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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: Wallace Goes Yard Four Times as Gators Defeat Dawgs in Home Series

    SB: Wallace Goes Yard Four Times as Gators Defeat Dawgs in Home Series

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    Florida shortstop Skylar Wallace went 6-7 at the plate with four home runs, eight RBIs and six walks this past weekend as the Gators won two of three home games against rival Georgia.

    “I just hate to lose,” Wallace said. “I just don’t want to have someone beat me at something I’m good at, so I just try to play my hardest at all times and fire my team up because once we get rolling, we roll.”

    After run-ruling the Bulldogs in Friday’s series opener, Florida clinched the series Saturday with a 8-7 victory. Georgia avoided a series sweep Sunday with an 8-2 win in front of a record-setting crowd at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

    Florida improves to 31-11 overall, 8-7 in conference play — sixth in the SEC — and 20-4 at home.

    Game 1 Box Score (F/6)

    No. 12 Georgia: 4 / 7 / 0

    No. 15 Florida: 13 / 13 / 0

    Wallace led off the series Friday with a solo shot followed by a two-run bomb in her second at-bat. The redshirt junior hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth before she capped off the run-rule win in the sixth inning with a three-run homer that just left the yard in center field.

    Wallace leads the SEC in batting average (.465), on-base percentage (.616) and slugging percentage (1.061). The former Alabama transfer leads the nation in on-base plus slugging (1.677).

    Florida right-hander Elizabeth Hightower started in the circle and pitched 4 1/3 innings en route to earning her 14th win this season. Senior southpaw Rylee Trlicek recorded the final five outs to pick up her third save this year.

    Game 2 Box Score

    No. 12 Georgia: 7 / 6 / 3

    No. 15 Florida: 8 / 12 / 1

    Down 7-6 entering the fifth inning, Florida first baseman Avery Goelz hit a go-ahead two-run shot — her first home run this season.

    Sophomore right-hander Lexie Delbrey started in the circle and gave up seven runs — five earned — before Trlicek came in for relief and threw three shutout innings to earn her 10th win this year.

    In the bottom of the first, third baseman Charla Echols put Florida on the board with a two-run double into the right-center gap. Echols recorded her 49th RBI this season and is tied for the most in the SEC.

    Game 3 Box Score

    No. 12 Georgia: 8 / 8 / 0

    No. 15 Florida: 2 / 5 / 1

    Hightower made her 20th start this season in the circle but yielded four earned runs across four frames. The graduate student picked up her sixth loss of the year as the Gators scored only two runs via sophomore second baseman Regan Walsh’s two-run single in the bottom of the fifth.

    On Deck

    The Gators will welcome USF Wednesday for a doubleheader before they travel to Knoxville to face No. 7 Tennessee in a three-game series beginning Saturday. The first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader will air on ESPNU at 6 p.m. Saturday’s series opener against the Lady Vols will air on ESPNU at 4 p.m. before Sunday and Monday’s contests air on the SEC Network at 7 p.m.

  • LAX: Dominant Defensive Effort Leads No. 9 Gators Past ECU

    LAX: Dominant Defensive Effort Leads No. 9 Gators Past ECU

    GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The no. 9 Florida Gators (11-3) turned in an impressive defensive effort against AAC opponent East Carolina University (10-5), winning 10-5.

    Once again Emma LoPinto led the Gators with three goals on the day. Maggi Hall and Danielle Pavinelli netted two goals each, while Ava Tighe, Madison Waters and Emerson Cabrera all scored once.

    Hall served up three assists on the day and LoPinto added one to her tally as well.

    The Gators’ defense was stout Saturday afternoon, only allowing five goals on 23 shots. Sarah Reznick stopped 11 shots in the net to give her a .688 save percentage.

    Shelton Sawers forced a team-high three turnovers. Becky Browndorf and Hall caused two.

    Hall, helping everywhere on the field, led the team with five groundballs. Theresa Bragg collected three.

    The Gators are back in action this Saturday for senior night against Vanderbilt at 12 p.m.

  • BSB: Gators secure fifth-straight SEC series with win versus Georgia

    BSB: Gators secure fifth-straight SEC series with win versus Georgia

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    By sophomore two-way player Jac Caglianone’s standards, his weekend series versus Georgia had been a quiet one headed into Sunday’s finale. He had gone 2-8 with no RBIs, hit for no extra bases and even went 0-4 with two strikeouts in Saturday’s win.

    But when he got on the mound for his Sunday start, all eyes were on him.

    He took advantage, building a cushion for the Gators with his work on the mound and putting the dagger in the series with a monstrous grand slam. Caglianone became just the seventh Gator to hit 20+ homers in a single season with his third multi-homer game while starting on the mound.

    Florida (30-7, 11-4 SEC) defeated Georgia (19-16, 4-11 SEC) 11-6 Sunday to secure its fifth-straight Southeastern Conference series.

    The weekend series got off to a hot start as the Gators and Bulldogs combined for 24 runs in the Friday opener. Georgia came out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning before the Gators drove in five runs in the bottom third and sixth inning. UF’s offense was propelled by grand slams from freshmen Luke Heyman and Cade Kurland.

    Ultimately, Florida’s bullpen couldn’t hold off a UGA offensive explosion anchored by freshman Charlie Condon’s three home runs.

    Saturday’s matchup was a low-scoring affair. Junior right-hander Hurston Waldrep tossed seven innings for the Gators with only one earned run and eight strikeouts. Georgia starter Charlie Goldstein worked seven Ks in just five innings. It came down to redshirt freshman Michael Robertson’s walk-off hit in the bottom ninth to secure the win and tie the series for Florida, setting up for the Sunday afternoon rubber match.

    Caglianone got the start Sunday. He opened with two quick outs before letting up infield contact against Condon. Junior infielder Colby Halter gloved the ball but the throw pulled Heyman off the bag for a UGA single. Caglianone was able to close the frame with a fly out against the next batter.

    The Gators’ offense got moving in the bottom first after Caglianone reached first base on a walk. Junior shortstop Josh Rivera dug in behind him, squared up the first pitch and went yard to give Florida 2-0 lead after the opening inning.

    “It was huge for us to start it really early today,” Rivera said.

    The Bulldogs’ bats got going in the top of the second inning. Will David and Sebsatian Murillo doubled and walked for the ‘Dawgs between strikeouts. Florida was able to secure the final out to strand two and hand it back to the Florida bats.

    Florida’s offense continued to roll in the bottom second. Kurland led off with a single and was moved to second thanks to a single from sophomore outfielder Matt Prevesk, who filled in for Ty Evans after he was pulled from Saturday’s matchup. Robertson made it back-to-back RBI singles ranging back to last night’s walk-off to make it 3-0 Florida after two.

    Georgia recorded two quick outs but couldn’t escape the inning before more damage was done. Caglianone needed just one swing for a 3-run shot to the right berm to make the Gators’ lead 6-0. It marked his 20th home run of the year.

    “It was great,” Caglianone said. “I knew my team needed me.”

    UGA picked up its third-straight scoreless inning to open the game as Caglianone struck out the last batter with some heat to change sides in the third inning. Florida closed the opening third with its first scoreless as the Gators went 1-2-3 through the third inning.

    The Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Designated hitter Corey Collins went deep off a Caglianone fastball for a leadoff homer. Caglianone was able to get three outs following the score including his fourth strikeout in as many innings to close the frame.

    Florida stranded two in the bottom of the fourth after Georgia looked to bullpen lefty Luke Wagner for relief.

