The Gators enter the home-and-home series against USF with a 24-4 record against the Bulls in the Kevin O’Sullivan era.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators baseball team travels to South Florida for its first road and midweek game of 2023, taking on the Bulls in Tampa on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before hosting USF in Gainesville at the same time on Wednesday.
The two teams most recently met at Condron Family Ballpark on May 3 of last season, with Florida (3-0) dismantling South Florida (1-2) to the tune of an 18-3 home win. Overall, the Gators are 63-27 all-time against the Bulls including a 19-15 mark on the road. That includes the Orange & Blue claiming road wins in four of the last five vs. USF. On their own turf, the Gators are 43-11 featuring an 18-4 record across the last 22 home matchups.
In the Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1551> era, Florida is 24-4 against USF. The Gators have won 25 of the last 29 against the Bulls dating back to 2006.
Pitching Matchups
Tuesday | 6 p.m. (ESPN+) Wednesday | 6 p.m. (SECN+)
Florida LHP Cade Fisher<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-fisher/15513> (0-0, 0.00 ERA) TBA
USF RHP Jack Cebert (0-0, 0.00 ERA) TBA
Links WATCH<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/8cc3132d-fe00-4cf8-aa43-c46e3c05c4a9> | LISTEN<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5049&type=Archive> WATCH<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/39815d24-c286-4e52-987d-760f433c3e6c> | LISTEN<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5050&type=Archive>
Florida ranks inside the top seven in the nation in every major poll, peaking at No. 2 at Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. The Gators are the NCBWA’s No. 3 team but come in at No. 7 in the D1Baseball Top 25.
SCOUTING THE BULLS
Picked to finish sixth in the eight-team American Athletic Conference, South Florida went 1-2 over the weekend at home against No. 13 Maryland. Through three games, USF is batting .235 as a team and holds a 7.33 staff ERA, backed by a .992 fielding percentage.
LAST TIME OUT
Florida’s opening weekend sweep of Charleston Southern made UF 3-0 for the first time since 2020. The Gators run-ruled CSU in each of the first two games and only came to bat 21 times out of a possible 27 over the course of the series. Even so, the Gators outscored the Bucs, 37-5.
O’SULLIVAN’S 16TH CAMPAIGN
With a 630-302 career record in hand, Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/kevin-o-sullivan/1551> is in his 16th season at the helm of the program in 2023. During his tenure, Florida has more College World Series berths (seven) and top-eight national seeds (nine) than any team in the country while being tied for the most NCAA Tournament bids (14) and Super Regionals hosted (eight). Florida’s .613 winning percentage in SEC regular season play (257-162) is the top mark in the SEC since his 2008 arrival.
NON-CON DOM
Off to a 3-0 start already this season, Florida went 20-5 (.750) against non-conference regular season opponents in 2022. That mark featured a 19-3 record following the opening weekend of the year, including wins over No. 5 Florida State and No. 22 Miami.
OVERLY DEFENSIVE
Florida is one of 14 teams in the country with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage still intact. The Gators have converted all 96 fielding chances, including 27 assists, one double play and one runner caught stealing.
BATS THE WAY WE LIKE IT
Florida’s 37 total runs through three games are the team’s most since scoring 38 to open the 2015 campaign. Overall, the Gators are hitting .358/.475/.589 as a team with more walks (19) than strikeouts (16). UF ranks inside the top-30 in the NCAA in runs/game (12.3, T-fourteenth), batting average (.358, eighteenth), runs (37, nineteenth), on-base percentage (.475, 23rd) and slugging (.579, 30th).
OH, WHAT A RELIEF IT IS
Gators relievers have not allowed a run across 5 2/3 frames, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out four. Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/15499>, Fisher Jameson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/fisher-jameson/15496>, Cade Fisher<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-fisher/15513>, Blake Purnell<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-purnell/15502> and Yoel Tejeda Jr.<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/yoel-tejeda-jr-/15518> have all made scoreless, no-hit relief appearances of one inning or more.
STARTERS STELLAR
Florida’s starting pitching has been dominant so far through three games, combining for a 2.60 ERA and 22 strikeouts across 17 1/3 innings while allowing just six hits. Two-way star Jac Caglianone<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/jac-caglianone/15489> had the most impressive outing, blanking Charleston Southern across 6 2/3 innings with two hits, one walk and nine strikeouts to earn the win in his career pitching debut.
SHELLY CELLY
After transferring in from Santa Fe CC, infielder Tyler Shelnut<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-shelnut/15515> has hit the ground running by hitting .375/.545/1.000 and starting each of the first three games. Shelnut has one home run, two doubles, three runs and three RBI.
EVANS ERUPTS
Through three games, outfielder Ty Evans<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/ty-evans/15491> is tied for third in the nation with 10 RBI. Having gone 6-for-10 last weekend, Evans is slashing .600/.667/1.000 with four doubles, three runs and one stolen base.
