer (5-0)

    L: Adam Hill (2-2)

    S: Byrne (4)

    SATURDAY:

    CAROLINA 15, FLORIDA 7

    RUNS HITS ERRORS
    GATORS 7 10 1
    S. CAROLINA 15 16 2

    Columbia, SC– The Gators fell in the second game of the series by a 15-7 score on Saturday. Florida starting pitcher Jackson Kowar was hit early as South Carolina took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on two home runs by Noah Campbell and Madison Stokes. Kowar also allowed a run to score on a balk in the third inning that built the Gamecocks’ lead to 4-0.

    Florida fought back all game but never could get all the way back. Each time Florida closed the gap a little, Carolina would swing it right back open.

    The Gators got one back in the fourth and the sixth, but South Carolina added a five-spot to the scoreboard in the bottom half of the sixth inning.

    The Gators again fought back, getting to within three at 9-6 thanks to a pair of homers by Nick Horvath and Wil Dalton, but a six run eighth inning pretty much put the game away. Jonathan India hit a solo homer in the ninth to arrive at the final score of 15-7.

    Kowar pitched five gutty innings allowing five runs (all earned) while striking out five and walking three.

    Wil Dalton went 2-5 with a homer and three RBI and scored two runs in the game from the leadoff spot.

    W: Cody Morris (4-1)

    L: Kowar (3-1)

    SUNDAY:

    FLORIDA 3, S. CAROLINA 2

    RUNS HITS ERRORS
    GATORS 3 4 1
    S. CAROLINA 2 6 1

    Columbia, SC– The Gators took the series with a 3-2 win in the finale on Sunday. Florida scored first for the first time in the series, and never relinquished the lead.

    Wil Dalton homered to lead the game off for Florida and give starting pitcher Tyler Dyson some early run support.

    Florida added two more runs in the fourth inning as JJ Schwarz hit a solo home run and Deacon Lip hit a sacrifice fly to center that brought Jonathan India home.

    South Carolina would score twice (once in the fourth and once in the sixth) before the game went final.

    Dyson pitched five innings in earning his fourth win of the season allowing both runs and striking out five. Michael Byrne pitched 2.1 innings only allowing one hitter on base via a walk and earned his fifth save of the year, and second in this series.

    India finished the game 2-3 with a walk and a run scored for the Gators.

    W: Dyson (4-1)

    L: Ridge Chapman (1-2)

    S: Byrne (5)

    _______________

    Florida is now 18-4 on the season and 2-1 in SEC play. The Gators will face Jacksonville in Gainesville on Tuesday in midweek action before taking on the Arkansas Razorbacks in conference play this weekend.

    SEC EAST STANDINGS (THROUGH MARCH 18):

    SCHOOL SEC W SEC L Overall W Overall L
    VANDERBILT 3 0 15 5
    FLORIDA 2 1 18 4
    GEORGIA 2 1 14 6
    MISSOURI 1 2 14 5
    S. CAROLINA 1 2 13 7
    TENNESSEE 1 2 13 8
    KENTUCKY 0 3 14 6
  • LAX: #6 Florida wins Big East opener against Vandy

    LAX: #6 Florida wins Big East opener against Vandy

    FINAL: FLORIDA 11, VANDERBILT 10

    1st 2nd OT FINAL
    GATORS 7 4 X 11
    VANDY 6 4 X 10

    Gainesville, FL – #6 Florida hung on for a 11-10 victory over Vanderbilt in the Big East Conference opener on Sunday.

    The Gators scored early and often in seizing a 5-1 advantage just ten minutes into the game. However, the Commodores fought back and by half it was a 7-6 Florida lead.

    The Gators came out of the half on fire, scoring four of the first five goals of the final stanza for a 11-7 lead, but Vandy kept fighting.

    Vanderbilt scored the final three scores, and were in position to tie the game up with less than two minutes remaining, but Caroline Benitez forced a turnover, and the Gators were able to run out the clock from there.

    The Gators were outshot and turned the ball over more than the Commodores on Saturday, but Florida did edge Vandy in the draw circle, controlling 13 draws.

