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Jackson Castellano is the Baseball contributor for ChompTalk. He is a student at the University of Florida, studying sports media journalism. Contact Jackson Castellano at jaxcastellano@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter @jaxacastellano.
  • LAX: Florida stomps Stetson for third straight win

    LAX: Florida stomps Stetson for third straight win

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    Florida is on a roll. After a mediocre start to the season, the Gators have now won three straight games as AAC play draws near.

    These wins have come in a variety of ways for head coach Amanda O’Leary’s squad: A statement win against a ranked opponent, a narrow win saved from the clutches of defeat and on Wednesday, a victory better compared to a steamroller hitting fresh pavement.

    No. 11 Florida defeated Stetson 19-5 in an absolute slaughter of the Hatters. Stetson recorded more turnovers than shots while UF notched its second-highest points total of the regular season. Five Gators scored Thursday evening, including four from freshman Emma LoPinto.

    Danielle Pavinelli would earn the opening goal for Florida under two minutes into the contest. Emily Heller would score the back-toback to increase the UF lead to 2-0 before inclement weather put the game on hold. After roughly 45 minutes of delay, the Gators’ offensive spectacle was ready to resume. Florida scored four more unanswered to close the first quarter up 6-0.

    Stetson would strike first in the second quarter. The Hatters managed to notch two goals before halftime, but this paled in comparison to Florida’s attacking onslaught. The Gators equaled their first quarter total with six more goals. Two scores came from Maggi Hall, fresh off of her national offensive player of the week nomination. Florida closed the half out with a nearly insurmountable lead, 12-2.

    The second half was more of the same for the Gators. Florida found the back of the net seven more times and spread the fun around, with Janine Suris and Albert Whitney recording their first goals this season. Stetson only managed three goals in the entire half on the way to a dominant UF win.

    Next up, Florida travels to Tempe, Arizona, to take on its penultimate opponent before conference play in Arizona State. The Sun Devils are 4-3 overall and undefeated at home, and received votes despite going unranked in the most recent IWLCA poll. ASU will be up against a quick turnaround, facing USC on March 25 before heading back home that Sunday to face the Gators.

    Opening draw for UF vs. ASU is set for Sunday, March 27 at 1 p.m.

  • Fabian fireworks help Florida survive Bethune-Cookman

    Fabian fireworks help Florida survive Bethune-Cookman

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    Jud Fabian barely needed to watch the ball fly through the dim Gainesville sky. He tossed his now-unneccessary bat to the dirt as the ball sailed into the visitor’s bullpen of Florida Ballpark.

    3-2, Gators lead.

    “I figured…they’d give me a first-pitch heater,” Fabian said. “And I got a first-pitch heater.”

    Florida (16-5) battled off a potential upset from Bethune-Cookman (8-12) Tuesday to win 3-2 behind a pair of solo home runs from Fabian and a combined one-hitter from the Gators bullpen.

    The early innings felt littered with missed opportunities from both dugouts despite no offensive fireworks. The Wildcats chased Florida starter Nick Pogue off the mound with four walks in his first six batters faced. Despite not recording a hit in the opening frame, Bethune-Cookman scored a run when left fielder Malik Stephens stole home and left three runners on base in the top of the first.

    The visitors extended the lead to two in the third inning with the help of a hit batter and a single from center fielder Christopher Patterson. A fielding error by Florida’s Colby Halter eventually cleared the path for the second run.

    The Gators only nabbed two hits of their own in the first three innings at the plate but stranded a runner in scoring position in each inning with a trio of walks. In the bottom of the third, first baseman BT Riopelle dug into the batter’s box with the bases loaded but grounded out to keep the Gators scoreless.

    The slumbering Florida offense finally stirred in the fourth and fifth innings. Catcher Mac Guscette laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to plate run number one in the fourth. Fabian led the fifth inning off with a high shot toward left field that eventually landed in the visitor dugout, his first trip around the bases for the night.

    While the Gators offense nursed a flame, Bethune-Cookman’s bats froze over. Five straight scoreless innings suffocated the optics of an upset, with zero hits and three baserunners from the fourth to eighth innings. 

    Sophomore right-hander Nick Ficarrotta, who took the mound for Florida in relief of Pogue in the first inning, tossed 4.1 innings without an earned run, allowing one hit and dispatching the 16 batters he faced in 38 pitches. Freshman Florida arms Tyler Nesbitt and Philip Abner followed with a combined three hitless innings.

    Fabian slammed the go-ahead kill shot in the bottom of the seventh. The moonshot was his 10th home run of the 2022 season and 42nd at Florida, enough to move him to sixth all-time in school history. Tracing back to Feb. 24, 2021, the junior outfielder muscled 30 home runs in his past 76 games. His three-for-five night rose his 2022 batting average to .322 with 18 strikeouts in his 75 at-bats, his 24% strikeout percentage well below his 2021 mark of 35.1%

    “Obviously, everyone knows he’s (Fabian) got power but I think his strikeout-to-walk ratio has been phenomenal,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said after the game. “His strike-zone management is entirely different than previous years.”

    Freshman right-hander Karl Hartman took the mound for the ninth inning. Despite the tying run working all the way to third base, Hartman retired the final two batters looking and Florida emerged with a 16th victory for the season.

    The Gators take their home diamond again this weekend with a three-game series against Louisiana State, with Friday’s first pitch set for 7 p.m.

    “We’re expecting to win,” Fabian said about the upcoming series. “This is a confident group.”

  • SB: Echols and Lindsey Power Florida Past Stetson Tuesday on the Road

    SB: Echols and Lindsey Power Florida Past Stetson Tuesday on the Road

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    After clinching its first away series of 2022 this past weekend against Texas A&M, No. 6 Florida shut out Stetson 7-0 in DeLand, Florida, Tuesday night. The Gators improve to 26-3 overall and 7-1 on the road while extending their win streak versus the Hatters to six games.

    Florida right-hander Lexie Delbrey made her 10th start this season and threw five scoreless innings en route to picking up her ninth win — leading all pitchers on the team. The freshman Bainbridge, Georgia, native struck out seven batters and gave up only one hit and a pair of walks.

