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  • Report: South Carolina could target Kevin O’Sullivan for Head Coach

    Report: South Carolina could target Kevin O’Sullivan for Head Coach

    It seems that around this time every year Florida baseball coach Kevin O’Sulivan’s name is brought up in rumors of moving on to a different program.  In 2015, Clemson was the front runner to steal away the Gators skipper.  In 2016, the opening at Texas created a media frenzy with O’Sullivan as a the lead candidate. O’Sullivan squashed those rumors at the 2016 College World Series and ultimately received a contact extension from Florida. 

    On Wednesday, college baseball insider Kendall Rogers of D1baseball.com told Matt Moscona of ESPN 104.5 in Baton Rouge that he “would not be surprised if South Carolina hired Kevin O’Sullivan.”  

    South Carolina has a vacancy at head coach after the resignation of Chad Holbrook.  South Carolina finished the year with a 35-25 record.  South Carolina won the 2010 and 2011 National titles with current Athletic Director Ray Tanner guiding the Gamecocks. 

    O’Sullivan’s contract runs through 2025, and SECCountry.com reported that O’Sullivan would owe $1 million if he were to leave before July 2017.  

  • Baseball America names Alex Faedo, Michael Byrne to All-american teams

    Baseball America names Alex Faedo, Michael Byrne to All-american teams

    Baseball America released their All-American teams for the 2017 season. Florida Gators pitchers Alex Faedo and Michael Byrne were selected to the second, and third teams, respectively. 

    Faedo has been the Gators Friday night starter for the entire season and finished with a 7-2 record and a 2.70 ERA.  Faedo has struck out 123 batters in 103.1 innings pitched while allowing opposing hitters to bat at a .221 clip.  Faedo is expected to be an early-to-mid first round pick in this year’s MLB draft. Faedo will likely be on the mound when Florida kicks off Super Regional play against Wake Forest on Saturday at 3:00 PM.  

    Michael Byrne may be the surprise of the season for Florida. Byrne began the year making midweek starts, but eventually found himself closing games regularly. Byrne, whose fastball tops out in the high 80s, set the school record for saves with 16 (and counting).  Byrne carries a team best 1.55 ERA in 32 appearances. In his 63.2 innings of work, Byrne has struck out 74 batters while only walking 12. Hitters are only batting .210 against the righty.  

    Florida will face Wake Forest in a best of three series this weekend at McKethan Stadium. 

  • Oklahoma defeats Gators 5-4 to win National Championship

    Oklahoma defeats Gators 5-4 to win National Championship

    OKLAHOMA 5, FLORIDA 4

      RUNS HITS ERRORS
    FLORIDA 4 6 1
    OKLAHOMA 5 8 1

     

    Oklahoma City, OK-  The Oklahoma Sooners are National Champions after defeating Florida 5-4 in game two of the Championship Series at the Women’s College World Series.

    Oklahoma took a lead in the first inning when Nicole Mendes hammered the fourth pitch that Florida starting pitcher Aleshia Ocasio threw over the left field fence.  Florida would turn the momentum in their favor when Sophia Reynoso hit a lead of home run in the top of the second.  The momentum would be short lived though.  The Gators loaded the bases but scored only one run when Kayli Kvistad was hit by a pitch.  Janelle Wheaton fouled out to end the threat with the bases loaded.

    Oklahoma would take advantage of Florida not capitalizing.  In the bottom of the second inning Oklahoma scored four runs to make it 5-3.  Aleshia Ocasio struggled in the inning.  Sydney Romero grounded out to start the inning, but each of the next three Sooners hitters reached base.  Ocasio was swapped for Delanie Gourley with the bases loaded.  Gourley walked Caleigh Clifton, then gave up a three-run double to Monday nights hero, Shay Knighten.  Ocasio’s stat line was an unimpressive 1.1 innings pitched, four runs, four hits, and a walk.

    Florida got a run in the third inning when Chelsea Herndon hit a two-out homer to centerfield to celebrate her birthday.  The Gators would go down in order in the fourth and fifth before Jordan Roberts pinch hit a single through the left side of the infield.  After Roberts’ hit, Sooners pitcher Paige Lowary retired the final six Florida hitters in order.