    Shayna Pirreca finished with a match high four goals on nine shots while Grace Haus added two more in the victory for Florida. Benitez, Madisyn Kittell, Shannon Kavanagh, Madi Hall, and Sydney Pirreca each added a goal as well.

    Florida goalkeeper Haley Hicklen made 13 saves and helped Florida move to 6-2 and 1-0 in Big East play. Vanderbilt falls to 5-3, and 0-1.

    Team Stats:

    GATORS VANDY
    SHOTS 27 36
    SOG 19 23
    SAVES 13 8
    DRAW CONTROLS 13 10
    TURNOVERS 14 11

    What’s Next:

    The Gators next match will be on Wednesday against Towson in non-conference action from Donald R. Dizney Stadium in Gainesville. The match will begin at 6:30 PM and will be broadcast on YouTube.

    BIG EAST STANDINGS (Through March 18)

    SCHOOL Big East W L Overall W L
    Florida 1 0 6 2
    Georgetown 1 0 5 2
    Temple 1 0 6 3
    Marquette 1 0 5 4
    UConn 1 0 5 4
    Cincinnati 0 1 6 2
    Vanderbilt 0 1 5 3
    Villanova 0 1 5 3
    Denver 0 1 4 3
    Butler 0 1 1 8
  • MBB: Texas Tech ends Gators season with 69-66 win

    MBB: Texas Tech ends Gators season with 69-66 win

    FINAL: TEXAS TECH 69, FLORIDA 66

    1st 2nd OT FINAL
    GATORS 33 33 X 66
    TTU 32 37 X 69

    Dallas, TX– This is what Egor Koulechov was brought to Florida for. The opportunity to tie the game as the clock is running out in the NCAA Tournament. Koulechov had the look Saturday night.

    Florida’s senior point guard Chris Chiozza brought the Gators within a three of tying the game with a quick layup with 26 seconds remaining. The Gators forced Texas Tech star Keenan Evans into a turnover to set up the dramatic conclusion.

    Trailing 69-66 with :20 on the clock, Florida decided not to call a timeout after the turnover, despite one remaining, Chiozza drove the lane and kicked the ball out to Koulechov, whose three pointer rimmed off. Keith Stone rebounded the ball and kicked it out to junior KeVaughn Allen who also watched his shot hit the front of the rim as time expired. Florida lost.

    It would be unfair to say officiating didn’t have a big effect on the outcome. Though Florida ended up shooting one more free throw, the lack of consistency from the first half to midway through the second was incredibly frustrating. Chris Chiozza found himself with four fouls just seven minutes into the second half, leaving him on the bench for several minutes of the final half. While Chiozza was sitting, the Florida offense struggled mightily. The Red Raiders rattled off a 12-2 run, and Florida had to attempt the comeback.

    The Gators made a defensive switch, moving to the zone, which caused Texas Tech all kinds of fits and allowed Florida to get back in it. In the end, Florida just didn’t have enough and the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this team just couldn’t pull it off.

    Jalen Hudson led all scorers with 23 points while shooting 8-16 from the field. Koulechov finished with 12 points and 4 rebounds while Chiozza ended his career with 11 points and 3 assists.

    Florida shot only 39.7% from the field while allowing Texas Tech to shoot 44.4% (including 53% in the second half). Florida usually dominates the assists-turnover stat, but finished with an 11:11 ratio in the loss.

    RECORDS:

    • FLORIDA: 21-13
    • TEXAS TECH: 26-9

    Team Stats:

    GATORS TTU
    FG % 40 44
    3-PT % 27 40
    FT % 67 50
    Offensive Rebounds 13 13
    Total Rebounds 39 39
    Assists 11 17
    Steals 5 4
    Blocks 9 5
    Turnovers 11 8

    What’s Next:

    The season is now over for Florida, but the Gators have a lot of questions to answer. The most pressing question is what happens to Mike White. White is a hot name for the Mississippi job (his alma mater), but has done a masterful job while at Florida.

    Florida will also have to replace seniors Egor Koulechov, and Chris Chiozza. Chiozza has become one of the most appreciated players in program history as an undersized guard who fought for what he earned (including the all-time assists record), and was one of the most clutch players in program history. Jalen Hudson has the size and ability that NBA team covet, and could be swayed to enter the NBA Draft. If Hudson decides the go professional, Florida will need to replace their three leading scorers from this season.

