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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: Gators Sweep T-Mobile Tournament to Improve to 10-0

    SB: Gators Sweep T-Mobile Tournament to Improve to 10-0

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    Florida won five games against four different opponents in less than 48 hours this weekend at KSP Stadium in Gainesville to improve to 10-0.

    Following five consecutive run-rule victories to begin the season, the Gators won another three games via five-inning run rules. Florida played all 14 innings Saturday as Bowling Green scored seven runs and UConn maintained a 3-2 lead until the bottom of the seventh.

    In the Circle

    After yielding zero earned runs across five innings Friday, Florida right-hander Elizabeth Hightower pitched in relief in both games Saturday and earned two additional wins. Hightower boasts a 5-0 record and maintains perfect ERA and a 0.64 WHIP.

    Senior southpaw Rylee Trlicek picked up her fourth win Sunday after she allowed only one run to Central Michigan across five innings. In Sunday’s finale, Florida right-hander Lexie Delbrey made the first appearance of her sophomore season and hurled three shutout frames en route to earning her 16th career win.

    At the Plate

    The Gators produced double-digit hits against every opponent barring UConn. Florida scored a whopping 53 runs in just 29 innings of at-bats.

    Leadoff batter Kendra Falby extended her hit streak to 10 games after the sophomore went 8-12 (.667) at the plate this weekend. Falby stole five bases and is only two shy of shortstop Skylar Wallace’s season total (9). Wallace extended her hit streak to seven games, while junior first baseman Avery Goelz is on a nine-game hitting streak. Goelz leads Florida’s starting lineup with five doubles and a .560 batting average. In addition to stolen bases, Wallace leads the team with 28 total bases, 12 walks, and a .694 on-base percentage

    Florida third baseman Charla Echols was the difference in Saturday’s 10-7 win against Bowling Green as she drove in a season-high five runs. Sophomore catcher Sam Roe continued her hot start to the season as the Destin, Fla. native recorded an RBI in all five games this weekend in addition to driving in the tying and game-winning runs Saturday against UConn.

    No Gators left the yard until Sunday’s 15-1 victory over Central Michigan when Wallace and senior Sarah Longley hit a pair of homers to center in the bottom of the third.

    An inning later, freshman infielder Kaila Pollard hit her first career home run to right-center.

    In the tournament finale against Delaware State, Florida graduate student Pal Egan hit a two-run shot to cap off back-to-back 15-run outputs.

    Game 1 Box Score (F/5)

    UConn: 1 / 3 / 1

    Florida: 9 / 6 / 1

    Game 2 Box Score

    Bowling Green: 7 / 12 / 0

    Florida: 10 / 13 / 0

    Game 3 Box Score

    UConn: 3 / 8 / 0

    Florida: 4 / 8 / 0

    Game 4 Box Score (F/5)

    Central Michigan: 1 / 3 / 0

    Florida: 15 / 13 / 0

    Game 5 Box Score (F/5)

    Delaware State: 0 / 3 / 2

    Florida: 15 / 12 / 1

    On Deck

    The Gators will travel to Palm Springs, Calif., to face four west-coast opponents in three days at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. No. 3 Florida will play a doubleheader Thursday night against Cal State Fullerton and No. 2 UCLA. The Orange and Blue will face UC Riverside Friday at 4 p.m. before they take on No. 24 Oregon Saturday at 1 p.m.

  • BSB: Caglianone shuts out Bucs in debut as Gators sweep opening series

    BSB: Caglianone shuts out Bucs in debut as Gators sweep opening series

    Phot by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    One would think back-to-back run-rule victories would be making all the headlines for the Florida Gators’ baseball team. However, sophomore two-way player Jac Caglianone took up all the hype for the Gators’ opening weekend. That’s because before this season, Caglianone was just another freshman infielder producing well at the DH spot. After a solid spring on the hill, fans clamored to see Caglianone take on a two-way role with the team.

    Sunday, the Tampa, Florida, native made his debut on the mound and shut out the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, cementing himself as a weekend starter for UF. He finished with two hits allowed, zero earned runs allowed and nine strikeouts on the way to a 8-0 win and series sweep for the No. 7 Gators (3-0) over the Bucs (0-3).

    Caglianone wasted no time getting to work, striking out his first batter with pitches of 96 and 97 mph on his way to a 1-2-3 frame.

    “He was outstanding,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He threw like a number one tonight.”

    The Gators got to work on offense too. An error and a walk placed BT Riopelle and Josh Rivera on the base paths. Sophomore outfielder Ty Evans walked up to the plate and launched an RBI double into the left field corner. The scores marked his seventh and eighth RBIs of the series and put Florida up 2-0 early.

    Florida kept it rolling in the second with some production from its newcomers. Freshman infielder Cade Kurland doubled and was brought home on a triple by classmate and catcher Luke Heyman that nearly went over the fence to take a 3-0 lead.

    Caglianone was caught in a jam for the first time in the third inning. Facing two outs and two runners in scoring position, the two-way sophomore threw 96 down the seam for a strikeout and trotted back to the dugout. From there it was smooth sailing for the lefty flamethrower. He went 1-2-3 through each inning of the middle third and notched a strikeout in each inning.

    In the top of the seventh, after tossing his 79th pitch, Caglianone was pulled off the mound to a standing ovation. Florida cruised the rest of the way with a closing effort from Blake Purnell and Brandon Neely, adding five more runs in the seventh for good measure.

    “The scoreboard kind of sums it up,” Caglianone said. “These were statement games.”