    In the bottom of the sixth, fifth-year right-hander Natalie Lugo took over Delbrey’s duties in the circle. Lugo pitched the final two innings and retired six of the seven batters she faced — she struck out one looking and two swinging — to complete a combined two-hitter.

    The Gators’ lineup remained hot as they racked up double-digit hits for the second straight game. Freshman center fielder Kendra Falby led off the game with a single into left before she stole her 22nd base this year — sixth most in the nation and second most in the SEC trailing only Florida shortstop Skylar Wallace.

    Wallace drove in Falby on a sacrifice fly to give the Gators an early one-run advantage. After a pair of scoreless frames, Florida freshman Reagan Walsh tacked on another run via a solo shot — her team-high fifth home run this season.

    Falby led off the fifth with a triple into right-center and scored on a wild pitch. A few batters later, senior third baseman Charla Echols delivered a two-run bomb — her fourth this year — to give the Gators a commanding 5-0 lead.

    In the top of the seventh, Florida added two insurance runs. Echols and right fielder Cheyenne Lindsey each poked RBI singles to cap off stellar performances for the senior duo. Lindsey recorded a perfect on-base percentage as she went 3-3 with three singles and a walk.

    Final (R/H/E)

    #6 Florida: 7 / 10 / 0

    Stetson: 0 / 2 / 0

    Pitching Decision

    Win: Delbrey (9-1)

    Loss: Hobbs (3-6)

    Individual Stats

    RHP Delbrey: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

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

    1. CF Falby: 2-4, 2 R, 2 K, SB
    2. 2B Adams: 0-3, BB, K
    3. SS Wallace: 1-1, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, SB
    4. 3B Echols: 2-3, R, 3 RBI, BB
    5. DP Walsh: 1-4, R, RBI, HR (5)
    6. RF Lindsey: 3-3, RBI, BB
    7. 1B A. Goelz: 0-3
    8. C Roe: 1-3
    9. LF Kistler: 0-3, K

    Next Up

    The Gators and Hatters will meet for a rematch in Gainesville Wednesday at 6 p.m. before Florida welcomes Tennessee this weekend.

  • 5-Star PF Malik Reneau Reopens Recruitment

    5-Star PF Malik Reneau Reopens Recruitment

    Photo by Eric Bossi | Getty Images

    A new staff prompts roster changes. In the case of the Florida men’s basketball team, attrition began in the form of the program’s highest ranked signee from the 2022 class.

    Five star PF Malik Reneau announced his decommitment from Florida Tuesday.

    The 6’8 210 lb prospect from Montverde Academy is rated the No. 28 overall prospect and No. 4 PF in the 2022 recruiting cycle according to the 247 composite rankings.

    Prior to committing to Florida, Reneau also considered Memphis, Florida State, and Miami.

    Florida has named Todd Golden as the head coach following the departure of Mike White to Georgia.

  • LAX: Gators avoid late game collapse versus Drexel

    LAX: Gators avoid late game collapse versus Drexel

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    No. 13 Florida entered Vidas Field on Sunday coming off a huge win against No. 3 Syracuse. After holding the Orange to their season low in goals, Drexel would seem to pose much less of a threat to the Gators. On the contrary, the game came down to the final minute and victory nearly slipped from UF’s grasp.

    Florida (4-4) defeated Drexel (4-4) 10-9 on two last minute goals from Maggi Hall and Danielle Pavinelli to tie and take the lead, barely holding off an eight-goal surge from the Dragons.

    The Gators started off with a bang, opening up the contest 8-1 in the first half. Hall scored six goals, a career high performance. Pavinelli notched two of her own to move up to 28 on the season. Paisley Eagan and Emily Heller also added to Florida’s total in the game.

    “We came out with a lot of energy in the first half and saw some great play on both the offensive and defensive sides of the field,” head coach Amanda O’Leary said. 

    Drexel found a string of good fortune to turn the momentum around despite recording only a .346 shooting percentage. The Dragons lit up the net with four unanswered goals in nine minutes. Florida went scoreless during the entire third quarter.

    After allowing four more goals in the fourth, the Gators found themselves somehow down 9-8 with just over five minutes remaining in the game.

    Florida positioned themselves to reclaim victory after the tying goal from Hall found the back of the net with exactly a minute to go. Hall got to play hero again on her career night, finding Pavinelli for the assist on the game-winning goal with just 18 seconds remaining.  UF escaped and returned to .500 on the season.

    “After the half, we let things get away from us on both sides,” O’Leary said. “But I am proud of this team for showing the resilience to come back in the final minute of play and get a road victory.”

    Up next, the Gators return home to face off against Stetson. The Hatters are 3-5 overall and 1-0 in away games. Florida captured a dominant 19-7 win in the schools’ previous matchup in March of 2021. First draw is set for Wednesday, March 23 at 4:30 p.m.

  • SB: Gators Run-Rule Aggies to Clinch First Road Series

    SB: Gators Run-Rule Aggies to Clinch First Road Series

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    After splitting the first two games of the series, the Gators run-ruled the Aggies 11-3 Sunday after six innings in College Station, Texas.

    Florida captures its second straight SEC series while improving to 25-3 overall and in 4-2 conference play.

    Senior right-hander Elizabeth Hightower started in the circle for the Gators and went the distance en route to earning her eighth win this season. Hightower gave up three earned runs for just the second time this year and allowed a season-high eight hits.

    Offensively, the bottom half of Florida’s lineup produced the bulk of its runs. After managing to score only one run through the first three frames, the Gators drove in five runs in the top of the fourth.

    Senior center fielder Cheyenne Lindsey belted a three-run homer — her second this season — before freshman catcher Sam Roe roped an RBI double to the left-field wall and later scored to give Florida a 6-2 advantage.

    An inning later, Roe and sophomore left fielder Katie Kistler lined back-to-back RBI singles up the middle to put the Gators up 8-2. A Texas A&M solo shot in the bottom of the fifth cut the deficit to 8-3, but Florida freshman Reagan Walsh answered in the top of the sixth with a three-run bomb to capture a run-rule lead.