RIOPELLE RAKING
Following closely behind Evans with eight RBI, catcher BT Riopelle<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/bt-riopelle/15503> came out of the gates hot with a .500/.538/.833 batting line including one homer, one double, five runs and one steal. He accounted for Florida’s first home run of 2023, a three-run shot in the first inning of the season opener vs. Charleston Southern.
THE GRAND RIVERA
Fourth-year shortstop Josh Rivera<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-rivera/15504> had an excellent weekend defensively and offensively, hitting .500/.692/.500 (3-for-6) with a team-high seven runs, four RBI and one steal. Having reached base safely in each of his first-six plate appearances of the year, he has drawn five walks and has not struck out.
MORE GATORS DEBUTS
Rookie infielder Cade Kurland<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/cade-kurland/15514> has started two-straight games at second base, going 4-for-7 (.571/.625/.857) with two doubles, four runs and two RBI. Fellow freshman catcher Luke Heyman<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/luke-heyman/15522> shined while making his first-career start in Sunday’s finale vs. CSU, going 2-for-4 with one triple and one RBI. Outfielder Michael Robertson<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/michael-robertson/15505> (.273/.429/.364) is off to a strong start as a redshirt freshman as well, while transfer infielder Dale Thomas<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/dale-thomas/15512> collected a pinch-hit double on Saturday for his first Gators knock.
FRESH FACES
A talented group of 14 newcomers join the squad this year, featuring nine freshmen and five transfers. According to D1Baseball, the Gators’ freshman class was ranked No. 5 in the country while Florida’s transfer class came in at No. 7.
DRAFT BUZZ
According to MLB Pipeline, outfielder Wyatt Langford<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/wyatt-langford/15497> comes in as the No. 3 overall prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft, followed by right-handers Hurston Waldrep<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/hurston-waldrep/15517> (No. 10) and Brandon Sproat<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-sproat/15508> (No. 78). Florida is the only school with two top-10 prospects for the upcoming draft. D1Baseball also ranked Langford (No. 5), Waldrep (No. 14), Sproat (No. 31) and Rivera (No. 72) as top-100 college prospects for the draft.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Four members of the Orange & Blue were named Preseason All-Americans by at least one publication: Riopelle (Second Team – NCBWA; Third Team – Collegiate Baseball), Sproat (Second Team – Collegiate Baseball; Third Team – Baseball America), Waldrep (First Team – Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball; Second Team – NCBWA, Perfect Game) and Langford (Unanimous First Team).
POSITIONAL STANDOUTS
A handful of Gators were ranked by D1Baseball as top players in the nation at their respective positions heading into the season: Langford (No. 2 OF), Waldrep (No. 4 SP), Riopelle (No. 8 C), Rivera (No. 14 SS), Sproat (No. 21 SP), Robertson (No. 66 OF), LHP Pierce Coppola<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/pierce-coppola/15490> (No. 111 SP) and RHP Brandon Neely<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/brandon-neely/15499> (No. 126 SP).
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Four players return to the 2023 Gators despite having an opportunity to go pro following last season: Sproat, Riopelle and infielders Colby Halter<https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/roster/colby-halter/15495> and Rivera.
ON DECK
Cincinnati comes to town for a three-game series spanning from Friday, Feb. 24 to Sunday, Feb. 26. All three games will stream on SEC Network+.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON GAME DAY
Those visiting Condron Family Ballpark on game day should be aware of updated traffic patterns surrounding the ballpark. Fans are advised to utilize Ballpark Way, which will serve as a connecting route to the ballpark from Archer Road. For departures, a postgame traffic flow pattern guide can be found here.<https://floridagators.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=0&image_path=/images/2022/4/22/BB_Post_Game_Traffic_20220421.png>
PARKING/SHUTTLES
General Parking is available in the west Condron Family Ballpark baseball lot and the Fifield parking lot located directly across Hull Road. Disabled parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Condron Family Ballpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard. Click HERE<https://floridagators.com/documents/2023/1/31/2023_BB_Parking_Map.pdf> for a Parking map.
There will be a free shuttle service provided to and from the Fifield parking lot each day of the weekend series.
MOBILE TICKETING & FLORIDA GATORS APP
As a reminder, mobile ticketing is required. There will be two ways to access your tickets:
1) through the Florida Gators app<http://s1445136311.t.en25.com/e/er?s=1445136311&lid=1301&elqTrackId=F42DAD870CD1B888DE14DCC3F8C8916F&elq=f69e4978773d47758819914b4936bd42&elqaid=3046&elqat=1> from your mobile device or
2) through FloridaGators.com/myaccount<http://s1445136311.t.en25.com/e/er?s=1445136311&lid=1324&elqTrackId=E19038CB8FD63F3F29DC57131044A028&elq=f69e4978773d47758819914b4936bd42&elqaid=3046&elqat=1>. Fans will also be able to transfer or donate their tickets easily within the app or online.
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