    Next up, the Gators have a midweek doubleheader with the Bulls of South Florida. USF picked up a game one win in its opening series with No. 13 Maryland and will likely provide a greater challenge for Florida in the midweek than its opening series opponents. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 6 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+.

  • BSB: Gators cruise to series win versus Buccaneers

    BSB: Gators cruise to series win versus Buccaneers

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    The game of baseball, in its vast complexity, can create a simple 50/50 outcome out of endless scenarios. No two wins are the same. Despite the Florida Gators run-ruling the Charleston Southern Buccaneers both Friday and Saturday, the two games could not have been more dissimilar. Friday’s win featured a dominant performance top-to-bottom for UF. Saturday’s series-clinching victory played more like a front row seat to Charleston Southern’s self demise.

    Florida (2-0) defeated Charleston Southern (0-2) 16-2 Saturday to earn its first series victory of 2023. While the Florida offense benefitted from five Buccaneers errors, Southern Miss transfer Hurston Waldrep handled business on the mound with four hits, two earned runs and six strikeouts through five innings.

    “Felt pretty confident,” Waldrep said. “Didn’t have my best stuff but I felt like what I did have I was able to work with and compete with.”

    The two teams both crawled out of the gate, trading hitless opening frames. Charleston Southern got on the board first after a few infield hits led to an RBI single.

    After struggling with the pitch clock on Friday, similar issues continued to plague the Buccaneers. Left-handed pitcher Ryan Gleason attempted to pick off junior infielder Josh Rivera at first base to avoid a timing error, but CSU first baseman Ashton Wilson couldn’t bring it in and allowed Rivera to advance to third base.

    Senior catcher BT Riopelle followed the error up with an RBI single to tie the game at one run a piece.

    Things continued to fall apart in the third inning for Charleston Southern. First, freshman infielder Cade Kurland was walked. Then, redshirt freshman outfielder Michael Robertson outran the tag for a single. An error followed by a wild pitch scored both players, and then sophomore two-way player Jac Caglianone wrapped things up with an RBI single to make it a 4-1 Gators lead.

    After Caglianone was hit by a pitch with loaded bases to put the Gators up 5-1 in the fourth, Bucs head coach Marc MacMillan opted to pull Gleason for senior right-hander Eddie Olsen.

    Things went from bad to worse for Charleston Southern. A fielder’s choice-E6 combo allowed for two runners to score with ease. Sophomore outfielder Ty Evans followed with a two-RBI single. Junior infielder Tyler Shelnut put a bow on the sequence with a two-run homer to left field. By the time the Buccaneers could end the fourth inning disaster, the Gators led 11-1.

    “We strung together some good at-bats,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “I thought our guys did a real nice job.”

    Charleston Southern added another run in the top of the fifth, but Florida answered and then some in the bottom of the inning, piling on four more runs of its own. UF maintained its lead through the sixth to enact the run rule and end the contest early.

    The Gators and Buccaneers play once more tomorrow for the series finale. With a win, Florida can secure its first series sweep and begin the 2023 campaign a perfect 3-0. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and the game will stream on SEC Network+.

  • BSB: Sproat, Riopelle lead Gators past Charleston Southern in opening contest

    BSB: Sproat, Riopelle lead Gators past Charleston Southern in opening contest

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    The MLB draft is a looming shadow over every hopeful amateur looking to earn a spot in the pros. It’s a complicated and critical process, one that leaves many with a choice of settling for less for the sake of being a pro or betting on oneself for a greater reward.

    Junior right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat, who opted to return to Florida after being drafted 90th overall by the New York Mets in the offseason, took that bet. It’d be hard to angry at Sproat for having his concerns about returning — choosing a UF team coming off a disappointing 2022 instead of beginning his career. If there were any doubts, Sproat and the Gators’ performance Friday night versus Charleston Southern cleared them.

    The Florida Gators (1-0) defeated the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0-1) 13-3 Friday at Condron Family Ballpark. Sproat finished with zero hits, seven strikeouts and only three walked batters in 5.2 innings. The Gators as a whole needed just seven frames to fulfill the Southeastern Conference’s new “run rule” which states games can end early if a team leads by 10 runs after six complete innings.

    “I honestly didn’t know I had [a no hitter] going, to be honest,” Sproat said.

    Sproat kicked things off on the mound by touching 100 mph and striking out his first batter of 2023. After a small celebration, the opening strikeout led to sparing momentum. Sproat would walk his next batter, throw a wild pitch to advance him around to third and eventually give up a sacrifice fly and the opening run. The junior right-hander sat the following batter to retire the side with the Gators down 1-0.

    Florida standout Wyatt Langford came up for the Gators’ opening offensive side and worked his way into a 3-1 count. After a deep ball to left field went just foul, the junior outfielder sent a laser through right center and came up with a triple. Junior shortstop Josh Rivera earned a walk thanks to the NCAA’s new rule that awards a ball when the pitcher exceeds the pitch count.

    The walk put senior catcher BT Riopelle at the plate. Riopelle sent the first pitch back with authority, soaring past the right field wall for the Gators’ first home run of the season. After a quick review to make sure Riopelle touched third base, it was a 3-1 Gators lead after one inning.

    UF added to its lead in the second after JUCO transfer Tyler Shelnut hit a double out to the warning track. Redshirt freshman Michael Robertson followed it up with a single through the infield, sending Shelnut back to home plate to make it a 4-1 Florida lead.

    Sproat continued to deal after letting up the opening run in inning one. He threw four-straight scoreless innings to follow up the opening frame and helped maintain Florida’s lead.