    Florida finished a successful season which saw a trip to the Women’s College World Series and the Championship Series and a 58-10 final record.  Florida will have a strong team coming back next year, as only three seniors will not be on this team.  Gourley, Herndon, and starting CF Justine McLean have completed their career with Florida.

    WP: Mariah Lopez (18-1)

    LP: Ocasio (8-2)

    LEADERS:

    • Reynoso (UF) 1-3, HR, RBI
    • Herndon (UF) 1-3, HR, RBI
  • Hometown Hero: Langworthy does it all to send UF to Supers

    Hometown Hero: Langworthy does it all to send UF to Supers

    The Florida Gators needed a hero Monday afternoon against Bethune-Cookman. The Gators were facing the Wildcats in an afternoon elimination game and the bats had fallen silent. Florida boasts one of the top pitching staff in the country led by top prospect Alex Faedo.  However, that staff is designed for a three game series with fellow pitchers Brady Singer and Jackson Kowar.

    If midweek regular season games are any indication, Florida could be in trouble when having to look past three games. 

    The Gators started freshman Kirby McMullen on Monday, but McMullen was taken out after 2.2 innings.  Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan motioned to Langworthy to come in from his starting position in left field surprising much of the small crowd in attendance. 

    Whispers of “this kid can pitch?” buzzed around McKethan Stadium.  But it didn’t take long for the crowd to see that Langworthy was up to the task.  Langworthy struck out BCU OF Adonis Lao on three pitches to end the inning.  Langworthy walked to the dugout to a standing ovation. 

    Langworthy would pitch four innings allowing two hits while striking out three and walking one.  

    Unfortunately Florida’s offense just couldn’t get going.  Florida managed just three hits until the sixth inning. 

    In the sixth inning though, Nelson Maldonado singled and Mike Rivera reached on an error bringing Langworthy to the plate. Langworthy crushed a 3-1 pitch to right to put the Gators in front 3-0.  Florida never looked back and won 6-1 advancing to the Super Regionals. 

    Langworthy, who played high school baseball at Williston High (just 22 miles from McKethan Stadium) entered Monday having pitched only 11.2 innings this season, but saved his best performance for when Florida would need it most. 

  • Florida fights but falls in marathon Championship Series opener

    Florida fights but falls in marathon Championship Series opener

    OKLAHOMA 7, FLORIDA 5 (17 INNINGS)

      RUNS HITS ERRORS
    OKLAHOMA 7 10 2
    FLORIDA 5 12 0

     

    Oklahoma City, OK-  It took five hours and twenty-eight minutes to determine a winner in the first game of the 2017 WCWS Championship Series.  Oklahoma’s Shay Knighten hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventeenth to give the Sooners the victory in the longest game ever played in the WCWS.

    Florida was down to their final strike twice but came back to tie the game up twice.

    In the seventh inning and trailing 2-1, freshman Sophia Reynoso played hero for the Gators.  Reynoso hit a high blooper into left center field that would fall, scoring Aleshia Ocasio.  The ball managed to hit the grass in the outfield because Oklahoma was playing a “no-doubles” defense which positioned their outfielders on the warning track.

    Both offenses were stagnant until the 12th inning.  Oklahoma’s Fale Aviu hit a two run homer on a Delanie Gourley change up to take a 4-2 lead.  The Gators would fight back in the bottom of the 12th though.  Amanda Lorenz hit a double to left field to score Lily Mann and Sophia Reyoso and tie the game again.

    The Gators went out fighting in the 17th as well as Lorenz would hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Mann, but the threat ended with two runners on base when Kayli Kvistad finished an 0-7 night by striking out swinging.

    Florida will now have to win two games in a row against Oklahoma, playing with an obvious home crowd advantage.  Both of Florida’s pitchers threw well over 100 pitches and each were tagged for at least one home run.

    It will be an uphill battle for Florida to win the National Championship, but if this Gators team showed us anything on Monday, it’s that they are willing to fight.  Game two will be played at 8:00 PM on Tuesday.

