No matter the sport, playing field or stakes, everything is bumped up a notch when Florida and Florida State play.
Tuesday the No. 1 Florida Gators (17-1) will host the No. 11 Florida State Seminoles (13-3) at 7 p.m. Florida is fresh off a weekend sweep of Harvard and riding an 11-game winning streak. Florida State is coming off an impressive weekend of its own, sweeping the previously unbeaten Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Tallahassee. The Noles hit .382 (39-of-102) as a team, outscoring Georgia Tech 30-14.
This is the first meeting between the two teams since Florida swept FSU in the Gainesville Super Regional last June, punching its ticket to the College World Series.
The Gators hold a perfect 12-0 record at home this season and have a 19-game winning streak at McKethan Stadium dating back to last season.
Junior right-hander Dane Dunning (1-0, 4.91 ERA) will draw the start for Florida and will face FSU lefty Tyler Horton (0-1, 2.77 ERA). Dunning has made five appearances this season, including three starts. This could be the last time you see Dunning starting a midweek game, as Kevin O’Sullivan hinted that Dunning could be a late inning bullpen guy when SEC play starts on Friday.
Tuesday’s game is the first of three meetings between Florida and Florida State this season as part of the Sunshine Showdown. The Gators and Noles will meet at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on March 29 and then for the final time at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee on April 12.