It’s rivalry week for Florida baseball! The No.3 Gators are set to take on the Georgia Bulldogs in a three-game series inside Condron Ballpark.
Florida (28-6, 9-3 SEC) holds a record of 28-16 against the Bulldogs under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan including 16-5 at home. The Gators have a commanding 191-114-2 lead in the all-time series, featuring a 99-43-1 mark in Gainesville.
DATES, TIMES, AND BROADCAST INFO
(All times eastern)
Game 1: Friday, April 14 at 7:00 PM / SECN+
Game 2: Saturday, April 15th at 7:00 PM / SECN
Game 3: Sunday, April 16th at 1:00 PM / SECN+
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: RHP Brandon Sproat (5-1, 4.93 ERA) vs. LHP Jaden Woods (3-2, 5.10 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Hurston Waldrep (6-1, 4.60 ERA) vs. TBD
Sunday: LHP Jac Caglianone (3-1, 4.91 ERA) vs. LHP Liam Sullivan (4-1, 3.08)
Florida is sticking with their two-way player in Jac Caglianone for the Sunday spot. Despite recent struggles, Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan wants to work it out with Caglianone, stating that Florida will need him to factor into their equation if they want to win the last game of the year. I expect coach Sullivan to mess the lineup this week in order to get Caglianone more rest before his Sunday start, perhaps moving him to more of a DH role instead of first base.
Florida will see at least two lefties to start during the weekend series, something the Gators haven’t seen too much this season.
GEORGIA BASEBALL
The Bulldogs enter the weekend holding a lackluster record of 18-15 (3-9 SEC). However, Georgia is coming off an impressive series victory over No.12 Kentucky, outscoring the Wildcats 13-9 in a three-game set.
Georgia has swung the bats really well in 2023, slashing .296/.392/.527 with 57 home runs, which ranks 20th in division one college baseball.
The downfall of Georgia’s ballclub has been their pitching staff, which has thrown to an ERA of 6.20, ranking T-178th in D1 baseball. Florida shouldn’t have a problem finding the scoreboard, especially after they dive into the Bulldog bullpen.
The Bulldogs are sound defensively, committing just 24 errors in 33 games for a .979 fielding percentage, ranking 22nd in D1 baseball.
COMEBACK KIDS
The energy around the Florida’s ballclub has been different in 2023. 14 of Florida’s wins this season have been in comeback fashion, surpassing last year’s 66-game total of 13.
After going 0-20 last season when trailing after six innings, Florida is 3-4 in that scenario already in 2023. Even more impressively, the Gators are 12-3 when the opponent scores first this season, compared to 11-15 last year. Kevin O’Sullivan’s squad has excelled when the pressure is at an all-time high.
While all of those stats are great, it would be nice to see Florida find a way to slow down opposing teams bats early on in games.
The Gators are looking to remain perfect on weekend series victories in 2023, as they currently sit at 8-0 and 4-0 in the SEC.
Florida should continue looking to win the series, but sweeping SEC teams goes on a long way in determining national seeds at the end of the year. This weekend is a good opportunity to make a statement against a less talented team.
NOTEABLES
- Florida’s closer Brandon Neely leads the SEC with three more saves (seven) than the next-closest pitcher.
- Three Gators head into the series with an OPS above 1.250 in Wyatt Langford (1.369), Jac Caglianone (1.302) and Josh Rivera (1.254). No other SEC program even has three qualified hitters all with an OPS above 1.200.
- Jac Caglianone remains atop the national leaderboard with 19 home runs, one ahead of former Gator Kris Armstrong.
- Florida’s team ERA sits at 4.69, ranking 58th in D1 baseball.
- Left-handed reliever Philip Abner has allowed an earned run in just one of his 12 appearances this year.
- Florida’s 74 home runs ranks third in college baseball.