    In the bottom half, Hightower delivered a 10-pitch, one-two-three, inning to clinch the run-rule victory.

    Final (R/H/E)

    #5 Florida: 11 / 11 / 0

    Texas A&M: 3 / 8 / 3

    Pitching Decision

    Win: Hightower (8-0)

    Loss: Kennedy (6-5)

    Individual Stats

    RHP Hightower: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

    1. CF Falby: 0-4, RBI, 2 K
    2. 2B Adams: 1-4, R
    3. SS Wallace: 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB
    4. 3B Echols: 0-3, R, BB, K
    5. DP Walsh: 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR (4)
    6. RF Lindsey: 3-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR (2)
    7. 1B A. Goelz: 2-4, 2 R
    8. C Roe: 2-4, R, 2 RBI
    9. LF Kistler: 1-2, RBI, BB, SB

    Next Up

    The Gators will return to the Sunshine State for a non-conference, home-and-home series against Stetson. The teams will meet in DeLand Tuesday at 6 p.m before they face off in Gainesville Wednesday night at 6.

  • WGYM Liveblog: SEC Championship Session Two featuring No. 2 Florida

    WGYM Liveblog: SEC Championship Session Two featuring No. 2 Florida

    After a somewhat surprising first session, four teams are in the clubhouse, and it’s time for the top four teams in the nation’s most competitive conference to take the floor – it’s SEC Championships, y’all!

    For a full breakdown of how we expect today’s competition to go, check out our preview from earlier today, and make sure you catch up on Session One from our liveblog as well. Florida is the frontrunner, but not by much – Auburn tied them earlier this season, and the duals against both Alabama and LSU came down to the wire as well. It’s going to come down to the very last routine tonight as well, we expect, so make sure you tune in to the SEC Network or stay right here for our liveblog to catch all the action play by play.

    Missouri finished Session One as the leaders in the clubhouse with a 196.875, which is a number all four of these teams have consistently beaten throughout the season, but judging is definitely tighter and holding athletes to a higher standard now that it’s postseason. Don’t be surprised if Missouri is a lot closer to the night session teams than you’d expect.

    It all starts at 8:00pm, so don’t go anywhere! This is sure to be one of the most exciting meets of the weekend.

    Unfortunately, it sounds like we may already have an athlete down in warmups.

    8:07pm: Rotation one!

    Skaggs, VT: Yfull, her usual loveliness in the air, little slide back on the landing.

    Johnson, LSU UB: comes off at the top of her routine after overarching a handstand on the low bar. Holy cow, that’s not how you want to start. Gets back up, does a great routine, but no dice.

    Schoenherr, VT: Y1.5, big hop forward – too much hype, she needs to dial it back before bars.

    8:10pm: Wong, VT: Podkopayeva, wayyy off the center line, but somehow still looked pretty good in the air? And just a small bounce in place on the landing, definitely off to the side though.

    Arenas, UB: Lovely Tkachev. Pak is nice. DLO dismount, ooh stumbles forward. Not a good start for the Tigers at all.

    Gaskins, Bama FX: Her Bama themed routine will surely be a hit here. Hit all her tumbling passes nicely, definitely a good start for them.

    Reed, VT: Y1.5, STUCK IT COLD! WOW! TEN feet out from the vault, nearly five feet over the vault table – try and tell me that vault is flat. I will absolutely call your bluff.

    Dunne, UB: Tkachev to pak is very nice, little leg sep and maybe some foot form? Short on the last handstand. DLO stuck! That’s a nice reset, hopefully it sticks.

    8:14pm: Thomas, VT: Y1.5, SHE STICKS HERS TOO! This is incredible, the Gators are dialing it in.

    Blakely, VT: Y.15, deep knee bend and scoots back. Didn’t quite get the block she needed, but she fought hard for that one. Good for her.

    Bryant, UB: Gorgeous release. Bail looked good to me too. Lovely final handstand. Double front half out and sticks it! They needed that.

    Shchennikova, UB: Little short on the opening handstand. Ray to pak is lovely. Pirouette isn’t exactly on top of the bar? DLO is whippy and she slings it out, but she sticks it cold!

    8:17pm: Groth, Aub BB: Triple acro series is nice and steady. Switch to switch half, nice 180 splits there. Front aerial, dead on. Side aerial back full is stuck! Talk about a clutch routine.

    Durante, UB: Jaeger is fantastic. Some knee bend in the handstand on the high bar, went for the pak and was super off, couldn’t catch it and comes down off the bar. Nerves got too her. Gets back up, makes her dismount, but that’s a counting fall for LSU now. They’re going to need a lot of help from other teams if they’re going to still be in this.

    McLaughlin, BB: Acro series is nice and steady. Switch to straddle 1/4, both past 180, good. Gainer pike off the end is stuck! Auburn keeping their heads so far.

    Lee, BB: Front aerial to bhs loso and she’s off! Oh geez. Gets back up for her dance series, sticks her dismount, but they’ll want to drop that regardless.

    Blanco, FX: Double wolf turn is steady. Double pike to open, nicely done. Choreo section in here is fun, hitting some strong musical moments. Front full to front lay to finish, nails it. Alabama staying strong here as best they can, Machado has already had a fall they’re trying to drop.

    8:27pm: Graber, FX: Full in to open is excellent, good amplitude and the landing is solid. Traveling dance passage in here is nice, wolf maybe a little wild for my taste but I think it’s credited fine. Front tuck through to double pike, front foot slides a little bit there, but much better than counting the fall they have right now.

    Auburn also had a fall on beam before Lee’s for a 9.175, so they’ll need to count her 9.45. LSU and Auburn counting falls could mean this meet is more of a low scorer than we expected.

    AFTER ONE: UF 49.475, BAMA 49.425, AUB 48.9, LSU 48.575

    That is almost certainly the vault title for Thomas, barring a 10 from Bryant or Johnson.

    Groth tentatively adds a share of the beam title to her freshman accolades.

    8:37pm: Blakely, UB: Great opening handstand. Maloney is good, a little leg sep on the pak. Great last handstand! Double front, little slide back.