    WP: Paige Lowary (16-3)

    LP: Kelly Barnhill (26-4)

    LEADERS:

    • Knighten (OU) 3-7, HR, 2B, 3 RBI
    • Reynoso (UF) 3-7, 2B, RBI, R
    • Lorenz (UF) 2-7, 2B, 3 RBI

  • Gators advance to Championship Series with 5-2 win over Washington

    FLORIDA 5, WASHINGTON 2

      RUNS HITS ERRORS
    FLORIDA 5 7 1
    WASHINGTON 2 2 1

    Oklahoma City, OK-  Florida senior pitcher Delanie Gourley has made 76 starts and 112 appearances in her Gators career.  She earned the win in the 2014 championship clincher.  Despite all the experience she has, Sunday was Gourley’s first start in the Women’s College World Series.

    Gourley faced a potent Washington lineup but pitched masterfully in the Gators 5-2 victory that sends Florida to the Championship Series for the fifth time in program history.  Gourley finished the complete game effort with 10 strikeouts while only walking one batter.

    Gourley was backed up with a strong offensive effort from the start.  Kayli Kvistad hit a solo home run to right center in the bottom of the first to give the Gators the early lead.  Florida added a trio of runs in the second inning.  Kvistad roped a two-run single up the middle, and Florida took a 4-0 lead.

    Florida would tack on one more run in the fifth inning when Janelle Wheaton singled to score Nicole Dewitt.

    Washington finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh.  Taylor Van Zee reached base on a two out error by Kvistad at first base.  It was only the second error by Kvistad all season.  The next Washington hitter, Julia DePonte hit a no-doubt home run to cut the deficit to 5-2.  Trysten Melhart grounded to Kvistad who tagged the bag and sent Florida to the final series.

    Florida will face Oklahoma in the Championship Series beginning Monday at 7:00 PM.  Oklahoma won the 2016 WCWS while Florida won the 2014 and the 2015 titles.

    WP: Gourley (22-4)

    LP: Taran Alvelo (35-9)

    LEADERS:

    • Kvistad (UF) 2-4, HR, 3 RBI
    • Gourley (UF) 7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 10 K, BB
    • Dewitt (UF) 2-3, R, BB
  • Report: Zaire coming to Florida on Wednesday

    Report: Zaire coming to Florida on Wednesday

    Malik Zaire is about to officially become a Florida Gator.  Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports spoke with Zaire Saturday night at the Elite 11 competition and broke the news on Twitter.

     

    On Friday the SEC altered a rule that wouldn’t have allowed Florida to accept graduate transfers due to two former players not meeting academic requirements.

    Zaire completed 58-98 passes in his career at Notre Dame for 816 yards and six touchdowns. Zaire has not thrown an interception yet.

    In his best single game performance, Zaire completed 19-22 passes for 313 yards and three scores in Notre Dame’s 2015 opener against Texas. Unfortunately, Zaire suffered a season-ending injury the next week and DeShone Kizer took over the starting job and played well enough to get drafted by the Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft. Zaire is petitioning the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility. 

    Zaire told Feldman that he would arrive in Gainesville on Wednesday and that he was excited to play against SEC competition.

    Zaire is expected to compete with Luke Del Rio, and Feleipe Franks for the starting job in the season opener on September 2 against Michigan.

  • Gators blank LSU, need one win for Championship Series berth

    FLORIDA 7, LSU 0

    Amanda Lorenz tracks down a fly ball against Michigan on February 11. -Per the Associated Press
      RUNS HITS ERRORS
    FLORIDA 7 9 0
    LSU 0 2 0

     

    Oklahoma City, OK-  The Florida Gators softball team is now one win away from making the Championship Series at the Women’s College World Series after defeating LSU 7-0 on Friday.  The Gators offense has been electric in Oklahoma City, something that hadn’t been the case I the Regionals and Super Regionals.  The Gators managed to score a run against each of the three pitchers that LSU threw at them.