    The Gators’ fielders got caught up with some errors in the top of the fifth inning. After a Ben Anderson triple for UGA, an error on fifth-year catcher BT Riopelle allowed him to score from third. Then Kurland was unable to make a play at first, giving up the base and picking up an E4. Florida was able to secure the third out with just one run given up.

    UF went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth to keep it a 6-2 lead.

    Sophomore right-handed reliever Tyler Nesbitt took over on the mound for Caglianone in the top of the sixth. The Sunday ace’s final line was 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K and 91 TP.

    “Cags was special today obviously on the mound,” O’Sullivan said.

    Nesbitt let up a walk, single and wild pitch to put runners on second and third with no outs. Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan opted to pull him for freshman releiver Cade Fisher.

    Fisher was able to secure three-straight groundouts to pull the Gators out of the jam. Florida went scoreless itself to maintain a 6-2 leaded headed into the closing third.

    In the top of the seventh, Fisher gave up two doubles to help score Georgia’s third run. He was pulled for fellow lefty relief pitcher Philip Abner walking another batter to put runners on the corners with two outs. He punched out the final batter to bring on the seventh-inning stretch.

    Florida went 1-2-3 to close the seventh inning up 6-3.

    Abner was relieved by RHP Ryan Slater after walking a batter in the eighth with one out. He walked another batter to turn the UGA order over. He gave up a single to load the bases.

    Slater worked a full count and walked in a run to make it a 6-4 lead. He was pulled for closer Brandon Neely with two outs and loaded bases.

    Neely punched out the last batter to close the inning up 6-4. After some celebration on his way to the dugout, Neely was ejected by home plate umpire Brian deBrauwere.

    Florida took its fursturations out on offense in the bottom frame. Kurland singled to lead off, followed by a walk from pinch hitter Tyler Shelnut to put the freshman in scoring position. Robertson singled to plate Kurland and make it a 7-4 Gators lead.

    After a pitching change by the ‘Dawgs, Langford was hit by the pitches. Caglianone did the heavy lifting for a grand slam and a 11-4 Florida lead. He walked to the dugout without celebration.

    “It’s kind of weird we can’t have fun,” Caglianone said.

    Nick Ficarrotta earned the save in the ninth for the Gators after giving up a 2-run homer, and Florida left the diamond victorious.

    The Gators will host Florida A&M for a weekday matchup Tuesday. The Rattlers are 18-17 on the season but have started conference play 12-3. They secured a series sweep against Alabama A&M this weekend. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and will stream on SEC Network+.

  • BSB: Robertson walks off ‘Dawgs to even series

    BSB: Robertson walks off ‘Dawgs to even series

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    Michael Robertson isn’t exactly Florida baseball’s big-time run scorer. He has the least RBIs in UF’s starting order. The speedy redshirt freshman earns his keep by stealing bases and making plays in center field. But in the bottom of the ninth in Florida’s Saturday matchup versus Georgia, the game was on his shoulders.

    With a tied ballgame at 1-1 and the winning run at third, Robertson just needed a little contact for a big play.

    He got exactly what he and his team needed.

    No. 3 Florida (29-7, 10-4 SEC) defeated Georgia (19-16, 4-10 SEC) 2-1 in a walk-off win that came down to the final frame. With the win, the Gators tied the weekend series at one game a piece.

    “I was just trying to get the job done,” Robertson said. “My main goal was to put the ball in play, that was my approach and I put a good swing on it. Pretty much right off the bat I was in celebration mode.”

    Junior right-handed pitcher Hurston Waldrep took the mound for the Gators. He opened the contest with a quick flyout to left field and a strikeout before walking Georgia freshman Charlie Condon. Condon hit three home runs and drove in five RBIs, leading the Bulldogs to victory in Friday’s series opener.

    Waldrep was able to snag his second K of the inning to close the frame and strand Condon. The Gators went 1-2-3 in their opening frame of offense to keep it scoreless after the initial inning.

    Despite Waldrep letting up his second walk with one out in the second inning, UF’s infield produced a double play to close the inning and strand another runner.

    Florida reached its first base of the night after freshman infielder Cade Kurland was hit by the 2-2 pitch with two outs. Junior infielder Colby Halter walked to advance Kurland to scoring position. Georgia starting pitcher Charlie Goldstein loaded the bases with another walk against sophomore outfielder Ty Evans.

    Robertson dug in at the plate with loaded bags. He struck out looking on a 0-2 pitch to strand the runners and close the second inning with no score.

    Even without the cushion Waldrep continued to work. He struck out two more batters in the third to sit the side in order and rack up four Ks through three frames.

    Jac Caglianone reached on an error in the bottom third, but the Gators couldn’t notch a hit to advance drive in any runs. The opening third ended with no hits or runs for either side.

    Waldrep opened the middle third with more clean work. He notched three quick outs plus two more strikeouts to change sides in the fourth inning. The Gators got nothing going in the fourth either to keep it scoreless and hitless.

    Georgia got its first hit in the top of the fifth inning after third baseman Parks Harber doubled to the right field gap. Evans was pulled for Matt Prevesk after he went down trying to pull in the hit. UGA advanced the runner to third on a ground out, then Waldrep walked his man to put runners on the corners with one out.

    A sacrifice bunt from the Bulldogs put them on the board. Waldrep got the final out on his seventh K of the night with the Gators now trailing 1-0.

    The Gators went 1-2-3 with strikeouts from Caglianone and leadoff hitter Wyatt Langford to close the fifth still down one run.

    The ‘Dawgs kept things rolling with a pair of singles to lead off of the sixth inning. Condon stepped to the plate with a chance to plate some runs, but UGA’s slugger grounded into a double play to put two outs on the board and runner at third. The Gators secured the final out of the frame to get off the diamond without another Bulldogs’ run.

    Florida’s bats woke up in the bottom sixth with a Josh Rivera leadoff double. Fifth-year catcher BT Riopelle followed it up with a stand-up double of his own to plate Rivera and tie the ballgame at 1-1.

    Heyman stepped to the plate and reached first on a fielder’s choice to throw Riopelle out at third. The call was challenged but upheld to put one runner on with one out. Halter singled behind him to put two on with two outs. Prevesk took his first at-bat after replacing Evans in right field, but he struck out to close the sixth with the game tied at 1-1.

    The Bulldogs went three up and down through the seventh. Waldrep picked up his eighth strikeout in one less inning to go with his fourth 1-2-3 inning of the night. Florida followed suit and went 1-2-3 to keep it tied after seven innings.

    “I was just trying to set the tone from the start and carry it as far as I can go,” said Waldrep.

    Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan called upon right-hander Ryan Slater to relieve Waldrep in the eighth. He sat the ‘Dawgs in order including a punchout to close the frame with the tie intact. The Gators went 1-2-3 for the second consecutive inning, making it a tie ballgame headed into the ninth inning.

    “When we’ve had good teams we’ve had guys like that,” O’Sullivan said. “Who can play multiple roles and go multiple innings.”

    Slater grabbed two outs to open the ninth before giving up a line drive double through the middle. The play at second was close but upheld as safe after a UF challenge. Despite the scare, Slater got the final out to put the ball in Florida’s court.

    Kurland reached first on a leadoff walk to start the ninth for the Gators. Halter doubled to put the game-winning run at third.

    Robertson stepped up and secured the Gators’ win.

    Florida will go for the series win tomorrow against Georgia. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and the game will stream on SEC Network+.