    Danger arose again for Charleston Southern in the fourth inning. Sophomore Deric Fabian hit a single up the middle, followed by two walks to load the bases and bring Langford to the plate. Buccaneers head coach Marc MacMillan chose to keep his pitcher on the hill after a quick chat.

    Langford was walked to make it a 5-1 lead with the bases still loaded. Jac Caglianone approached the plate eager to empty the bases. He sat down for the third time that night after watching a called strike three go by. Rivera would come clean up the mess with a two-RBI single. Florida led 7-1 with an out to go.

    In the fifth inning, Florida added one more run to its ever-extending lead thanks to Shelnut’s second double of the night.

    “He’s just a good baseball player and a great teammate,” Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “I’m glad he’s in our program. We don’t do a lot of junior college recruiting, but he’s a local kid who’s turned himself into a really good player.

    Sproat was pulled for lefty Phillip Abner in the sixth after 5.2 hitless innings. Abner would be pulled after nine pitches after giving up a two-run single in favor of sophomore right-hander Fisher Jameson. Jameson forced the fly out to finish the inning.

    Florida responded succinctly and extended its lead further in the bottom of the sixth inning. Langford doubled to shallow right and was brought home on a Caglianone single. Riopelle doubled once more to bring in Caglianone. Evans brought in two more runs on a single to put the Gators up 12-3 and within one run of ending the game early. UF couldn’t add one more before closing the frame and the game made it to the closing third.

    Riopelle would finish the job in the seventh with an infield RBI single. Florida’s 13-3 lead in the seventh initiated the run rule and ended the ballgame.

    “Everyone thinks they’ve got great chemistry this time of year,” O’Sullivan said. “The real test is when we go through some struggles like everybody does.”

    The Gators are back at Condron tomorrow for game two against the Buccaneers. Florida can secure its first series win of 2023 with a victory. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. and the game will stream on SEC Network+.

  • WGYM: No. 2 Florida at No. 8 LSU

    WGYM: No. 2 Florida at No. 8 LSU

    It’s another exciting night of broadcast gymnastics, as this Top 10 matchup featuring the Gators goes to ESPN2!

    LSU has had its ups and downs this year, but eighth overall and third in the SEC is not half bad for a team without a few of its stars. Fifth-year leader Kiya Johnson tore her Achilles a few weeks ago, and promising freshman Bryce Wilson suffered a concussion the same night. Still, the Tigers have pressed on – all-arounders Haleigh Bryant and Aleah Finnegan have both turned in hit after hit over the last several weeks. Also watch for KJ Johnson on vault and floor, super senior Kai Rivers on beam, and junior Sierra Ballard on floor – their routines are typically highlights, and high scores from them should indicate that LSU is getting some of the supporting scores it needs to stay in the game.

    But Florida does come into this matchup with the edge, though not by much. With three all-arounders ranked in the top 15 – Trinity Thomas, Leanne Wong, and Kayla DiCello – and a variety of supporting scores to choose from, the Gators are looking to solidify themselves as national title contenders with a stellar away score in Baton Rouge tonight. Last week, landings on vault were visibly improved, bars landings and handstands were dialed in, and they may have locked in their postseason six on beam. Floor landings were also some of the best they’ve been almost all season, so now that they’ve done it once, competitors like Blakely and Richards, who aren’t always in the lineup, will want to prove they can repeat that kind of performance.

    One theory based on last week’s lineups is that head coach Jenny Rowland has now found what she believes to be her postseason lineups and is running them already. However, because she has to wait for Rachel Baumann to return to vault after an elbow tweak a month ago in competition warmups and Savannah Schoenherr to heal up for bars after breaking her foot the day before the season began, she has subs currently competing in the anchor spots in their places. Last week, this was Chloi Clark on vault and Payton Richards on bars. Tonight, one might hope for the return of Baumann, as she’s competed on floor regularly since taking a week off for the injury. As far as Schoenherr, Rowland shared in a press conference after the first meet that they expected her recovery timeline to be about six weeks, so we’re about at the point where we may see her return as well.

    If there were a meet to do it, tonight is one of the two left before postseason that’s most important for the Gators to win, as LSU is one of their most challenging opponents left. It all starts at 9pm ET on ESPN 2 or 8pm CT in the PMAC, but if you can’t make either one, we’ll have your play-by-play right here with all the action!

    8:56pm: I have a sneaking suspicion this basketball game is going to run over… we’ll see.

    Seeing reports that Sloane Blakely was ill this week and will be limited to two events.

    9:06pm: Here we go!

    Arenas, LSU VT: Yfull, very floaty in the air, little bounce on the landing. Nice height shown in the slow-mo, good distance too.

    Blakely, UB: Maloney to pak salto, some leg separation in the Maloney. Good final handstand. Double front, overcooks it a little and takes a bound forward.

    Shchennikova, VT: Y1.5, little bit of bent knees in the air, little bit of a squat on that landing, has to scoot back under her to steady herself on the landing.

    Nguyen, UB: Great opening handstand! Maloney to pak salto, big leg separations in both. Handstand on the low bar looked a little muscled. Short on the high bar final handstand. DLO, little hop forward – that’s not normal from V, hope she can shake it and move on.

    9:09pm: Finnegan, VT: Omelianchik, which is a Yurchenko half-on front pike, little slide forward. Gorgeous in the air though.

    DiCello, UB: Short first handstand. Big Ray! Pak salto is clean. van Leeuwen solid. Full out dismount, just a little bounce in place. That’s more like it.