    The first three innings played like a heavyweight title bout, as both championship contenders felt each other out.  Each team had threats in the first few innings, but neither scored a run.

    In the fourth inning that changed.  Florida scored two runs on a Chelsea Herndon double to right field scoring Aleshia Ocasio and Alex Voss.  Florida tacked on a run in the sixth inning when Janelle Wheaton hit a home run to left field to make it a 3-0 lead.

    The Gators would add four more insurance runs in the top of the seventh including a no-doubt two-run homer by Kayli Kvistad to center.

    Kelly Barnhill escaped trouble early as LSU had runners on third base in both the first and third innings.  Once Florida took control, Barnhill looked like her normal self, retiring nine LSU hitters in a row after the third inning.  Barnhill finished the game with eight strikeouts and only two hits allowed in the complete game effort.

    Florida is now one win away from advancing to the Championship Series.  The Gators will have two chances to earn that spot on Sunday.  Florida is only three wins away from winning their third championship in four years.

    WP: Barnhill (26-3)

    LP: Carley Hoover (15-8)

    LEADERS:

    • Lorenz (UF) 3-4, RBI
    • Kvistad (UF) 1-4, HR, 2 RBI
    • Wheaton (UF) 1-2, HR, 2 RBI
    • Herndon (UF) 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI
    • Barnhill (UF) 7 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K
  • Florida run-rules Texas A&M to open World Series

    Florida run-rules Texas A&M to open World Series

    FLORIDA 8, TEXAS A&M 0 (5 INNINGS)

    Aleshia Ocasio during Florida’s game against Michigan on Feb. 11
      RUNS HITS ERRORS
    TX A&M 0 4 1
    FLORIDA 8 8 0

     

    Oklahoma City, OK-  The Florida Gators softball team played perhaps their best game of 2017 when it mattered most.  The Gators played a complete game offensively, defensively, and in the circle in defeating Texas A&M by run-rule on Thursday.

    Florida scored early and often in providing starting pitcher Kelly Barnhill with run support.  Florida scored two runs in the first inning when Janelle Wheaton singled up the middle with the bases loaded scoring Kayli Kvistad and Nicole Dewitt.

    Florida tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second after Nicole Dewitt singled to center with the bases loaded.  Justine McLean and Amanda Lorenz scored on the play.  Florida added one run in the third inning on a Sophia Reynoso RBI single.  Aleshia Ocasio hit a three-run homer to right center field in the fourth to push Florida into run-rule territory.

    Kelly Barnhill was in control despite saying she “didn’t have her best stuff” in a post-game ESPN interview.  Barnhill pitched four innings while allowing only three hits and striking out five.  Delaney Gourley finished the game for Florida.

    Barnhill did run into trouble in the top of the first.  She walked Keeli Milligan to start the game, and faced Aggies catcher Ashley Walsh with runners on first and third and two outs.  Walters struck out swinging to end the threat.  Florida never looked back.

    Florida completed the first run-rule victory in the Women’s College World Series since the Gators run-ruled Baylor in 2014.  Florida will face LSU Friday night at 7:00 PM.  LSU defeated UCLA 2-1 on Thursday.

    WP: Barnhill (25-3)

    LP: Trinity Harrington (14-3)

    LEADERS:

    • Dewitt (UF) 1-1, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 RBI
    • Ocasio (UF) 2-3, HR, 3 RBI, R
    • Lorenz (UF) 1-2, 2 R, BB
  • Kelly Barnhill named NCAA Player of the Year

    Kelly Barnhill named NCAA Player of the Year

    Florida RHP Kelly Barnhill has earned her fair share of accolades for her 2017 performance. On Tuesday she was named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year by the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA).  

    Barnhill sports a 24-3 record with an SEC-record 0.36 ERA.  Barnhill has struck out 333 hitters in only 173.2 innings pitched. Barnhill led the NCAA in strikeouts per seven innings. 

    Barnhill has helped lead Florida to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.  Florida will face Texas A&M Thursday at 12:00 PM to open World Series play.  

    Lauren Haeger was the first Florida player to win the award for her efforts in the Gators 2015 championship season.