    Desiderio, LSU BB: Hits both dance and acro series. Front aerial, super solid. Cat leap to gainer full is stuck!

    Quinn, Bama VT: Y1.5, big hop forward, and another hop to salute.

    McCusker, UB: Maloney is clean, pak lovely. Missed her feet when she tried to go for the next transition, had to recast. van Leeuwen was good that time. Stalder to double tuck, deep knee bend but she sticks it!

    Paradise, VT: Y1.5, much smaller hop on this one.

    Watson, Aub FX: Double arabian, gorgeous! Combo pass is great. Double tuck, a little off balance, looks a little winded, but she tries not to show it.

    Graber, VT: Y1.5, ooh almost stuck it but just a little slide. Pretty clean in the air too.

    Schoenherr, UB: Jaeger is great. Bail dead on! Great last handstand, holds it to show it off. Double front half out, little adjustment but what a routine!

    8:44pm: Blanco, VT: Y1.5, biiiig hop forward, swings her arms to try and keep it under control.

    Skaggs, UB: GREAT first handstand! Tkachev to pak, maybe some leg sep, hard to tell in real time if it’s her knock-knees or actual ankle sep. DLO stuck! Leg sep there too, but we’ll see if the judges deduct.

    Thomas, UB: Maloney to pak, little bit of leg sep there maybe? Good low bar handstands. van Leeuwen is great. DLO is stuck! Screams “LET’S GO!” into the camera and I am RIGHT THERE WITH HER!

    8:47pm: Groth, FX: Front double full, very nice! Dance series is good, great positions and precisely landed. 1.5 to front lay, knees buckled under her on her punch but she was able to pull it around and didn’t really tuck it. Rudi to finish, solid.

    Wong, UB: Maloney to pak, ankles came apart there a little. van Leeuwen good. DLO, little bounce back.

    Finnegan, BB: Bhs loso loso, little lean but keeps it small. Dance series is nice. Front aerial, another little lean. Side aerial back tuck full is stuck! Good for her.

    Lee, FX: DLO is great! Love this choreography in here, really showcases her flexibility and lets her bring the drama to the floor. 1.5 front full, clean form and well controlled. A good rebound for her after a fall on beam.

    8:52pm: Johnson, BB: Hitting this routine but my TV keeps glitching so I haven’t been able to see her skill breakdown at all. Step on her dismount.

    Gobourne, FX: Super high double tuck to open, just gorgeous. Front full to front lay, well done on all counts. Double pike to close and it’s fantastic. There’s her signature crown – it’ll be a title worthy score, I believe, but we’ll see if the judges agree.

    AFTER TWO: UF 98.95, BAMA 98.775, AUB 98.15, LSU 98.125

    At the moment, Skaggs and Thomas are tied for the bars title!

    9:03pm: Rotation three time!

    Bama already having problems on bars, Gaskins misses on her pak and has to make several adjustments.

    Skaggs, BB: Gorgeous splits as usual. Bhs loso, dead on! Cat leap to switch side, lovely. Side aerial back full stuck! That should be a HUGE leadoff score for the super senior.

    Hudson, Bama UB: Good low bar handstands. Some leg sep going into the Maloney. A little adjustment on her bail. Full pirouette is past handstand. Double tuck is stuck! A good reset for the freshman.

    Shchennikova, LSU FX: Front double full, arabesque out of it. 1.5 to front full, skidded a little bit. Dance series looked nice. Rudi to split jump to finish, good control. A solid second routine for the Tigers.

    Can see Blakely in the back on beam. Hitting so far, nice switch to switch side. Cut away before I could see the dismount but team is cheering so I believe it’s a hit!

    9:08pm: Adams, UB: Good low bar handstand. Maloney to pak, legs just glued together, lovely. van Leeuwen is lovely too. Full pirouette was a little past handstand. Double back dismount, stuck!

    Baumann, BB: Bhs loso, just lays it in there. Switch to split, gorgeous. Front aerial to beat, excellent. Roundoff 1.5 stuck! YES! One of her best all season.

    Machado, UB: Maloney to pak, lovely. Full pirouette is again past handstand. Double tuck stuck.

    Lee, Aub VT: Yhalf on, front layout half off. Pikes down at the end, just a small slide at the landing.

    9:12pm: Doggette, UB: Tkachev to pak, lovely toes there. DLO, maybe stuck? Coach was in the way of the camera angle.

    Wong, BB: Bhs loso, nice and steady. Full turn is lovely and precise. Switch ring, one of her better ones. Front aerial, lifted the leg but used it to walk into her next choreo – a good cover. Roundoff double full stuck! A great routine for her as well.

    Blanco, UB: Maloney to pak, little leg sep and close caught on the pak. Full in dismount, little adjustment. They’ll drop the 9.425 from Gaskins, but I don’t know if they’ll catch Florida. Have to see what Thomas does.

    9:15pm: Thomas, BB: Leap mount sequence, lovely. One arm bhs loso, locks those arms down. Front aerial to beat to korbut, excellent this week. Side aerial back full stuck!

    Bryant, FX: Double front! Wow! Dance series is lovely, ring position is passable although not as good as I’ve seen her do it. Front lay to Rudi to finish, good control, a little crossed ankles in there.

    Clapper, BB: Bhs loso loso, doesn’t move a muscle this week! Excellent. Full turn is fine. Switch leap to split jump, solid. Side aerial back full stuck! What a rotation for these Gators, y’all. Holy cow.

    9:19pm: Kiya Johnson, FX: Full in to open, slides that front foot back a little, just too much momentum. 1.5 to front lay, had to whip that around on the layout, didn’t get the punch she needed out of the first element. Double pike to finish, best landing of the bunch by far. That’ll be another great score for the Tigers.

    Gators go 49.7 on beam, which is a record for highest beam total at an SEC Championships!

    AFTER THREE: UF 148.65, BAMA 148.45, AUB 147.55, LSU 147.45

    9:28pm: Rotation 4 here we gooooo!