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

    Thomas, UB: Short opening handstand. Maloney to pak, both clean. Low bar handstand work is fine. van Leeuwen looked a little low for her? DLO, just DRILLS it, that’s what she needed.

    9:13pm: Johnson, VT: Huuuge Yfull, hop back. Just gets absolutely ridiculous height on that, super clean in the air too.

    Wong, UB: Great first handstand. Maloney is clean, pak had a little lower leg separation. van Leeuwen is nice! DLO stuck cold!

    9:15pm: Bryant, VT: One of the greatest pieces of gymnastics being done in the NCAA right now – handspring pike half and it is STUCK. That’s going to be a 10, I can only imagine.

    Richards, UB: We come in partway in, bail is clean. DLO, legs go quite wide as she prepares to land, but she sticks!

    AFTER ONE: LSU 49.475, UF 49.425

    LSU leading after the first rotation is… not ideal. But also, based on those first routines, Florida should be glad that they’re only 0.05 behind.

    9:23pm: Rotation two!

    We’re seeing replays of Payton Richards’ touch warmup in slow-mo and it was gnarly, so lineup changes are incoming.

    Clark, VT: Yfull, cleaner than last week, and the hop is smaller. Love that she’s working on dialing in that landing to be a good backup for this squad.

    Jeffrey, UB: Short on opening handstand. Maloney to pak, big leg separation there on the pak. Short on last handstand. Full twisting double back dismount is stuck, very floaty, high above the bar.

    Wong, VT: Yhalf on, pike half off, low on the landing again and crooked, big bounce back. I’m ready for her to call this vault experiment done, it’s not worth it.

    Arenas, UB: Big Ray to open! Really funky on the pak, big leg separation. Short on the final handstand. DLO is stuck. Overall I’m not thrilled with anyone on bars tonight…

    Richards, VT: Y1.5, little knee bend toward the end, just a small hop on the landing.

    Tatum, UB: Great Tkachev, pak is pretty clean. Sticks her full in dismount!

    9:29pm: Kathy Johnson Clarke, who’s commentating, just said LSU has gone 9.9 for their first two routines… I cannot justify that. At all.

    DiCello, VT: Y1.5, great amplitude, just a small hop on the landing.

    Finnegan, UB: Great opening handstand. Incredible piked Deltchev, there’s only a few of those being done in the NCAA, and I think this is the only one piked. Transition is clean. Double front dismount, just a step forward on the landing.

    Thomas, VT: Y1.5, just the small hop forward. Got to find a way to drill those landings more.

    Shchennikova, UB: Short opening handstand. Pak salto is fine. Short handstand there at the end as well. DLO pings off early but she makes it around somehow, her form is still a mess on that. Can’t really call it laid out at all.

    9:33pm: Edwards, VT: Yfull, one of her better ones! Just a small step on the landing, then steps her feet together. Nice and clean in the air, good amplitude too.

    Bryant, UB: Good opening handstands. Jaeger is nice. Handstand before her transition is a hair short. Bail is solid. Great last handstand. Double front half out… yeah, I’ll give her the stick on that one.

    AFTER TWO: LSU 98.975, UF 98.775

    9:43pm: Rotation 3!

    Arenas, BB: Switch leap to split jump, maybe a little shy of 180 on the second element. Back handspring layout stepout (bhs loso), nice and solid. Front toss, dead on. Full turn is clean. Switch half, looked 180 to me, no flexed feet either. Roundoff 1.5, a little stutter step on the landing. A good leadoff for them, though.

    Nguyen, FX: Mixing up the order of this lineup tonight, it seems. Front double full, maybe a little underdone, the camera angle made it very hard to tell, but she goes into her sissone immediately just fine. Lovely leap series, gorgeous extension and toe point as always. Y turn is excellent as well. 1.5 to front lay, a little larger step than maybe I’d like to see, but keeps it under control. A great leadoff as well!

    9:46pm: Shchennikova, BB: Opening mount and full turn are fine. Front aerial to bhs loso, totally straight and steady. Short of 180 on her dance series. Side aerial, small hesitation but covers well, chest maybe a little low. Bhs gainer full is stuck!

    Baumann, FX: Double wolf turn to open, stays even-keeled. 1.5 to front full, very precise on the landing and choreography coming out. Gorgeous switch side to straddle jump, gets great height and she’s so far in oversplit! Double pike to close, little bit of a slide on her lunge. Another great routine!

    9:51pm: Rivers, BB: Bhs loso to open, locks those arms down. Full turn is steady. Switch half, maybe shy of 180, Kathy agrees with me. Switch leap to straddle 1/4, clean. Roundoff double full is stuck! This meet is going to come down to the last routine, provided everyone stays on their feet.

    Richards, FX: DLO to open, doesn’t move her front foot! Good amplitude too. A little bouncy on the landing of her dance series, but straddle positions were clean. 1.5 to… front tuck half to straddle jump? She totally mistimed her punch but I think the jump out of it will make up her the lower skill difficulty? Normally she does a front full, not a front tuck half. We’ll see, I guess.

    Johnson, BB: Incredible press handstand to planche mount, just ridiculous back flexibility. Switch leap to back tuck to straddle jump 1/4, such a quick connection. Series is clean too. I think her dismount was stuck? Wow.

    Judging conference happening over Richards’s start value. We’ll see what they come up with. 9.675, the straddle jump must not have been enough to make the difference for her.