  • WGYM Liveblog: National Championship Meet – Florida, Oklahoma, Utah, and LSU

    WGYM Liveblog: National Championship Meet – Florida, Oklahoma, Utah, and LSU

    It hasn’t been easy, but they knew it wouldn’t be – these Gators have fought tooth and nail to arrive at this moment. Now that it’s finally here, can they seal the deal? The national championship hangs in the balance as the Gators enter this meet perhaps the underdogs, with a true Florida legend looking to cap off her NCAA career with the highest honor yet. Tonight, it’s “All for the Gators.”

    A berth in today’s meet was never guaranteed, despite many saying that Florida ended up in the “easier” semifinal. Truth is, there was no easy semifinal – the parity in the NCAA this season has risen immensely, and the pressure cooker of a national championship will always make unpredictable things happen. None of these eight teams could truly be called a lock, especially after the chaos that was regional finals.

    In Semifinal I, Florida had to fight past an opening fall on bars and a shaky beam rotation, after which it was in last place. Keeping in mind the mantra of freshman Kayla DiCello – “be a goldfish” – the Gators stepped onto floor for the third rotation and posted their third-highest FX score at national semifinals in program history, bringing them back into first!

    https://twitter.com/mycluttereddesk/status/1641974274867986433?s=20

    Cal and Denver unfortunately both counted falls in the third rotation, putting them much further behind Florida and LSU, so to close out the meet, all the Gators had to do was hit.

    They did a little bit more than that though – vault saw the triumphant return of Trinity Thomas to the lineup and the incredible debut of Victoria Nguyen’s Yurchenko 1.5! There were no stuck landings, but it seemed like they weren’t really focused on that – the team did what it needed to do to qualify, leaving plenty more in the tank for finals.

    But more in the tank they will need – it will take more than their semifinal score of 197.4 to beat the likes of Oklahoma, Utah, and LSU, provided all the teams are on. The Gators will need to start with a much more normal beam rotation, repeat or improve on their floor performance from Thursday, and really for the vault landings to set themselves up well for a fight to the finish. They’ll end on bars, perhaps their best event this season, where they’ll hope to erase Thursday’s performance with a stellar six-for-six rotation that can challenge even Oklahoma, who many consider to be the likeliest winner today.

    It all starts at 4 p.m. ET, with a 3:30 preshow, on ABC or ESPN+, but if you don’t have access, we’ll have updates for you here live, minute by minute, starting around 3:30.

    3:35pm: Good afternoon everyone! The preshow is live and I am all set up in front of my television – hope you are too! But if not, I’m happy to keep you up to date throughout the afternoon as things move along in Fort Worth.

    Trinity Thomas warmed up three events today, just not floor, so we don’t expect the all-around to be in the picture, but it’s possible that she’ll compete more than she did on Thursday.

    The Gators have also posted their championship look for today – another stunning white look, almost a sister to their look from National Finals last year. Will Florida be the bride this year? Or mirror last year, coming up short?

    3:43pm: ABC doing a fluff piece now on Trinity Thomas’s perfect 10.0s, and John Roethlisberger admits that even though he’s a Tennessee guy, Thomas makes even him want to root for her as a Gator.

    Another fluff piece here on the perfect 10.0 legacy and the 10.0 records – interviews from current gymnasts, coaches, and commentators are expected, but they got Jenny Hansen (current record holder for most 10.0s) and Karin Lichey (only gymnast ever to earn a perfect 40) to discuss their legacies! And of course, Nadia Comaneci, the very first athlete to score a perfect 10.0, makes an appearance – she and commentator husband Bart Conner both express that the perfect 10.0 is one of the biggest contributions the sport of gymnastics has made to the cultural lexicon.

    3:51pm: Roethlisberger introduces our commentating team for the meet proper – Conner, Kathy Johnson Clarke, and Samantha Peszek – and they predict Utah’s Maile O’Keefe and LSU’s Haleigh Bryant as potential 10.0s tonight, but I think that’s in addition to the obvious choice of Thomas. Walk-in clearly happening behind them now… y’all ready?

    Lineups currently show Thomas in vault and bars, but this is clearly not the final lineup sheet, as LSU’s KJ Johnson is back in a boot and almost certainly will not compete floor. How many changes will we see??

    3:57pm: Ashley Miles Greig saying (accurately) that Florida left a lot on the table on beam and that they will need a much better rotation in order to make this a national title-winning performance. Inaccurately recalls that there was a fall – no fall, just enough bobbles in Payton Richards’s routine to break connections, preventing her from completing her routines requirements and reducing her start value. I fully expect she was working those connections repeatedly in warmups today.

    All four stream team members have different predictions for the national champions – LSU from Kennedy Baker, Florida from Bridget Sloan, Utah from Miles Grieg, and Oklahoma from Roethlisberger… who removes his shirt to reveal an OU leo! Oh boy. It is already a show, y’all. Let’s get ready for competition!

    4:07pm: Sievers, OU VT: Y1.5, thought she was going to get the stick but takes a step forward.

    Blakely, BB: Front aerial to bhs, very steady. Switch to switch half to beat, excellent. Gainer full is stuck – that’s how you start, Gators!

    Brenner, UU FX: Solid opening pass. 1.5 to front lay, great control there. Double back to finish, well controlled as well – Utah with another good start.

    Stern, OU VT: Y1.5, little hop forward.

    4:09pm: Cowan, LSU UB: Great first handstand. Ray to immediate overshoot, clean. Solid last handstand as well. DLO, single step back.

    LeVasseur, OU VT: Y1.5, very straight body, great distance, but big lunge forward.

    Lazzari, BB: Triple series and she can’t save – she falls! No! Gets back up, dance series is clean. Front aerial, she’s back on track. Gainer full, deep squat but sticks it – still fighting for every tenth.

    Gilstrap, UU FX: Front lay to Rudi, pretty clean through there. Front lay front full, great control. Didn’t feel like a lot of content in the routine, but certainly lovely choreography – great flexibility, extension, musicality.

    Bowers, OU VT: Y1.5, not as straight as LeVasseur, another step forward.

    4:12pm: Torrez, OU VT: Y1.5, deep knee bend but stuck it. They needed that – Florida did not.

    DiCello, BB: Candle mount, great start. Double wolf turn, better than day one, much calmer. Switch leap to split jump, great extension, toe point. Acro series is fabulous. Bhs gainer full, stuck! That’s the rest they needed, wow. Freshman gets it done!

    Paulson, UU FX: Great opening 2.5, pretty clean. Lovely leap series in the corner there. 1.5 to front lay, excellent twisting form. Again, felt a bit empty, but certainly very pretty.

    Finnegan, LSU UB: Piked Deltchev to open, incredible amplitude. Bail is strong. Handstands look pretty good. Double arabian dismount, big step forward.

    4:16pm: Trautman, OU VT: Y1.5, sticks it again.

    Wong, BB: Switch leap to split leap, gorgeous. Bhs loso, FINALLY nails that series. She’s had problems for weeks. Full turn is steady. Front aerial to beat jump, solid. Roundoff double full, maybe stuck? Not sure if I give that to her, I’d like to see her hold it a little longer. Slow mo shows she maybe had more control than I thought though.

    Bryant, LSU UB: Maybe a little shy on first handstand? Blind change is good. Jaeger is HUGE! Bail to handstand, solid. Great final handstand, NAILS her double front half out. LSU could use that right now.

    McCusker, BB: Double wolf turn to open, excellent. Beat to front aerial, no trouble there today, excellent. Bhs loso, just lays it in there like she’s on the floor, gorgeous. Switch leap to split leap, fantastic. Gainer full is stuck!