    Skaggs, FX: Rudi to double stag, solid start. Dance series all hit 180 wonderfully. 1.5 to front lay, well controlled. That’ll do it! Great leadoff for this final rotation.

    Burgess, Bama BB: Bhs loso, solid. Switch side, great position in the air. Split to beat, maybe a little shy of 180 there? Side aerial back full stuck!

    Arenas, LSU VT: Yfull, chest pretty low, bounce in place.

    9:31pm: Groth, Aub UB: Great opening handstand! Tkachev is high but a little close to the bar. Pak is nice and clean. Great final handstand too, full pirouette is good. Double tuck stuck!

    Olsen, BB: Switch to switch half, maybe a little low in the back leg there? Bhs loso, solid. Front aerial is steady. Double pike dismount, nailed it! Keeping it close here.

    Baumann, FX: 1.5 front full, single step out, drags the back foot a bit. Nailing every moment in this choreo, she is on fire tonight. Dance series, perfection. Double pike to finish, big bounce back. It’s a good, not great, but that’s okay. Staying normal is what they need to do now.

    9:34pm: Kiya Johnson, VT: Yurchenko double full, great in the air, bounced back. Love to see that difficulty from her, so good.

    Graber, BB: Full turn, a little wiggle there but hard to tell if choreo or balance check. Bhs back pike, it’s not trying to be a two-foot layout anymore, but that’s okay. The back pike is solid. Switch to straddle 3/4, both nice 180 positions. Front aerial to scale, just gorgeous. Gainer full dismount stuck!

    Wong, FX: Triple full, loooovely, and well controlled on the landing. Whip half to front full, no leap this time either, I hope they’ve taken that out permanently. Double pike, a little short of rotation but covers by moving into her choreo. I don’t think she’ll get away with that a second time here, but it should be a good score.

    9:38pm: Bryant, VT: Goes for it but doesn’t get her punch on the springboard, tucks it and sits it. Ooh boy. That’s karma back to bite Clark for putting her in the AA with a foot injury.

    Reed, FX: DLO to open, one of her best ones, great control. Front lay to Rudi, keeps that front foot planted, some crossed ankles when she twists. Dance series looked good. Double pike, big slide back there. Won’t be a 10 but it’ll be another good one.

    Lee, UB: Doesn’t do the Nabieva this week, but a HUGE routine for her and a stuck dismount! She gets the 10.0! That’ll be the bars title for her, and it’s the first perfect 10.0 at an SEC Championship.

    9:42pm: Hudson, BB: Front aerial to bhs loso, little adjustment there but kept it small. Switch leap to switch leap, 180 maybe shy on the second one? Side aerial was good. Roundoff 1.5, swims for the stick and gets it.

    Thomas, FX: DLO, just a BEAUTY. Great leap sequence. Changed her routine this week, ends with her combo pass, just a two-pass routine this week. It’s well controlled and the crowd is going WILD for her.

    Blanco, BB: Bhs loso loso, very solid. Lovely, unique beam choreo here. Switch to beat, great split position. Roundoff double full and her ankle buckles, she falls! Oh no! That’s not how Florida wants to win.

    Blakely, FX: Double arabian, a little deep on the landing, but still steps forward out of it. Double back, a little underrotated, that’s an ankle stinger. Love her choreo in here, she hits every moment in the music. Combo pass to finish, and that’s it! The Gators will win!

    AFTER SESSION TWO: UF 198.2, BAMA 197.825, AUB 197.225, LSU 196.725

    FINAL: UF 198.2, BAMA 197.825, AUB 197.225, MIZ 196.875, LSU 196.725, ARK 196.45, UK 196.35, UGA 195.8

    EVENT WINNERS:

    AA: Thomas – 39.825
    VT: Thomas – 9.975
    UB: Lee – 10.0
    BB: Wong – 9.975
    FX: Thomas – 9.975

    https://twitter.com/mycluttereddesk/status/1505364465042272257?s=20&t=sdnF8-iQwKgQqqjCynLljQ

    That will do it for me tonight, y’all! Thanks so much for hanging out with me during this marathon day of gymnastics, and we’ll see you in two weeks when the Gators head to Auburn again for Regionals!

  • SB: Aggies Blank Gators to Force Sunday Rubber Match

    SB: Aggies Blank Gators to Force Sunday Rubber Match

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    After they prevailed in Friday’s series opener, the Gators lost to the Aggies 5-0 in College Station, Texas, Saturday.

    Senior Texas A&M right-hander Makinzy Herzog struck out a season-high 15 batters en route to hurling a complete-game shutout out. Florida managed only four baserunners the entire game via three singles and a walk.

    Florida right-hander Natalie Lugo made her eighth start this year in the circle and surrendered a grand slam in the bottom of the first. Lugo picked up her second loss this season and the Gators fall to 3-2 in conference play – tied for fifth place in the SEC.

    Final (R/H/E)

    #4 Florida: 0 / 3 / 0

    Texas A&M: 5 / 5 / 0

    Pitching Decision

    Win: Herzog (5-1)

    Loss: Lugo (5-2)

    Individual Stats

    RHP Lugo: 2 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K [1.25/1.04 season ERA/WHIP]

    RHP Delbrey: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K [1.88/1.15]

    LHP Trlicek: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K [2.74/1.37]

    1. CF Falby: 0-2, BB, 2 K [.476 season BA]
    2. 2B Adams: 0-3, 2 K [.435]
    3. SS Wallace: 0-3, 2 K [.437]
    4. 3B Echols: 0-3, 2 K [.304]
    5. DP Walsh: 0-2, 2 K [.272]
    6. RF Lindsey: 0-3, 3 K [.357]
    7. 1B Longley: 0-2, K [.214]
    8. C Roe: 1-1 [.303]
    9. LF Kistler: 2-2 [.408]

    Next Up

    The Gators will look to win Sunday’s rubber match set to begin at 1 p.m.

  • WGYM Liveblog: SEC Championships Session One

    WGYM Liveblog: SEC Championships Session One

    It is time! The most competitive conference championship fight of the weekend begins, as No. 9 Kentucky, No. 11 Missouri, No. 17 Arkansas, and No. 22 Georgia clash to see just how high the bar can be set before the top four teams come in in the evening session. For a full breakdown of how we expect SEC Championships to stack up, check out our preview from earlier today.