    9:59pm: Wong, FX: Piked double arabian to open, now that she’s taken out the stag jump after, I think it’s gotten a lot better on the landing. Gorgeous and precise throughout her triple dance series. Whip half to front full, came in a little crooked and had to cover with dance.

    Bryant, BB: Front aerial to bhs, very calm and steady. Switch leap to straddle 1/4, great 180 positions there. Full turn is fine. Standing front tuck, bobble there. Punch 1.5 twist dismount is stuck! Another strong routine for LSU.

    Thomas, FX: Just selling this opening choreo. DLO is back to normal this week, just casually steps her foot back into her lunge because she can. Dance series is clean and precise, lovely extension as always. Front full to front lay, just a little scoot back, she could’ve held onto that. I love how the choreography is sort of a collage of her greatest hits from over the years, Jeremy James Miranda did an incredible job with that routine.

    10:04pm: Finnegan, BB: Handstand mount, lovely. Bhs loso loso, sooo solid. Switch leap to split jump, crisp 180 splits on both of those. Front aerial, just lays it in like she’s on the floor. Gainer full dismount is stuck! That could be a perfect score if the judges are feeling it… yup, it’s a 10.0! She’s just one ten away from a gym slam of her own!

    DiCello, FX: Front double full to open, just that crossover step on the landing. Switch ring to switch half, great extension and shapes in the air on those. Double wolf, maybe a little wobbly but covers well as she comes out of it. 1.5 to front lay, great control coming out of it. That should easily erase Richards’s score and put Florida a lot closer to LSU.

    AFTER THREE: LSU 148.525, UF 148.35

    Sam sums up exactly how I’m feeling:

    10:17pm: Richards, BB: Full turn is nice and even. Bhs loso, solid. Switch half, hesitates before the beat jump, I don’t think she’ll get that connection. Switch to straddle, that was better. Bhs 1.5, not sure I’d call that a stick but Kathy thinks it was.

    Ballard, FX: DLO to open, big step back but doesn’t move the front foot. 1.5 to front lay, clean. Really quick in her switch ring to switch half to knee, good extension though. Double pike to finish, solid landing there.

    10:21pm: Lazzari, BB: Bhs loso loso, super secure with it. Switch leap to split jump, great 180 positions there. Front aerial, floats it down. Full turn, fine. Bhs 1.5 twist, little hop on the landing. Can’t be hopping like that when LSU is still so far ahead.

    Shchennikova, FX: Front double full, arabesque out of it to cover the bigger step she takes. 1.5 twist to front lay, nice and quick, great twisting form too. Little short of 180 on her switch half in her leap sequence, looked like she just didn’t get any air. Rudi (Front 1.5) to split jump, a little crooked there and travels backward. We’ll see what they actually take.

    Nguyen, BB: Fun mount sequence emphasizing her elegant lines. Onodi to bhs, so fresh and so clean. Y turn, big bobble, and that’s probably the meet, barring disaster or an OOB from LSU. Dance series is clean. Gets the stuck dismount though!

    Arenas, FX: Front double full to open, big step forward, dragged her back foot forward. A little off rotation on the second wolf element in her triple dance series maybe? I’m not sure what her intended rotation was but it wasn’t a half or a full rotation based on where she originally started. Front lay front full to finish, good for her – tonight is her first time in AA.

    10:28pm: DiCello, BB: Candle mount to start is gorgeous as usual. Double wolf, almost has a little trouble at the end but closes it out. Switch to split, great amplitude on those. Bhs loso, dead on! Front aerial, keeps the arms high to help her with balance. Bhs gainer full is stuck! That should be a HUGE score.

    Johnson, FX: Full in to open, two steps but no lunge, I think it was to try to stay in bounds, but not sure if she did or not. 1.5 to front lay, great control there. Switch side to Popa, good amplitude on those. Double tuck to finish, just a little slide on that landing. Her power is incredible, she’s so fun to watch!

    10:32pm: Thomas, BB: Switch leap mount, lovely. One-arm bhs to loso, solid. Beat jump to bhs swingdown (korbut), quick on the connection. Side aerial to 1.5 is stuck! That might be her first true stick this season! That should be a big one too, wow. It’s a 10.0!

    Finnegan, FX: Double arabian to open, to immediate stag jump, gorgeous. 2.5 to punch front, absolutely nails the timing, that can be a tricky one. Switch ring to switch full, a little low on the amplitude on the switch full but I think she gets it all the way around fine. 1.5 to front tuck, I think it’s supposed to be a layout or maybe a pike? She may lose SV but I think she has so much bonus it doesn’t matter.

    10:35pm: Wong, BB: Switch leap to split leap, lovely. Bhs loso, super steady. Full turn, lovely. Front aerial to beat jump, she’s patient with it, I think the connection is fine. Roundoff double full, big squat but holds onto the stick!

    Bryant, FX: Double front to open, she gets so much pop on that, incredible. Slow-mo shows a little step back on the landing. Front lay to Rudi, very clean, well controlled on the landing. Dance series is clean, if not stellar. Front double full to close, she sticks on two feet! That should be a wild score for her.

    FINAL: LSU 198.1, UF 197.975

    Well, the undefeated streak is snapped, but 197.975 is still a fabulous away score that Florida will be happy to take into NQS starting next week. I’ll just leave y’all with this, because if I talk about judging inconsistencies, overscoring, or lack of score separation, I’ll never go home. So this about sums it up for me:

  • BSB: Florida geared up for opening series vs. Charleston Southern

    BSB: Florida geared up for opening series vs. Charleston Southern

    The wait is over for Florida Gators baseball as the opening weekend of the 2023 season kicks off tonight at Condron Ballpark. The Gators are looking to begin their season on a high note with a positive performance this weekend as the team begins its campaign with a fresh slate and a 0-0 record.