    Also, Florida needs a big man BADLY. Maybe Isaiah Stokes and Chase Johnson can come back healthy next year, but KeVarrius Hayes can not start on a team that expects to compete for an SEC Championship next year.

  • MBB: Gators advance thanks to strong second half effort

    MBB: Gators advance thanks to strong second half effort

    FINAL: FLORIDA 77, ST. BONAVENTURE 62

    1st 2nd OT FINAL
    SBU 22 40 X 62
    GATORS 27 50 X 77

    Dallas, TX– It felt so familiar. It seemed to follow the script. Florida builds an early lead, only to go cold and lose control.

    The difference tonight, just as all felt lost, these Gators flipped that script. Florida watched a 20-9 lead evaporate and turn into a 22-21 deficit as they missed eleven consecutive shots over an eight-plus minute stretch. It appeared that losing the lead motivated this team and it showed. The Gators went on a 15-0 run over the next six-plus minutes between the two halves that put Florida in control.

    Chris Chiozza, as he has done all year, played the role of facilitator, finishing one shy of his career high with 11 assists while graduate-transfer Egor Koulechov scored a game high 20 points.

    Junior guard Jalen Hudson keyed the second half spurt with 13 of his 16 points coming after the intermission.

    Florida’s defense was impressive holding the star backcourt of St. Bonaventure in check. Matt Mobley scored ten points but shot just 1-9 from three-point range while Jaylen Adams added 11 points (this duo combined to average almost 40 points per game during the season). Florida forced the Bonnies into 18 turnovers, well above their season average of just under 12.

    Keith Stone came off the bench to score nine points and grab a team-high eight rebounds. Chiozza finished with a line that reads: 8 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds, three steals, and most importantly, 0 turnovers.

    Florida will face #3 seed Texas Tech in what is expected to be a hostile environment on Saturday. The Red Raiders are playing just five hours from their campus with a berth into the Sweet Sixteen on the line.

    RECORDS:

    • ST. BONAVENTURE: 26-8
    • FLORIDA: 21-12

    Team Stats:

    SBU GATORS
    FG % 35 42
    3-PT % 16 31
    FT % 73 72
    Offensive Rebounds 6 9
    Total Rebounds 39 35
    Assists 10 19
    Steals 6 11
    Blocks 3 4
    Turnovers 18 9

    What’s Next:

    Florida will face Texas Tech in Dallas with a Sweet Sixteen berth on the line. The game is slated for 8:40 PM and will be aired on TNT.

    Florida vs Texas Tech

    March 17, 2018 / 8:40 PM

    Dallas, TX / TNT

  • BSB: #2 Florida powers past rival Seminoles

    BSB: #2 Florida powers past rival Seminoles

    FLORIDA 12, FLORIDA STATE 6

    RUNS HITS ERRORS
    FSU 6 8 0
    GATORS 12 14 0

    Gainesville, FL– #2 Florida once again asserted it’s dominance on their in-state rivals from Tallahassee. The Gators used a pair of homers from Jonathan India and an all-around offensive explosion to storm past the Seminoles 12-6 on Tuesday.

    (more…)

  • LAX: #6 Gators battle back from eight goal deficit to defeat Navy

    LAX: #6 Gators battle back from eight goal deficit to defeat Navy

    FINAL: FLORIDA 19, NAVY 16

    1st 2nd OT FINAL
    NAVY 11 5 X 16
    GATORS 8 11 X 19

    Gainesville, FL – The #6 Florida lacrosse team was in a precarious position less than twenty minutes into their home contest against Navy. Trailing the #10 Midshipmen 10-2 (Navy scored the first five goals of the game), Florida could have folded, instead, they fought back, overcame the deficit, and defeated Navy 19-16.

    (more…)

  • GYM: Alex McMurtry named SEC Gymnast of the Week after historic meet

    GYM: Alex McMurtry named SEC Gymnast of the Week after historic meet

    Alex McMurtry made the most of her final appearance at Exactech Arena in front of Gators fans.

    McMurtry won all five events (including the all-around title) in #5 Florida’s dominating Senior Day victory over # 11 Nebraska on Friday.

    (more…)