    Rucker, UU FX: Full in, good form in the air but landing a little funky. A lot more energy in this routine, I can appreciate that. Layout to front full, very clean.

    4:21pm: 9.9375 for McCusker! Huge!

    Nguyen, BB: In instead of Richards tonight. Onodi to bhs for her acro series, just gorgeous. Love it. Switch leap to split leap, excellent extension through both, 180 positions are perfect. 1.5 dismount, just a hop forward on the landing.

    O’Keefe, UU FX: Double pike, finesses the landing. Front lay to front full, so quick there. Dance series is excellent, great amplitude and shapes. 1.5 to front lay, great control as she finishes out. Utah is having a fantastic rotation over on floor.

    AFTER ONE: OU 49.5625, UF 49.525, UTAH 49.5, LSU 49.3125

    https://twitter.com/hharden85/status/1647335460828487686?s=20

    4:33pm: Alright, let’s get ready for Rotation 2! The Gators head to the floor, OU to bars, Utah to vault, and LSU to beam.

    Nguyen, FX: Front double full to sissone, much better today. Switch ring to switch half, gorgeous split positions and amplitude. Y turn, love that. 1.5 to front lay, well controlled as she finishes up. Another good start for the Gators.

    Sievers, OU UB: Maloney to pak, both pretty clean. Maybe a little shy on last handstand? Sticks her dismount.

    Brenner, UU VT: Y1.5, little hop forward, maybe not the distance she normally gets?

    Fletcher, OU UB: Good first handstand. Piked Jaeger, not a lot of amplitude on that. Pak is clean. Sticks her full in dismount to huge celebrations.

    Blakely, FX: 1.5 to front lay, surprised Kathy with her tumbling switch but I think it’s the best thing AC Adrian Burde could have done for her. Great dance elements throughout this choreo section, really playing to the Gator crowd. Double pike, a little bouncy on the landing.

    Shchennikova, LSU BB: Gorgeous handstand mount. Front aerial, bhs loso, had to finesse that. Leaps hit 180 but she looks like she’s got some nerves. Side aerial is steady. Gainer full is stuck, looked like she surprised herself with that!

    Trautman, OU UB: Short on first handstand? Maloney to pak, leg form very clean. Pirouette a little past vertical. DLO, little hop on the dismount.

    Rucker, UU VT: Y1.5, little stutter step to the side.

    4:40pm: Baumann, FX: 1.5 to front full to start, so well controlled. Incredible amplitude on her leaps as always. Double pike to finish, much better than day one, just pops into the lunge.

    Smith, OU UB: Releases solid so far. Great half pirouette on low bar. DLO, little adjustment on the landing.

    Gilstrap, UU VT: Yfull, just a little hop in place, but she’s a little off to the side.

    Bowers, OU UB: Hecht mount into a solid opening handstand. Blind change is good, big Jaeger, maybe a little close caught? Pak is clean. Half pirouette looks fine. Last handstand is fine. Sticks that full in like it’s her job.

    Richards, FX: DLO, ooh, it’s a bouncy one, maybe a little shy. Dance series is clean. 1.5 to front full, very well controlled. Won’t be the build they were looking for, but another hit.

    Ballard, LSU BB: Acro series is solid, nice. A little shy on her switch half, there. Front toss – finesses that like a pro, doesn’t bobble at all. Roundoff 1.5, little step forward.

    4:45pm: Davis, OU UB: Big Jaeger, Pak is clean. Last handstand is great. Double front half out, drops it in like a dime – she couldn’t move if she tried, I don’t think.

    Wong, FX: Dos Santos, and she’s out of bounds. This is not what the Gators needed right now. Leap series is lovely. Great control on the combination pass, but it’s a bit late for that. I’m pretty sure it was both feet, so that’ll be 3 tenths by itself. Okay, must’ve only been one foot, it’s only a 9.725.

    Bryant, LSU BB: Acro series to start, very solid. Switch leap straddle 1/4, both great 180 positions. Standing front, lean and has to bring her leg up a little to correct. Front 1.5 twist dismount, little adjustment on the landing.

    4:50pm: DiCello, FX: Double full to open, definitely better than day one but not her best. Double wolf turn is clean, so was her dance series. Combination pass to finish, better control there and better leg form. We’ll see what she earns for that.

    Finnegan, LSU BB: Candle mount 1/2, that’s fun! Bhs loso loso, little lean to the side but keeps her feet on the beam. Switch leap to split jump, lovely extension there. Front aerial, dead on. Gainer full is stuck! LSU needed that one.

    AFTER TWO: OU 99.2, UF 98.95, UTAH 98.65, LSU 98.55

    5:00pm: Rotation 3!

    Morgan, UU UB: Opening release is clean. Bhardwaj for her transition, wow. Little adjustment on her dismount.

    Dunn, OU BB: Little lean on her series. Dance series was clean, much steadier. Gainer full is stuck – better than her fall at regionals but Oklahoma showing some nerves.

    Wong, VT: Yhalf on pike half off, one of her good ones – chest high, just a little slide.

    Brenner, UU UB: Great first handstands. Jaeger to overshoot, good amplitude on both. Shy on that last handstand maybe? DLO, little bounce back it looked like.

    Blakely, VT: Y1.5, good dynamics but hops forward and doesn’t hold at all to let judges see just how few steps she took.

    Trautman, OU BB: A little robotic in her mount as she gets up. Full turn is clean. Bhs loso, has to stutter step, leg comes up, but she stays on. Cat leap to switch side, good 180 there. Front toss, another leg up bobble. Small adjustment on her dismount.

    Thompson, UU UB: Maloney to pak, pretty clean. DLO, a little floppy, but sticks it!

    5:05pm: DiCello, VT: Y1.5, great distance, just another hop forward.

    Thomas, VT: Y1.5, STICKS IT!!!! Absolutely nails it! Give her the record!

    https://twitter.com/mycluttereddesk/status/1647346568557731840?s=20

    Isa, UU UB: Strong releases, legs glued together on her transition. Full pirouette into DLO, fought for that stick.

    Nguyen, VT: Y1.5, little scoot back but good in the air. That will be an excellent score.

    Torrez, OU BB: Side aerial loso, she looks quite calm. Dance series is clean, steady. Little shift forward on the dismount. Still will be a good score, though.

    Finnegan, LSU FX: Double arabian into stag jump, travels a little on that. 2.5 to punch front, so difficult but makes it looks effortless

    McCallum, UU UB: Maloney to pak, very clean. Dismount looked stuck to me!

    5:15pm: Davis, OU BB: Bhs loso, very steady. Front aerial is super clean. Beat to ring jump, that ring position was not clear enough for me. Roundoff double full is stuck. That’ll be a good one for the Sooners.

    Bryant, LSU FX: Double front, pretty controlled on the landing. Front lay to Rudi, great twisting form there and well controlled. Switch ring to switch half, gorgeous. That’ll be a great score for the Tigers!

    Smith, OU BB: Bhs loso to open, steady. Front aerial is solid. Straddle 1/2 to bhs swingdown, quick connection there. So confident through this whole routine. Bhs gainer full, has to hop forward, she was definitely short.

    AFTER THREE: OU 148.7125, UF 148.525, UTAH 148.2, LSU 148.0

    Oklahoma is… getting the benefit of the doubt more often than I’d like to see, personally, but scores have been a bit all over the place. But even if the Gators don’t win the title, Thomas writing her name in the recordbooks for all time as a co-owner of the perfect 10.0 record is a pretty great consolation prize.