    Florida will take on Charleston Southern Buccaneers this weekend in both teams’ opening series. The Buccaneers finished last season with a 24-30 record. They finished fifth in the Big South conference and fell to Campbell in the championship round of the Big South tournament. CSU failed to make an NCAA regional in 2022. Under third year head coach Marc MacMillan, the Buccaneers are projected to regress to seventh in their conference.

    The Gators have certainly garnered a more favorable outlook from the media, being ranked seventh in the nation and second in the Southeastern Conference. While UF and head coach Kevin O’Sullivan plan on competing with the baseball juggernauts this year, his team will know better than to overlook CSU.

    UF’s batters, specifically returning star Wyatt Langford, should face minimal trouble from CSU’s starting pitchers. The Bucs’ trio of Evan Truitt, Ryan Gleason and Zac Robinson had a combined 8.84 ERA in 2022.

    The other side of the plate is what draws the most intrigue for Gators fans. Thursday, it was announced Brandon Sproat, Hurston Waldrep and Jac Caglianone would be the opening weekend starters on the mound. Neely and Waldrep were the expected pair on Friday and Saturday, but the Sunday spot was a point of contention. O’Sullivan had the option of using Brandon Neely for the Sunday start and leaving the two-way standout Caglianone as a midweek starter or in the designated hitter role. However it appears O’Sullivan is confident Caglianone can produce on the rubber right away.

    Generally, the Gators seemed well prepared for its opening matchup, but the team must be sure not to look ahead to later non-conference matchups like Miami or other in-state foes like South Florida, Florida Atlantic and Jacksonville.

    Game one of UF and CSU’s debut series begins Friday at 7 p.m. at Condron Family Ballpark. The game will stream on SEC Network+.

  • Preseason Picks: Florida Baseball’s Opening Day Lineup

    Preseason Picks: Florida Baseball’s Opening Day Lineup

    With the completion of the Florida Gators baseball team’s final open practice before the regular season begins, comes the highest level of preseason anticipation for fans. No more scrimmages or press conferences remain to satiate their hunger. All thats left for Gators faithful to mull over until Charleston Southern comes to town Saturday is who UF head coach Kevin O’Sullivan will field on opening weekend.

    It won’t be that easy for O’Sullivan. He’s got a problem — a good problem. He has more viable players than he has positions on the field. Solving the lineup equation is always a battle for coaches, and one that usually takes a while. However, the opening weekend group will be a good indicator of the 2023 Gators’ identity. That being said, here’s who could take the field this weekend:

    Infield

    Catcher: BT Riopelle, Senior

    Senior catcher BT Riopelle will likely serve as the strongest veteran presence on the roster, and is probably the biggest lock to be an infield starter. A member of the 2022 All-Southeastern Conference first team, Riopelle was the glue between last year’s UF stars like Jud Fabian, Sterlin Thompson and Wyatt Langford. Riopelle will likely take a larger role on offense with some of Florida’s previous swingers now turned pro. Despite taking some starts at first base last season, he’ll be most useful behind the plate, guiding Florida’s young pitching unit through tough SEC bats.

    Although Riopelle is an early lock at catcher, don’t be surprised if O’Sullivan gives his younger guys some run behind the plate. Sophomore Rene Lastres looked good in spring training, and true freshman Luke Heyman was the No. 6 ranked catcher in his recruiting class.

    First Base: Tyler Shelnut, Junior

    The rest of the infield is where it gets complicated. There are toss-ups at nearly every position and plenty of experience in the locker room. Four of Florida’s six listed infielders are upperclassmen. First base is possibly the most stacked position.

    Names like Jac Caglianone and Deric Fabian will jump off the roster list for fans trying to piece together a lineup, but the two sophomores would be better suited in different roles. O’Sullivan will likely turn to junior college transfer Tyler Shelnut.

    Shelnut is a veteran presence but is beginning his first season with Gators. He spent two years in JUCO and batted .306, hitting 26 home runs in two season. He had 85 RBIs in 84 games. The biggest question mark will be how he adapts to the SEC level.

    Second Base: Deric Fabian, Sophomore

    Fabian started in 43 games as a freshman and seems primed to make a step forward in year two. He hit two home runs and batted in 22 RBIs on a .218 average. He moved around the infield in his first year but seems to fit the lineup best at second.

    If Fabian doesn’t play up to expectations, junior Colby Halter could take over. He spent time at second last season but moved to third after a slump from the aforementioned Fabian took him out of the lineup and moved Halter to third.

    Shortstop: Josh Rivera, Junior

    While Rivera is listed as a Junior on Florida’s roster, but 2023 will be his fourth year enrolled at UF. He opted to return for this season rather than turn pro and will be looking to garner some more MLB attention. He’s started over 131 games in Orange and Blue and will be the number one option at shortstop all season.

    Third Base: Colby Halter, Junior

    Halter finished last season at third and will serve as some lineup continuity in 2023. The junior had a down season in 2022, batting .240 after a .302 freshman year. Halter will need to return to his efficient ways if he wants to keep his spot secure.

    If Halter begins to struggle, or there are issues with Fabian at second base, Halter could be moved around the infield or put on the bench later in the season.

    Outfield

    The outfield was the most star-studded position group on the 2022 UF roster. O’Sullivan will have to take on the challenge of replicating the production of the three-headed monster of Langford, Thompson and Fabian.

