No.3 Florida (19-4, 2-1 SEC) is set to take on No.13 Ole Miss (15-6, 0-3 SEC) in a three-game weekend series on Swayze Field, in Oxford, Mississippi.
The Gators and Rebels are meeting for the first time since the 2019 season.
DATES, TIMES, BROADCAST INFO
(all times eastern)
Friday, March 24th at 7:30 PM / SECN+
Saturday, March 25th at 2:30 PM / SECN+
Sunday, March 26th at 2:30 PM / SECN+
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: RHP Brandon Sproat (4-0, 2.73 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Dougherty (2-2, 6.14 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Hurston Waldrep (3-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. RHP Grayson Saunier (1-1, 6.30 ERA)
Sunday: LHP Jac Caglianone (3-0, 3.20 ERA) vs. LHP Xavier Rivas (4-1, 5.40 ERA)
Florida’s weekend rotation of Brandon Sproat, Hurston Waldrep, and Jac Caglianone has stayed consistent through the first five weekends of baseball. With Pierce Coppola having a setback with his injury, I expect Florida to roll with these three for the remainder of the season. The trio has combined for a 10-1 record, 3.29 ERA, .172 BAA and 122 strikeouts in 82.0 innings through five starts apiece. They are striking out 13.4 batters per nine innings (on average) and all three arms have struck out 32 or more batters.
REBELS BASEBALL
Ole Miss has swung the bats well to this point in the season, holding a .316/.411/.553 slash line with 40 home runs through 21 games.
The Rebel’s defense has also been a plus as Mike Bianco’s squad holds a .982 fielding percentage, which ranks 11th in the country.
Ole Miss’s pitching staff has been their weakness in 2023, posting a team ERA of 5.38 and a WHIP of 1.52 across 175.2 innings.
The Rebels started the season on a strong note, winning 14 of 17 games including taking three of four games against Maryland, a sweep of Purdue, and a midweek win against Southern Miss.
Last weekend out, Ole Miss was swept by No.4 Vanderbilt and outscored 27-4 across 26 innings.
The challenge doesn’t get any easier for the Rebels as they are set to face one of the best hitting teams in college baseball.
OFFENSIVE CLINIC
The Gators lead the nation in runs (232), hits (264) and slugging percentage (.626) while ranking inside the top five with 51 home runs (second), a .335 batting average (third) and 12 triples (fourth). Florida sits atop the SEC in batting average, runs, hits, slugging, triples, at bats and total bases (489) – boasting 51 more bases than the next-closest team (South Carolina).
GATORS’ BULLPEN
Florida’s bullpen appears to be taking significant strides with the emergence of LHP Philip Abner.
Over the last nine games, the Gators’ bullpen has gone 4-0 with three saves and a 2.10 ERA. During that period, Gators relievers have struck out 50 batters in 34 1/3 innings (13.1 K/9) while walking just 10 (2.6 BB/9).
Brandon Neely is another major factor in the Gators’ bullpen. Florida’s closer holds a 3.86 ERA with a .210 batting average against and 26 strikeouts (14.3 K/9). Neely is also a perfect three for three in save opportunities.
The Gators may see the return of catcher Luke Heyman this weekend, who has been dealing with a minor hamstring injury. He had a pinch-hit base knock last weekend before gingerly trotting to first base. The freshman is hitting .424 on the young season.
Florida’s first road series isn’t going to be an easy one, but nothing ever is in the SEC. I like the Gators’ chances to put up some runs against the Rebels’ pitching staff and walk away victorious.