    5:27pm: Last one, best one! Let’s get it done, Gators!

    Blakely, UB: Maloney to pak, some leg sep early but she redeemed herself from yesterday. Double front is stuck! The Gators are here to fight!

    Davis, OU FX: Nails her opening pass, although I didn’t see what it was. 1.5 to front full, well controlled.

    Morgan, UU BB: Triple series, fantastic. Dance series clean, hits her positions in the air. Front gainer full off the side – that’s cool! And she sticks it.

    Nguyen, UB: Maloney to pak, legs are pasted together today! Thank you! Last handstand is excellent. DLO is stuck! You can tell I’m getting even more higher strung because I’m using so many exclamation points!

    Smith, OU FX: Double back to start, step is well controlled. 1.5 to front lay, dances right out of it. Dance sequence is crisp. Double pike to finish, has to step forward.

    Paulson, UU BB: Lovely leap series, great positions in the air. We didn’t get to see her acro series. Sticks her dismount!

    DiCello, UB: Great opening handstand! Ray is big, caught maybe a little close. Pak and van Leeuwen are connected, love that. Full out is stuck! The Gators are on fire!

    5:33pm: Thomas, UB: We’re seeing some fluff here beforehand – talking about how this isn’t how she wanted things to go, oh, and she gets teary. Talking about her support system, being able to do this with her team regardless of what’s for herself.

    Maloney to pak, so patient, legs pasted together. van Leeuwen just floats. Great final handstand! DLO – she has to fight for, but it’s stuck!

    The whole stadium going wild for her as she gets hugs from teammates and coaches. Getting a little misty eyed over here myself.

    Torrez, OU FX: DLO, good in the air but a slide back of that front foot. Lands her dance sequence so precisely, wolf jump was maybe a little crooked in the air though? Front through to double back, another slide on that front foot.

    Wong, UB: Maloney to pak, both looked clean as we join on the broadcast. van Leeuwen is great. DLO is stuck COLD!

    5:38pm: Fletcher, OU FX: Really selling this opening choreo! Whip double tuck to open, another foot slide there. Front lay front full, well controlled on that one. Great leap series. 2.5 twist, one of her best it seems like. Sooners are going wild for her.

    We didn’t get to see McCusker but it was clearly a hit by the sounds of it from Gator Nation.

    O’Keefe, UU BB: Acro series, dead on – she is so calm as this chaos is happening around her. Switch leap to split leap, gorgeous. Bhs gainer full is stuck! A triumphant routine for her regardless of anything else going on. A perfect 10!!

    Sievers, OU FX: Full in, strong landing there. Second pass is clean, dance elements are well done. She leaps off the podium and the team is screaming. Oklahoma has done it again.

    5:45pm: McCallum, UU BB: The final routine of the night for the Olympian. Triple wolf into double wolf, very steady. Bhs loso, solid. Split to straddle 1/4, maybe a little shy of 180, might just be the flexed feet though. Gainer tuck full off the end, just a hop forward. Utah was certainly glad to have her back, but it still wasn’t quite enough.

    FINAL: OU 198.3875, UF 198.2375, UTAH 197.9375, LSU 197.525

    Both teams got gifts, but given the miniscule margin, just 0.15, you have to wonder what would be happening if all the foot slides, steps, and bobbles had all been scored the same. Nonetheless, you have to be proud of the Gators here. They gave it 110% and fought for every tenth, even the routines that had mistakes and were likely to be dropped.

    Lots for them to reflect on this season, lots to be proud of. Historic in so many ways.

    I’ll have a season wrap-up for y’all in about a week or so, but in the meantime, take some time to process the retirement of these incredible seniors and super-seniors, the knockout performances we witnessed tonight, and the palpable love these Gators have for each other. All for the Gators indeed. Goodnight everyone! Thanks for a great season.

  • BSB: Florida collapses, drops game one versus ‘Dawgs

    BSB: Florida collapses, drops game one versus ‘Dawgs

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    Florida led its rival Georgia Bulldogs 10-6 headed into the ninth inning Friday. Closing pitcher Brandon Neely entered looking to make quick work of the ‘Dawgs and go home. Instead, he loaded the bases on singles.

    Still, Florida already hit grand slams twice in the game. Surely lighting can’t strike a third time, right?

    Right?

    No. 3 Florida (28-7, 9-4 SEC) fell to Georgia (19-15, 4-9 SEC) 13-11 Friday.

    “It was a combination of things,” said Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. “But the bottom line is, it’s disappointing, but we can let this leak into them all.”

    Friday night starter Brandon Sproat let up a leadoff hit to open the contest. He worked quickly through the next three batters, including a punchout to close the first frame.

    The Gators took advantage of a pair of walks and a hit batter to load the bases in the bottom of the first. They couldn’t take advantage and closed the first scoreless with all three runners stranded.

    Florida and the ‘Dawgs traded 1-2-3 second frames to close the inning 0-0.

    Things got shaky for Sproat in the third. A walk put the leadoff batter on and a passed ball advanced him to second. Then Sproat fielded a hit and mistakingly threw to second instead of first, allowing the runner to advance to third. A sacrifice groundout plated the runner to give Georgia the opening lead, 1-0.

    It went from bad to worse after Sproat was taken yard for a 2-run homer. Midway through the third, Georgia led Florida 3-0.

    Georgia’s pitching ran into some speed bumps of its own in the bottom frame. Junior outfielder Wyatt Langford was walked. Sophomore two-way player Jac Caglianone singled to advance Langford to third. Then, junior shortstop Josh Rivera put up a sacrifice fly to get the Gators on the board.

    Left-handed starter Jaden Woods threw a wild pitch to advance Caglianone and hit senior catcher BT Riopelle to put the tying run on base with one out. Heyman walked to load the bases for Florida.

    Kurland stepped to the plate and went the distance for a grand slam to clear the bases and the Gators’ deficit. After the opening third, Florida led 5-3.

    Sproat struck out two in the top of the fifth to keep Georgia behind. Florida stranded loaded bases to keep in 5-3 after the fifth.

    Florida sparked an offensive onslaught in the sixth to expand its lead.

    It started with a trio of singles from Langford, Caglianone and Rivera to score a run. Riopelle walked to load the bases.

    Heyman approached the plate. He took the first called strike, then turned on the 0-1 pitch to take the ball deep for a grand slam and a 10-4 Gators’ lead.

    Both sides produced 1-2-3 innings to keep a 10-4 score through seven.

    Georgia began to make some noise in the eighth after sophomore lefty Philip Abner entered in relief of Sproat. Charlie Condon took his third ball of the night past the outfield wall, a UGA school record, and closed the gap to 10-6. Abner was able to close the inning with a lead.

    Florida stranded Riopelle to close the eighth. Neely entered for the ninth and the potential close, but to no avail. The ‘Dawgs put up seven runs in the ninth for a comeback stand.

    The Gators put up a run and loaded the bases in the ninth but couldn’t complete the effort and left Condron with a loss.

    “You could see it in [the players’] faces they’re disappointed,” O’Sullivan said.

    Tomorrow, Florida will look to avoid a series loss against the ‘Dawgs. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. and the game will broadcast on the SEC Network.

  • Gators Land Commitment From Nation’s No. 2 S Xavier Filsaime

    Gators Land Commitment From Nation’s No. 2 S Xavier Filsaime

    Photo by Parker Thune | 247Sports

    Despite Florida’s offensive struggles in Thursday’s spring game, head coach Billy Napier received positive news as one of the nation’s elite prospects committed to his program.