    Kentucky and Missouri have the best shot at posting scores that will be meaningful to later session teams – both of them beat LSU earlier this year, so a high enough score to break up the top four is entirely possible. Arkansas and Georgia will have to show some of their best gymnastics of the season to keep pace, but more unbelievable things have happened at meets like this.

    The action begins in just a few minutes on SEC Network, and if you have ESPN+, there are event-specific feeds and a quad-box feed so you can catch all the action. We’ll be following the main broadcast feed for this liveblog to get a feel for how well they’re covering all the action, but we may adjust that for the second session to make sure we get all the Gator routines covered. If you aren’t able to get to a device, don’t have access, or are watching another meet today, stick with us – we’ll be covering both sessions moment by moment.

    Tonight’s commentators are Bart Conner and Kathy Johnson Clarke, who the gymternet often refer to affectionately as Mom and Dad. If you’re on Twitter this afternoon, you’ll see lots of references to their quality commentary throughout the meet.

    3:36pm: Rotation one is ready to start!

    Procasky, Kentucky VT: Yfull, very short, chest low, big hop forward.

    Hickey, Ark FX: Double pike to open, solid. Front full to front lay, that’s nice. She looks a little stressed, not her usual performer face on. Double tuck to finish, there’s a grin from her – a hit to open for the Razorbacks.

    Georgia opens with a fall on beam.

    Angeny, VT: Yfull, good form in the air, bounce back on the landing.

    3:39pm: Celestine, Miz UB: Good low bar handstands. Maloney to pak, ooh big leg sep and break in her swing, saved it somehow. van Leeuwen is better. Stalder to pike half dismount, that’s cool! And she stuck it!

    Hawthorne, Georgia BB: Bhs loso to start, little lean to the side. Beat to switch split jump, nice. There’s the moonwalk, a Gymdog staple. Full turn is clean enough. Roundoff 1.5, little hop on the landing. Let’s see if that’s enough of a reset button for Georgia!

    3:42pm: Magnelli, VT: Handspring pike half! Hop back on the landing, but the pike shape was nice in the air, amplitude a little hard to judge from this camera angle.

    Patterson, VT: Another handspring pike half, didn’t quite get the height she normally does, little bounce back on the landing.

    Shaffer, FX: Double pike to open, solid start. 1.5 to front layout, looked like she maybe was a little underrotated on the front lay but fought to keep from showing it. Gorgeous dance series, nice and high and good toe point. Double tuck to close, a little underrotated there, pops the lunge forward instead of back. Still, a relatively clean routine.

    3:45pm: Worley, VT: Y1.5, really clean in the air, little hop on the landing.

    Sheremeta, UB: Hecht mount, love that. Jaeger to immediate overshoot, good amplitude there. Passes her handstand position headed into the dismount, but her twisting dismount is unique and fun, love to see that. Looked like a small adjustment on the landing.

    Nguyen, BB: Great to see her back from injury! Onodi?? Amazing! Dance series is clean, very nice. Little hop on the dismount. Another hit for Georgia!

    Hu, UB: Great opening handstand! Piked tkachev to pak is loooovely. Last handstand is solid. Final full pirouette is maybe a little shy of handstand when she finishes, double tuck is nice and tight, looked like she moved her right foot on the landing.

    3:50pm: Hambrick, FX: Double back to open, nice and high, great control on the landing. Her timing on the choreo in here is superb, hits every moment. 1.5 to front half? Ish? To double stag jump. Looked like she missed the punch a little bit into that, but she made it work. If they don’t give her the layout, she may not start from a 10.0 though. Double pike to finish, much better.

    Lovett, FX: DLO to open! Gorgeous. Double back second pass, good control there as well. Dance series is clean, good extension. Front lay to front full, feet skidded a little bit on the landing but she pulled it out.

    R Baumann, BB: Finally getting started after a long wait. Side aerial loso and she’s off! Georgia out of this from the very beginning, counting a fall. Gets back on and tries to make the best of it… beat to switch side, lovely. Roundoff 1.5 is stuck, but it’s too little too late. Major bummer for the Gymdogs.

    AFTER ONE: ARK 49.225, MIZ 49.15, UK 49.025, UGA 48.425

    Missouri’s lineups for rotation two:

    4:04pm: Rotation two time!

    Kelley, Ark VT: Yfull, small hop on the landing.

    Perez-Lugones, Georgia FX: Double pike to open is nice! Love this routine, so much great musicality in here. Combo pass and ooooooh, she sits it, had some trouble getting up, maybe a cramp? She dances it out, keeps going somehow?? Double tuck to close, lands it decently, doesn’t appear to be in pain, so I think she’s okay, but that’s a disappointing way to start. She’s normally such a star on this event.

    Pennese, VT: Yfull, a little off to the side but STICKS COLD! That’s huge, wow!

    Procasky, UK UB: Maloney to pak, pretty clean, maybe a little slow in the swing. Small adjustment on the dismount.

    L Smith, VT: Yfull, super floaty, and she sticks too! Arkansas on fire!

    4:09pm: McCrary, Miz BB: She just announced her fifth year yesterday! Front toss, small hesitation but doesn’t bobble. Bhs loso, a little lean, but keeps her cool. Split to ring stag is solid. Split 1/2 from side stand, wow! A difficult jump. Didn’t catch what her dismount was but looked like a small step forward.

    Nixon, UB: We caught this midway through but looked like a great hit! Small adjustment on her full in landing.

    Elswick, VT: Still just the Yfull, but great amplitude, little bounce on the landing. Fantastic height, nice straight body position.

    Hambrick, VT: Y1.5, single step forward to catch her momentum. Pretty clean in the air, maybe some knees?

    4:12pm: Schaffer, BB: Bhs bhs loso, riiiiight to the end of the beam but doesn’t move a muscle. Front aerial is steady. Switch to split, maybe a little shy of 180 in the front leg on the second split. Roundoff 1.5 twist, college stick but I’d call lack of control on that.

