Special report: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COMMUNICATIONS
Gainesville, Fla. – Florida (22-4, 5-1 SEC) is set to host Auburn (17-7-1, 2-4 SEC) in a three-game series inside Condron Family Ballpark.
The two teams are meeting for the first time since 2021, when Florida took two of three in Auburn. The last series in Gainesville occurred in 2018, as Florida and Auburn faced off at McKethan Field a total of six times that season. UF won two of three in April in addition to defeating Auburn in the Gainesville Super Regional, two games to one.
Across the all-time series, Florida trails 119-134-2 despite owning a strong 64-44 record at home. The two programs first met in 1913, as the Tigers dominated the early stages with wins in 16 of the first 20 meetings while Florida has claimed 29 of the last 42.
DATES, TIMES, AND BROADCAST INFO
(all times eastern)
Friday, March 31st at 6:30 PM / SECN+
Saturday, April 1st at 6:30 PM / SECN+
Sunday, April 2nd at 1:30 PM / SECN+
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: RHP Brandon Sproat (4-0, 3.60 ERA) vs. RHP Will Cannon (2-0, 2.29 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Hurston Waldrep (4-1, 4.78 ERA) vs. RHP John Armstrong (5-0, 3.91 ERA)
Sunday: LHP Jac Caglianone (3-0, 3.41 ERA) vs. LHP Tommy Vail (2-1, 3.57 ERA)
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Unranked Auburn heads in with wins in four of its last five games after being swept by Arkansas in Fayetteville two weekends ago. The Tigers won two of three at home against Georgia last weekend, then defeated North Alabama in midweek play to improve to 17-7-1 (2-4 SEC) including a 1-3 record on the road. Through 25 games, Auburn is batting .300/.409/.498 as a team with 33 home runs while pitching to a 5.73 ERA in 220 innings. Defensively, the Tigers have committed just 20 errors for a respectable .978 fielding percentage.
NATION’S #1 OFFENSE
The Gators lead the nation with 296 hits while ranking second in runs (260), home runs (61) and slugging (.621). UF is also fourth with 14 triples and fifth with a .328 batting average. Florida paces the SEC in hits, slugging, at bats and triples, ranking top-three in batting, homers and runs. The Gators’ 559 total bases are 47 more than the next-closest SEC team (South Carolina 512).
Florida has won six-straight SEC series dating back to 2022. Including the SEC Tournament, the Gators are 18-6 across their last 24 games vs. SEC opponents. Since O’Sullivan took the reins in 2008, Florida’s .616 winning % in regular season SEC play is the best in the conference (262-163).
Across the last 12 games dating back to March 8 vs. FAU, Gators relievers have combined for a 6-0 record, 2.09 ERA, .211 batting average against and 63 strikeouts against 11 walks in 47 1/3 innings. That translates to 12.0 strikeouts per nine and 2.1 walks per nine. Southpaw Philip Abner and right-handed closer Brandon Neely have anchored the turnaround, accounting for 21 1/3 innings with just two earned runs allowed, 29 strikeouts and five walks. In Abner’s last six appearances spanning 11.0 frames, he is 3-0 with one save, a 0.00 ERA, .154 batting average against and 14 strikeouts. The lefty owns a 1.32 ERA and 14.5 strikeouts per nine while Neely is 5-for-5 in save chances with a 3.66 ERA and 13.3 strikeouts per nine.