    Four-star safety Xavier Filsaime announced his commitment during halftime of the annual Orange and Blue debut.

    The McKinney, Texas native is the No. 36 ranked prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle and the No. 2 player at his position, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He committed to Florida over Alabama, Georgia, Arizona State and many more offers.

    As a junior, Filsaime recorded 76 tackles and a pass breakup to go along with three forced fumbles and three recoveries.

    Filsaime received an offer from the Gators in January and was on campus Thursday for the spring game. While in Gainesville, he was able to meet new defensive coordinator, Austin Armstrong.

    Filsaime is the seventh 2024 prospect in a Florida class that currently ranks No. 6 in the nation.

  • WGYM: National Semifinal I ft. No. 3 Florida, No. 4 California, No. 6 LSU, and No. 8 Denver

    WGYM: National Semifinal I ft. No. 3 Florida, No. 4 California, No. 6 LSU, and No. 8 Denver

    Tensions are high and uncertainties abound as we approach the 3 p.m. start time for the first semifinal of NCAA Gymnastics National Championships!

    ICYMI, the Gators qualified via the Pittsburgh Regional, where star Trinity Thomas suffered a lower-leg injury and has been day-to-day ever since. Still, the team rallied, and despite some errors on floor and vault, the team qualified in second behind California to punch its ticket to Nationals.

    The Gators will start on bars today as the top-ranked team in the session, determined by random draw done before qualifiers were determined, and there are definitely a few factors to keep an eye on.

    https://twitter.com/mycluttereddesk/status/1646567140558766113?s=20

    The biggest variable in this equation is, of course, Trinity Thomas. If she is feeling up to competing any events, she can make a big difference for this team to the tune of multiple tenths. Bars seems like the most likely event for her, given that her injury is leg or foot-related, but she was also seen warming up vault, which is arguably where she would make the most difference for this team.

    https://twitter.com/mycluttereddesk/status/1646578901764767757?s=20

    Other factors to watch include Sloane Blakely and Rachel Baumann on floor – both had misses on floor at regionals that put Florida behind Cal. If they can hit this time around, the Gators should be in a much better position going into vault, their final rotation and perhaps their weakest.

    There’s also the matter of Victoria Nguyen’s vault. Nguyen attempted a debut on vault in regular season but had an unfortunate crash and had to be held out the following week. However, at regionals, she warmed up her new Yurchenko 1.5 quite well. If she debuts it tonight and Thomas is able to compete, it will give the Gators a full lineup of 10.0 start value vaults!

    https://twitter.com/mycluttereddesk/status/1642622870818902016?s=20

    It all starts in just a few minutes on ESPN2 or ESPN+, but if you can’t get away from the office or don’t have access, we’ll have all the quick hits right here moment by moment!

    https://twitter.com/mycluttereddesk/status/1646588256442634248?s=20

    Kathy and Bart just confirmed on broadcast as well – she is expected in the bars and vault lineups!

    3:07pm: We are getting ready to go here on the broadcast!

    Blakely, UB: Misses the bar on her Maloney. What?! Rechalks to try again. Hits it this time, pak is nice and clean. Nails her blind change and double front dismount is stuck! Hoo boy. It’s going to be a stressful day.

    Arenas, LSU BB: Hits her acro series. Front toss is a little funky in the legs but hits. Step on the dismount.

    Mabanta, Denver VT: Yfull, chest a little low, little stutter step on the landing.

    3:10pm: Nguyen, UB: Maloney to pak, very clean. Maybe the cleanest it’s been all season. DLO dismount is stuck! That’s the rest they needed.

    Shchennikova, BB: Hitting everything so far, maybe a little shy on a split? Side aerial, little bobble there. Bhs to gainer full off the side, sticks it. Another hit for the Tigers.

    Brown, DU VT: This is a vault y’all will want to see! This 6th year fighter is just incredible. Y1.5, super clean, NAILS the landing! Just a little heel raise to bring her feet together but basically stuck, WOW!

    DiCello, UB: Ray is BIG, great air. Some leg sep on the pak salto, van Leeuwen is good. Great final handstand. Full out dismount, maybe a small foot adjustment? Slow mo agrees with me but commentators called it stuck.

    3:15pm: Ruiz, DU VT: Yfull, not as straight in the air as I’d like to see, a little scoot back.

    Thomas, UB: Great opening handstand. Maloney to pak, both great. Low bar handstand is excellent. Van Leeuwen is strong. Final handsstand is fabulous. DRILLS HER DOUBLE LAY! Perfection. Maybe a little wince of pain? Trying not to read too much into it.

    She looks a little teary afterward as she hugs HC Jenny Rowland. Whether she goes on vault or not, whether or not they qualify to finals, that was clutch. She can be proud of that if that was her last routine.

    Wong, UB: Maloney to pak both clean here. van Leeuwen looks good. Final handstand maybe shy a bit. DLO is stuck! Just one more routine and they can drop the fall.

    9.95 for Thomas!

    3:20pm: McCusker, UB: A little shy on first handstand. Maloney to pak, both sooooo clean, legs pasted together. van Leeuwen is the same. Stalder is clean. Double tuck, a little deep in the knee bend but she sticks it! A Queen!

    Bryant, BB: Front to back acro series is solid. Maybe shy on her first split in her dance series? Standing front tuck, very steady this week. Punch front 1.5 dismount, sticks it!

    Lauzon, Cal FX: Front double full to punch front for Cal, excellent. Love her choreo through here. So clean in her second twisting pass – they’re having a solid rotation so far.

    Finnegan, LSU BB: Triple acro series is excellent, uses the full length of the beam. Splits are excellent in dance series, great 180 positions and extension. Front aerial is solid. Gainer full looked stuck from here?

    Frazier, Cal FX: So unfair these are happening at the same time. DLO is excellent! Really selling the choreography through here. Leap sequence just floats, lovely split positions. Front through to double back, well controlled. Cal should be in a great position after this first rotation.

    Time for some individuals now.

    Harkness, MSU indiv FX: Full in to open, great form and control there, nice. A little short in her first split in her dance series? Front through to double tuck, front foot moves a bit. Should be a good score but not as good as Frazier.

    AFTER ONE: UF 49.4875, CAL 49.4375, LSU 49.275, DU 49.225

    A segment now on Florida’s “almosts” and how motivated they are this year, leading into an interview with Thomas – “this obviously isn’t how I wanted this all to go.” I didn’t need the tears, yet, ESPN!

    3:37pm: Get ready for rotation 2! Gators will go to the beam.

    Blakely, BB: Front to back acro series, clean so far. Switch leap to switch half to beat jump, lovely extension. Sticks her gainer full! Big celebration afterward – she knows how to have a short memory.

    Ballard, LSU FX: DLO, a little short on the landing. Combination pass is clean, doesn’t even need the whole diagonal. Leap series is clean, and finishes well.

    Williams, Cal VT: Yfull is stuck! Wow! Maybe a little pike down in the body but absolutely nothing on the landing, yeah.

    3:40pm: Lazzari, BB: Triple acro series, looked like maybe she was going to wobble but didn’t move a muscle, what a pro. Leap series is clean, gorgeous toe point as usual. Front aerial, underdid it but was patient with it, just took a step back. Step on the landing of her gainer full. Dang.

    Shchennikova, LSU FX: Front double full, just an arabesque out of it. Second pass is another hit, although I was watching Lazzari so I didn’t see what it was. Rudi to split jump, traveled and arm waved a fair bit.

    DeSouza, Cal VT: Y1.5, big preflight leg separation, little hop forward.