    Left Field: Wyatt Langford, Junior

    Langford is more than the star of the outfield — he’s the best on the entire team. He’s considered by many publications to be a top five MLB prospects and will no doubt turn heads in 2023 after a prolific sophomore season despite playing with some respectable batters.

    Essentially, there is no one up to the challenge of dethroning Langford.

    Center Field: Michael Robertson, Redshirt Freshman

    Robertson serves as the biggest what-if of all the Gators starters. The redshirt freshman missed last season with a hamstring injury and will make his debut in 2023.

    Small ball is the name of Robertson game. He was praised for his speed and base running ability at the high school level. His speed will help him cover the outfield at center. Beyond that, what’s to be seen from Robertson will be seen on the field.

    Right Field: Ty Evans, Sophomore

    Beyond Langford, Evans is the most experienced outfielder. He made 26 starts as a freshman, including 21 to close out the season. He batted .242 and was a strong defensive presence in right field. If Evans isn’t up to par, any combination of Matt Prevesk, Tucker Talbott or Richie Schiekofer could get some run.

    Pitching

    Weekend Starters: Brandon Sproat, Hurston Waldrep, Brandon Neely

    Florida’s pitching unit was young and hurt last season. That combination led to some tough outings and blown games thanks to pitching inexperience. An older and more complete pitching unit should help out the Gators in 2023.

    Sproat will be the lead man on Friday. It seemed all but certain he would turn pro after being drafted by the Mets but made a surprise return. He will be the standout on the mound all year.

    Hurston Waldrep is coming off a third-team All-American season at Southern Miss. Although he’ll be facing tougher batters, he is expected to produce efficiently at the next level.

    Neely was thrust into a starting role after injuries depleted the lineup last year and has earned the Sunday spot for now, but it’s possible O’Sullivan moves to different options later on.

    Midweek Starters: Jac Caglianone, Ryan Slater

    Jac Caglianone proved himself to be a two-way stud last season and has spent considerable time on the mound this spring. He will be competing for the Sunday job but will likely make the start in the midweek at first. He could also make appearances at first base or designated hitter this year.

    The Gators have a few weekday doubleheaders this season and Ryan Slater will likelt fill the role. He made starts when needed last season and will be serviceable for the midweek.

    Overall, there is plenty of talent of Florida’s roster with few spaces to put players. Fringe players will need to create opportunities as a DH or filling in for absences later on. O’Sullivan’s opening weekend lineup will answer a lot of leftover question marks.

  • MBB: Florida Handles Ole Miss as Castleton Breaks Hand

    MBB: Florida Handles Ole Miss as Castleton Breaks Hand

    Photo by James Gilbert | Getty Images

    The Florida Gators (14-12, 7-6 SEC) defeated the Ole Miss Rebels (10-16, 2-11 SEC) Wednesday night in the O’dome by a final score of 79-64. Myron Jones led the scoring for the Gators with 15 points as Will Richard and Kowacie Reeves both had 13.

    This win could come at a huge cost for Florida as star big man Colin Castleton went down early in the second half. Shortly after the final buzzer, the team released the news that he suffered a broken hand.

    Florida came into this one off of three straight losses, all against SEC opponents. After an upset win against then No. 2 Tennessee at home, the Gators had a disappointing next week and a half. With losses to Kentucky, Alabama and Vanderbilt, Florida’s NCAA tournament hopes were dwindling.

    With this win, the Gators live to fight another day. However, they will need to close out the season very well to have any shot of making it to March Madness and not having Castleton will only make it that much more difficult.

    For Ole Miss, after starting out the season on a six game winning streak, they have won just four of their last 20 games, including 11 losses to conference opponents.

    Castleton’s Injury

    With just over 15 minutes to play in the game, Castleton set what appeared to be a simple slip-screen on Ole Miss’ Jaemyn Brakefield. After he set it, Castleton grabbed for his dominant right hand.

    Florida’s head coach, Todd Golden, immediately called a timeout to get Castleton off the floor. What looked like a minor injury kept the Gators’ leading scorer out for the rest of the game, and most likely a few weeks longer.

    Castleton has been Florida’s best player all season long and is having one of the best years of his career. He leads the team in points (16.5), rebounds (7.9) and blocks (3.0) per game.

    The 6’11” transfer from Michigan was well on his way to first-team All SEC honors in his third season with the Gators.

    Gators Close Out First Half Well

    As for the game itself, the Gators and Rebels played a back and forth for the first 16 minutes.

    Jones had it going early as he scored the first six points for Florida on two 3-pointers. He scored all of his team-leading 15 points from beyond the arc as he shot 5-7 from deep.

    Reeves got the Rowdy Reptiles into it as he posterized Ole Miss forward Myles Burns to extend the Gators’ lead to three.

    With just under four minutes to play in the first, Rebels guard Matthew Murrell drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut the Gators’ lead to just one.

    After Murrell’s basket, it was all Florida the rest of the half. The Gators went on an 11-2 run to end the first, including four points from transfer guard Kyle Lofton. He finished the game with 10 points on 4-6 shooting and a game-high seven assists.

    At the break, Florida led 39-29.

    Florida Dominates in Second

    Ole Miss came out of the locker room hot to start the second half. They went on a 10-2 run in the first three minutes. Amaree Abram and Myles Burn traded baskets for the Rebels as they pulled to within two.

    With just over five minutes played in the second, the Gators were up 47-43. This is when Florida really kicked it into high gear on both ends of the floor.