    Angeny, UB: Short on her opening handstand. Jaeger to overshoot, some flexed feet there. DLO is stuck! Those last giants were AGGRESSIVE but it worked for her.

    Sheremeta, BB: Bhs loso, super solid to start off. Split to ring stag, lovely. Front aerial, nice and steady there. Lovely technique on her full turn. Drops down to the beam to do some low beam choreo, cool chest stand, showing off that back flexibility. Full twisting gainer tuck off the end, looked like a little adjustment there on the landing but love to see those unique skills!

    4:17pm: Worley, UB: Good opening handstands. Tkachev is nice. Pak is solid, floats down to the low bar with legs together. Last handstand looked maybe a little shy? Full out dismount, looked like maybe a slide back – yeah, slow mo confirms. Still will be a good score though.

    4:19pm: Hu, BB: Front aerial and she’s off noooooo. Gets back on, repeats to connect into her series, gets it just fine. Front aerial to scale, gorgeous. Dance series is clean, love that split 3/4. Cartwheel gainer full looked stuck.

    Hawthorne, FX: Apparently Baumann before her got a 9.9, that’s great. Double pike to open! Very nice. Lovely leaps, good amplitude. Front lay to Rudi to split jump, well controlled. That’ll do it – Georgia will drop its opening fall.

    4:22pm: Schreiber, BB: Full turn to start is clean. Bhs loso loso, so solid, locks those arms down. Switch half to split jump, those 180s were carbon copies practically, just gorgeous. Gainer full dismount is stuck! They too will drop their fall.

    AFTER TWO: ARK 98.475, MIZ 98.375, UK 98.1, UGA 97.675

    Schreiber sets quite the high mark to beat for any prospective beam champions in the rest of this session or next session with a massive 9.95. The rest of the events are 9.9 or lower right now, so should be pretty reachable come this evening.

    4:32pm: Schreiber, Miz FX: Rudi to back layout to punch front, that’s a fun start! Front full front layout stepout, very nice. Dance series is nice and precise, clean toes too. A great start and she is PUMPED!

    Smith, Ark UB: Maloney to bail, solid. Good low bar handstands and final handstand. DLO is stuck!

    Luksik, UK BB: A solid hit, but I was paying more attention to Schreiber, sorry.

    Magee, UGA VT: Y1.5, underrotated and has to step back twice to stay on her feet.

    Scalzo, BB: Great first handstands! Jaeger to immediate overshoot, nicely done. DLO dismount, little hop forward. She immediately rushes back to help her next teammate get ready! Aww, love that.

    Ward, VT: Tsuk full, love to see that difficulty. Just a little step back and a little piked in the air it looked like.

    4:36pm: Jones, UB: Solid first handstand, imprecise on the blind change. Jaeger is nice! Pak salto is lovely too. Final handstand a little shy there. DLO, deep knee bend, step forward on the landing. But it’s a hit – they just need three more of those. This event has been problematic for the Razorbacks this season, so to have a full rotation of hits would be huge.

    Procasky has a fall for Kentucky on beam! Uh oh, pressure’s on.

    Baumann, VT: Y1.5, WOW! She gets great distance on that, single step forward on the landing.

    4:39pm: Magnelli, BB: Bhs loso loso, breaks at the hips even though she looked secure, those nerves are creeping in. Dance series is solid, good splits. Front aerial, very nice. Gainer pike off the end is stuck! She fought for that one.

    Hambrick, UB: Good first handstands. Piked Jaeger, flexed feet, to immediate overshoot, it’s a good one. Full in dismount, single step to steady herself.

    Patterson, BB: Bhs loso, NAILS it! Front aerial, little arm swing but doesn’t move her feet. Switch leap to immediate second switch leap, great splits in there, they’re sooo quick. Single step on the dismount. Another hit!

    O’Hara hitting bars so far for Arkansas. DLO dismount, tries to college stick it but it’s okay – she hit! They all did! Talk about heading for their best meet of the season!

    4:45pm: Angeny, BB: Bhs loso loso, stays steady. Dance series is lovely. Side aerial back tuck full, little adjustment of the feet.

    Moore, FX: DLO to open, woooow. Controlled the landing well too. Leaps are gorgeous, nice and high and great technique. Front tuck through to double tuck, two foot stick! That’ll be a huge score for her, wow!

    Worley, BB: Cat leap to switch side, nicely done. Front aerial, super steady. Bhs loso, nice and solid there. Roundoff 1.5 dismount, little adjustment on the landing.

    Celestine, FX: Full in to open, very nice! Dance series is solid. Combo pass is good. Goes into her choreo section here and her team is hollering for her, I love this atmosphere. Double back to finish – she’s THRILLED, and so she should be!

    AFTER THREE: MIZ 147.725, ARK 147.625, UK 146.975, UGA 146.7

    Rotation 4 time!!

    5:00pm: Kalyxta Gamiao hitting beam for Arkansas so far! Love seeing her in this lineup. Just a little hop on the dismount there, a great start.

    Patrick, Miz VT: Yfull, came onto the table too high and didn’t get the block she needed – did not fully rotate and ends up putting her hands down. Ouch.

    Patterson, UK FX: Looked like a front double full? Very nice, a step forward out of it maybe. Lovely switch ring there. Another very lovely dance series, nice precise positions. Final pass is a double back, steps forward rather than back but overall a solid routine.

    L Smith, BB: Dance series okay, little hesitation there. Bhs loso, big leg up break, but stays on somehow. Roundoff double tuck dismount! Love to see the difficulty, but she comes in underrotated, has to step forward, chest down.

    Schreiber, VT: Yfull, big bounce back.

    Celestine, VT: Y1.5, little step forward. Much better for them, they’ll take that.

    5:05pm: Moore, VT: Y1.5, commentators are saying she stuck it but she shuffled back a little, I saw it. HUGE amplitude though, and a great bodyline in the air. Wow.

    Gianfagna, BB: Bhs loso, nice and steady there. Cat leap to front toss, little arm swing but keeps it small. Beat to straddle 1/2, that’s nice. Roundoff 1.5 stuck! A great reset for them, they needed that.