    DiCello, BB: Candle mount is great to start. Double wolf turn, a little arm wavy but keeps her leg position pretty even. Switch leap to split jump, great 180 positions. Bhs loso, locks it down. Front aerial, solid there. Sticks her dismount! Yes!

    Frazier, Cal VT: Yurchenko double full, wow! Just a little hop, chest maybe a little low but they’re often more forgiving on the harder vaults.

    Brown, DU UB: Maloney to pak, pretty clean through there. DLO, sticks it! Should be a great score for Denver.

    3:45pm: We see a replay of Chase Brock from LSU on floor, where she slipped and fell on a tumbling pass! LSU now under pressure to drop that fall.

    Wong, BB: Gorgeous switch leap to split leap. Bhs loso, has to lean and bring her leg up to correct but stays on with minimal wobbling. Double full, little adjustment on the landing.

    Johnson, LSU FX: Full in to open, wow! Great to see her back, this is her first floor since breaking her foot. Second pass is another hit. Maybe a little shy in the amplitude on her dance series. She looks like she’s maybe limping as she comes off though… that’s not a great sign.

    Hutchinson, DU UB: Transitions just gorgeous, some leg sep on the pak salto, hmm. DLO dismount, little slide back it looked like.

    McCusker, BB: Bhs loso, another check there, uh oh. Leap series, a little bit off but covers well. Gainer full, looked like another step on the landing there. We see a slow mo replay of her front aerial, too – breaks at the hips. Not her best, but fought through it like a pro.

    3:50pm: Finnegan, LSU FX: Double arabian, really good landing and almost can’t connect into the stag, but she does. 2.5 to front tuck, just gorgeous. Ring and split positions are clean through her leap series.

    Richards, BB: Bhs loso, another leg up balance break – they need to calm down. Did not even really go for her switch half, sort of connects to the beat jump. Gets it back for a mixed series. Hop forward on the dismount.

    Bryant, LSU FX: Double front, two foot stick! Wow. Front lay to Rudi almost immediately after, another excellent landing. Leaps are great. That’ll erase the fall from Brock.

    Widner, Stanford indiv FX: DLO, little short, had to pike it down and hop forward. Double pike, overcooks it and stumbles back, sits it down. Oof, that’s rough. Lovely leap series, showcases her flexibility in her choreo as she finishes.

    Harris, Ohio St indiv BB: Gorgeous leap series to start. Front aerial to back tuck, that’s a hard acro series! Double full dismount is stuck – nailed it. She’s got a bright future ahead of her, she’s just a freshman.

    AFTER TWO: CAL 98.7875, LSU 98.75, DU 98.5875, UF 98.575

    This is still a very tight meet, y’all – anything can happen.

    Per Jay Clark, KJ Johnson is done for the night and will not vault – Bryce Wilson likely in instead.

    https://twitter.com/hharden85/status/1646605709310677010?s=20

    4:10pm: Arenas, LSU VT: Yfull, little bounce back.

    Nguyen, FX: Feel pretty good about her leading off here. Double full, a little off axis? Straight to sissone though, connection is fine. Gorgeous leap positions, Y turn is lovely. 1.5 to front lay, well controlled as she finishes out. Great start! They needed that calm reset.

    Shchennikova, LSU VT: Y1.5, a little deep, a little shift forward it looked like?

    Frazier, Cal UB: Maloney to pak, some leg sep there. Good final handstand. DLO, hops forward, chest quite low.

    Brock, LSU VT: Y1.5, big step forward.

    Blakely, FX: Starts with her 1.5 to front lay instead of the double arabian? Okay! Gorgeous leap series, great amplitude. Piked double back to finish – looks like they downgraded the routine to make sure she could hit. I think that was a good call.

    Mabanta, DU BB: Acro series is solid to start. Goes for her switch to switch half and falls! Oh no. Finishes out the routine, but pressure’s on now.

    Finnegan, LSU VT: Omelianchik, which is a Yhalf-on front pike – step forward, good distance.

    Perea, Cal UB: Great opening handstand! Pak just floats, lovely. van Leeuwen and she can’t fully make the half turn, can’t make it to the bar and she falls, looks a little stunned as she lays on the ground for a second. Restarts after the skill, will not repeat it. DLO, little hop. Pressure’s on Cal too. Oh boy.

    Bryant, LSU VT: Handspring pike half, not her normal stellar pop off the board, her legs weren’t as tight as usual, steps back, maybe a second adjustment?

    4:18pm: Li, Cal UB: Pak was excellent. Had a little hiccup in there but fought through, stuck her dismount. Cal normally can hit bars like a dream – this is unusual.

    Richards, FX: Okay, let’s have another hit here, please. DLO, one of her best! Really giving it her all here in the choreo. 1.5 to front full, BIG smile as she finishes the pass. Big cheers for her as she chomps it out for the end of the routine.

    Denver counting a fall now – they may be out!

    Williams, UB: Solid releases so far. DLO a little close to the bar, a little whippy, but sticks it somehow.

    Schlottman, DU BB: Bhs loso, floats that one in. Switch leap to split 3/4, a little shy of 180, she’s nervous. Didn’t see the dismount but definitely a hit for them – they needed that!

    Wong, FX: Dos Santos to stag, comes riiiiiight to the line but knows exactly where she is. Gorgeous extension throughout this choreography, really nialing it. Whip half to front full, excellent control, single step forward. I agree with Kathy, one of her best routines all season!

    Cesario, Cal UB: Great blind change. Jaeger to immediate overshoot, she misses her hand and she’s off!! Cal now also counting a fall! Holy cow! DLO is stuck. But wow. This completely changes the meet.

    4:25pm: DiCello, FX: Staying in the own Gator bubble. Being goldfish – short memories. It’s her time to shine. Front double full, steps to the side a bit – not her best, but stays on her feet just fine. Really playing to the camera in this next choreo section, love it. Double wolf is much cleaner than on beam here. 1.5 to front lay, gorgeous control as she finishes up. Won’t be her best but will be a hit, which is more than half of these teams can say for this rotation!

    Hutchinson, DU BB: Front toss to bhs, very clean. Dance series is lovely, great extension. Another front toss, solid. Gainer full dismount is stuck! It’s a bit late for Denver, but every little bit counts.

    Harris, Ohio St indiv FX: Double pike, front foot slides back a bit but solid amplitude. Front double full, that’s hard for a middle pass! She’s having fun with this choreography, love that. I think I heard a little O-H-I-O cheer somewhere in the stand? Front full to front lay, two foot stick! That should be an excellent score for her.

    Sheremeta, Mizzou indiv BB: Lovely bhs loso to start off. Full turn, so clean. Leap series has great extension, to a straddle dive down to front support on the beam, love it. Gainer tuck full off the end, stuck! Should be a great score for her.

    AFTER THREE: UF 148.1, LSU 148.0, CAL 147.4875, DU 147.1375

    So far, so good! One rotation to go, but I’m not counting any chickens before they hatch!

    https://twitter.com/hharden85/status/1646610791074766849?s=20

    Oop. Peep the all 10.0 SV lineup!

    4:40pm: Last rotation! Can the Gators make it to Saturday!

    The Gators look loose, dancing in their corral, staying in the Gator bubble.

    Wong, VT: Yhalf on pike half off, one of her good ones! Dead center, chest high, just a little slide back. Angle isn’t great to see position in the air.

    Jeffrey, LSU UB: A hit, but a deep landing on the dismount.

    Richards, VT: Y1.5, just a little step to the side. Not her biggest vault, maybe some knees, but a hit. That’s what matters.