    The Gators went on a 17-6 run as they were spreading the ball around nicely, getting assist after assist on the offensive end. One of the keys to Florida’s victory was their playmaking ability. They finished the game with 15 assists while Ole Miss had just six as a team.

    Freshman guard Riley Kugel capped off this run with a powerful alley-oop slam off a beautiful feed from Lofton. This put the Gators up 15 with eight and a half to play.

    Florida cruised the rest of the way en route to a 79-64 victory.

    After their win Wednesday night, the Gators have just five games remaining in the regular season. They will travel to Fayetteville on Saturday to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (17-9, 6-7 SEC). Arkansas will be going into that game on a two-game losing streak. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN2.

  • SB: Echols and Wallace Lead Gators to Largest Home-Opening Win in Program History

    SB: Echols and Wallace Lead Gators to Largest Home-Opening Win in Program History

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    The Gators followed up Tuesday’s win in Jacksonville with another run-rule victory over the Dolphins Wednesday in Gainesville.

    Florida’s 11-0 win marks its largest margin of victory in a home opener in program history. It also marks the first time in program history that Florida won its first five games of the season via five-inning run-rules.

    The Gators needed only four frames of at-bats to tally 11 runs on 11 hits. Senior third baseman Charla Echols drove in a season-high four runs and went yard for the second night in a row.

    Shortstop Skylar Wallace followed up Tuesday’s 4-RBI performance by going 2-2 at the plate with a double, a triple, and a sacrifice fly.

    Leadoff hitter Kendra Falby extended her hit streak to five games after the sophomore outfielder hit a pair of singles in the first two innings.

    In the bottom of the fourth, junior catcher Emily Wilkie capped off the scoring with a pinch-hit, three-run bomb onto the roof of Florida’s bullpen in left.

    In the circle, Florida southpaw Rylee Trlicek made her third start this season and faced only 15 batters across four innings. The senior Texas native struck out two Dolphins en route to earning her third win already this year. In the top of the fifth, freshman right-hander Olivia Gigante entered the game and sealed Florida’s fifth straight win to start the season.

    Box Score

    Jacksonville: 0 / 2 / 0

    No. 3 Florida: 11 / 11 / 0

    Individual Stats

    LHP Trlicek (W, 3-0): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

    RHP Gigante: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

    1. LF Falby: 2-2
    2. RF Goddard: 0-3
    3. SS Wallace: 2-2, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B
    4. 3B Echols: 2-3, 4 RBI, HR (2)
    5. 2B Walsh: 1-3, RBI
    6. DH Roe: 0-2
    7. 1B A. Goelz: 1-2
    8. C Longley: 1-2
      • PH Wilkie: 1-1, 3 RBI, HR (1)
    9. CF Kistler: 1-1, RBI

    On Deck

    Florida will prepare to host the T-Mobile Tournament this weekend at KSP Stadium. The Gators will play UConn Friday at 6 p.m. ahead of back-to-back doubleheaders. They’ll face Bowling Green and UConn in a rematch Saturday before they take on Central Michigan and Delaware State Sunday.

  • BSB: Gators Rack Up Numerous Preseason Honors

    BSB: Gators Rack Up Numerous Preseason Honors

    The Florida Gators’ 2023 season is just days away, and the buzz surrounding the new year is palpable. After a solid, but slightly underwhelming 2022 campaign which ended in a NCAA Regional heartbreak to Oklahoma, the Gators seem primed to take a leap forward and compete on the national stage.

    National media outlets seem to recognize UF’s potential, as the team and individual Florida players alike have racked up a handful of preseason awards with opening weekend around the corner.

    As a team, the Gators are ranked No. 7 in D1Baseball’s top 25 and second in the Southeastern Conference preseason poll. They received one vote to win the SEC. While juggernauts like Lousiana State and Tennessee stand in the way, Florida should be able to make some noise at the national level.

    The two names creating the most noise surrounding Florida’s baseball program are outfielder Wyatt Langford and right-handed pitcher Hurston Waldrep. Both players are ranked as top-15 MLB prospects and were listed to the preseason watchlist for USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award, which recognizes the top all-around amateur player in baseball.

    Langford enters his junior season with the keys to Florida baseball and unanimous preseason All-American first team nod. Despite playing beside future MLB draftees Jud Fabian and Sterlin Thompson, Langford put on a historic season in 2022, leading UF in nearly every batting statistic. He is considered the fifth-best MLB prospect in the nation and earned All-SEC first team preseason honors.Without a doubt, Langford will be the frontman of the 2023 Gators, and is expected to produce as such.

    Waldrep arrives in Gainesville from Southern Miss, coming off a third-team All-American season in 2022. He threw 90 innings for the Golden Eagles last season, recording a 3.20 ERA, a 6-2 record and 140 strikeouts. He is expected to produce in new scenery and a new conference, earning an All-SEC second team nod in the preseason. The junior righty earned first and second-team preseason All-American honors and is generally expected to step up to elevated SEC batters.

    Also receiving honors are senior catcher BT Riopelle and junior right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat. Riopelle, who was first-team All-SEC in 2022, earned preseason honors to repeat. He was named to the preseason All-American third team.

    Sproat, who was drafted 90th overall by the Ntes in 2022 and opted to return to Florida, is considered a top-100 prospect once again and earned some preseason All-American nods.

    Newcomers and returners alike, this year’s Florida roster is strong and is earning recognition. The question now for the Gators is if the potential ends on paper or if head coach Kevin O’Sullivan can bring it to the diamond.