    Haigis, UK FX: Rudi to loso, gorgeous! Love the jazzy character of this routine. Switch side to Popa is solid, not as high as maybe I’d expect on podium but not deductable or anything. Double pike, well controlled on the landing. Shushunova to her ending pose – that’ll be a great score for the Cats!

    5:10pm: Lovett, BB: Gorgeous full turn to start. Front aerial to loso, ooh bends at the hips. Stays on, but she had some significant hesitation between those elements, I don’t know if she’ll get that series. That might be it for Arkansas. Lovely splits in her dance series. Side aerial to back full is stuck! We’ll see what the judges do with that…

    Nguyen, UGA UB: Solid opening handstands. Jaeger is nice. Pak has some leg/foot form, but they’ll take it. DLO is stuck! That is a hit, and they need every hit they can get right now.

    Hambrick, BB: Bhs loso, takes a step back out of it, that’s a lack of control issue. Front aerial is good. Beat to straddle 3/4, very nice. Cartwheel to gainer full is stuck. That’s better, thank you.

    5:15pm: Worley, FX: Full in to start, WOW, great control on the landing, just lays back into the lunge for show pretty much. Switch ring to switch side, those are fine. Front full front lay, stuck! She’s killing this! Double tuck to close, a little scoot back on the landing, but what a fantastic routine to close it out for the Cats. Worley is such a rockstar for them.

    Elswick, BB: Final routine here for Arkansas. Bhs loso, very nice, clean form and super steady. Split jump to split 3/4, you love to see that difficulty and especially performed so cleanly. Front aerial, solid. Bhs 1.5 twist, little adjustment on the landing. We’ll see if that moves them in front of Kentucky, but Mizzou should take this session.

    AFTER SESSION ONE: MIZ 196.875, ARK 196.45, UK 196.35, UGA 195.8

    I told y’all that this would be competitive and anything could happen, didn’t I? Talk about peaking at the right time – Arkansas having its best meet today was not what I anticipated, and it’s are already locked for regionals, so the Razorbacks could be a real spoiler there if they can keep this momentum going.

    Mizzou coming away with the win was no surprise, though; the Tigers have had a heck of a season, and it certainly isn’t finished yet.

    The leaders in the clubhouse as of now are:

    Team: Missouri – 196.875
    AA: Worley (UK) and Schreiber (Miz) – 39.45
    VT: Moore (Miz) – 9.95
    UB: Worley (UK) and Nguyen (UGA) – 9.9
    BB: Schreiber (Miz) – 9.95
    FX: Worley (UK) – 9.95

    The team score is definitely beatable by any of the four teams in the evening session, but they’ll all have to stay focused and calm the same way Missouri did to get it done. The judging is not sky high like it has been all season, so expect to see maybe some lower numbers than the O-Dome might have us used to, Gator fans. However, it’s still doable for each of these teams – the question will be: which one?

    The AA score is also beatable by any of the realistic contenders in the hunt – Thomas, Skaggs, and Wong have all passed that score this year, as have Auburn’s Lee and Groth, LSU’s Johnson and Bryant, and Alabama’s Hudson and Blanco. Still, they’ll have to put complete meets together like Worley and Schreiber did to make it happen when it counts.

    Vault, beam, and floor all have high bars to clear if anyone in the night session wants to garner any of those event titles. On vault, only Thomas of Florida and Bryant of LSU have an NQS higher than 9.95; on beam, it’s Thomas and Auburn’s Lee; and on floor, only Reed and Auburn’s Gobourne can consistently compete with that mark.

    On bars, however, that should be up for grabs. Each of the four teams in the night session has two or three athletes that could potentially beat the 9.9s from Worley and Nguyen per their NQSes. It’s definitely one of those that will come down to who has those details dialed in just a little bit more perfectly.

    We’re back at 8pm tonight with session two! See you then!

  • SB: Gators Manage Two-Out Rally in the Seventh Inning to Top Aggies in Road Series Opener

    SB: Gators Manage Two-Out Rally in the Seventh Inning to Top Aggies in Road Series Opener

    Photo by Brian Fox | ChompTalk

    The Gators overcame a two-run deficit in the final two innings to secure a 3-2 series-opening victory over Texas A&M Friday night in College Station, Texas.

    Florida right-hander Elizabeth Hightower struck out a season-high eight batters and threw her second complete game this week. The senior gave up just one earned run in the third inning and retired the final seven batters she faced in order.

    Offensively, the Gators failed to score while stranding four baserunners until the top of the sixth when freshman Reagan Walsh’s RBI double cut the deficit in half. In the seventh, the bottom third of Florida’s lineup led off, which resulted in two quick outs.

    But the Gator dugout wore their rally visors as centerfielder Kendra Falby laced a base hit through the right side and second baseman Hannah Adams put down a bunt single to load the bases for shortstop Skylar Wallace. On a 2-2 count, Wallace ripped a go-ahead, two-run single up the middle.

    On the bases, Florida did not test Aggies catcher Mayce Allen, which marks just the second game this year in which the Gators failed to steal at least one base.

    Final (R/H/E)

    #4 Florida: 3 / 6 / 2

    Texas A&M: 2 / 3 / 3

    Pitching Decision

    Win: Hightower (7-0)

    Loss: Uribe (3-2)

    Individual Stats

    RHP Hightower: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K [1.21/0.95 season ERA/WHIP]

    1. CF Falby: 1-3, R, BB, K [.488 season BA]
    2. 2B Adams: 1-4, K [.451]
    3. SS Wallace: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, K [.456]
    4. 3B Echols: 1-2, 2 BB [.316]
    5. DP Walsh: 1-3, RBI, K [.278]
    6. RF Lindsey: 0-3 [.370]
    7. 1B A. Goelz: 0-2 [.327]
    8. C Wilkie: 1-2 [.200]
    9. LF Kistler: 0-2, R, BB [.383]

    Next Up

    The Gators and Aggies will meet for game two of the series in College Station Saturday at 3 p.m.