    Cowan, LSU UB: Great opening handstand. Ray is gorgeous, to immediate overshoot. Final handstand maybe a little shy. DLO, just a little step back. Great routine for her.

    Blakely, VT: Y1.5, big bounce forward, but they’d rather that than her sit it down.

    Williams, Cal BB: Double wolf to start, lovely. Front aerial to split jump, very clean. Bhs loso, solid. Switch leap to beat jump, nice. Gainer full is stuck!

    Tatum, LSU UB: Ray, not a lot of amplitude but fine, pak had some leg sep. Full in is stuck. LSU keeps on trucking.

    4:46pm: Thomas, VT: Y1.5, great form, just a little scoot back. She looks so relieved. She and Schoenherr and Taylor are getting a little teary in the corral together.

    Nguyen, VT: Y1.5, YES! She hits it, just a lunge forward. Now we wait.

    Finnegan, LSU UB: Piked Deltchev, HUGE amplitude. Transition solid. Double arabian dismount, stuck! THAT was a bar routine.

    Hutchinson, DU FX: Doing her mom’s old Olympic routine, which is super cool. Front double full, very nice form there. 1.5 to front lay, so clean. Leaps are lovely! Rudi to straddle jump, well controlled. Back attitude turn, love that, unique choice.

    Shchennikova hits another for LSU – that should be enough for them. But again, now we wait.

    Bryant, LSU UB: Jaeger is great, as is the transition. Double front half out, basically stuck – that should be it!

    4:52pm: Brown, DU FX: Nails her DLO to open! Really milking the choreography through here – I think she knows it’s her last one. Leaps are excellent. 1.5 through to 1.5 punch front to close it out – Kathy gets a little teary, so does Brown, and so do I! An incredible career for Lynnzee Brown. What a fighter. What an athlete.

    Denver elects to only compete 5, so that will be the meet for them.

    Perea, Cal BB: Double wolf turn is clean and steady. Front toss to back tuck, not sure if I’d call that connected, she had a little too much hesitation there. Switch to split to beat, all very crisp connections and good extension. Side somi to back tuck 1.5 off the side of the beam – looked stuck?

    Stephen, MSU BB indiv: Front aerial to two feet, some arm swing there but keeps it pretty steady. Full turn is on such high toe, so lovely. Bhs loso, big balance check but stays on. Beat to straddle 1/2, even with being extra cautious she still makes the 180 just fine. Double full dismount, slide back.

    FINAL: LSU 197.475, UF 197.4, CAL 196.9125, DU 196.5

    Florida qualifies to the final!! What a rollercoaster!

    Currently, Thomas leads the UB individual title fight with her spectacular 9.95, and Wong and Finnegan of LSU are tied with the lead on floor with 9.9625.

    Aside from the Gators, Bryant leads the AA title hunt, while we have some individuals in the mix for the other events! Lynnzee Brown is Denver’s lone contender with that massive 9.925 on vault, tied with Boise State’s Courtney Blackson, and individual Chloe Widner from Stanford leads the beam standings with 9.95.

    Tonight’s meet for semi II will start at 9 p.m. ET, so make sure to tune in! I’ll be tweeting, but not liveblogging, so make sure to follow me @mycluttereddesk for all the latest updates! We’ll see you back here at Saturday at 4 p.m. ET for finals for one final liveblog of this season.

  • SB: Wallace Hits Nation’s Leading Eighth Triple as Gators Defeat UNF

    SB: Wallace Hits Nation’s Leading Eighth Triple as Gators Defeat UNF

    After bouncing back to .500 in conference play last weekend, No. 15 Florida defeated UNF 6-1 Wednesday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The Gators improve to 29-10 overall and 18-3 at home.

    Florida shortstop Skylar Wallace extended her home-game hit streak to 10 as the redshirt junior went 2-3 with a walk and her eighth triple this season — leads the nation.

    Following a pair of scoreless frames, the Gators hopped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Wallace scored on second baseman Reagan Walsh’s sacrifice fly before center fielder Kendra Falby scored on a wild pitch. With two outs, sophomore designated player Sam Roe revealed bunt before she lined an RBI double into the right-center gap.

    An inning later, Falby hit a sacrifice fly down the left field line in foul territory to extend Florida’s advantage. With two away in the sixth, redshirt senior Bryn Thomas pinch hit for Falby before she and third baseman Charla Echols strung together back-to-back RBI doubles into left-center.

    In the circle, Florida right-hander Elizabeth Hightower made her 18th start this year and pitched five shutout innings. In the top of the sixth, Hightower handed the ball over to sophomore right-hander Lexie Delbrey, who dealt a one-two-three inning.

    Delbrey conceded a leadoff walk and a single to begin the seventh inning before senior southpaw Rylee Trlicek came in for relief. Trlicek gave up an RBI double to break the shutout — which counted as Delbrey’s earned run — but the Texas native recorded three straight outs to secure the win.

    Box Score

    UNF: 1 / 2 / 0

    Florida: 6 / 11 / 0

    Pitching Decision

    Win: Hightower (13-5)

    Loss: Arends (0-3)

    Individual Stats

    RHP Hightower: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

    RHP Delbrey: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

    LHP Trlicek: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

    1. SS Wallace: 2-3, 2 R, BB
    2. CF Falby: 2-2, 2 R, RBI
      • PH Thomas: 1-1, RBI
    3. 3B Echols: 1-4, RBI
    4. 2B Walsh: 1-3, RBI
    5. RF Egan: 1-2, R, BB
    6. DP Roe: 1-2, RBI
    7. LF Kistler: 0-2
    8. C Longley: 2-3, R
    9. 1B: A. Goelz: 0-2

    Rivalry Series On Deck

    Florida will return to the diamond Friday to welcome rival No. 12 Georgia for a three-game series. The Bulldogs are second in the SEC (11-3) and will look for their third straight shutout victory against the Gators. Friday’s series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m.

  • LAX: Gators Extinguish Flames, 16-7

    LAX: Gators Extinguish Flames, 16-7

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    LYNCHBURG, Va. – The #9 ranked Florida Gators (10-3) went on the road to defeat the Liberty Flames (7-6) in convincing fashion, 16-7. The game briefly went to a running clock at half time after the Gators took a commanding 12-2 lead into the locker room.

    Emma LoPinto and the Gators offense started fast as they jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first quarter, with LoPinto netting all four of the Gators’ goals. Her second of the day was her 100th career goal, tying Kitty Cullen’s program record for the fastest Gator to reach the 100 goal mark in only 35 games played. LoPinto would go on to lead the team in goals scored with five.

    Nine more Gators scored in the contest. Emily Heller and Danielle Pavinelli collected two, while Paisley Eagan, Jackie Norsworthy, Tayler Warehime, Ashley Gonzalez, Emerson Cabrera, Ava Tighe and Gianna Monaco each had one goal scored.

    Pavinelli led the team with three assists, with Heller, Eagan, Tighe, Theresa Bragg, and Maggi Hall dishing one out as well. Catherine Flaherty also served up an assist in the victory to collect her first career point.

    On the defensive side of the ball Heller and LoPinto led the team with two groundballs each while the team caused six turnovers.

    Goaltender Sarah Reznick led the team from the back in her 37:19 in the net while only allowing two goals. She also collected 12 saves to give her a career-high .857 save percentage. Elyse Finnelle played the final 22-41 in the net, stopping a career-high eight shots with a .615 save percentage.

    The Gators will return home this Saturday to take on AAC opponent East Carolina at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.