UF BSB: No. 9 Florida Wraps Up Regular Season with Top-10 Showdown at No. 1 Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 9 Florida (35-16, 17-10 SEC) wraps up the 2021 regular season with a trip to Fayetteville to take on No. 1 Arkansas (30-19, 19-8 SEC) in a top-10 national matchup.

Games one and two will both air on SEC Network, with the opener starting at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday and the latter having an 8 p.m. first pitch time on Friday. Game three will stream live on SEC Network+ at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Fans can listen in Gainesville on WRUF 850 AM/98.1 FM and in Jacksonville 1010 XL, or on any mobile device via TuneIn app (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__tunein.com_radio_Florida-2DBaseball-2Ds308240_&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=Tw6RPfFSALzkvwCU4mcPmGP0JgNl42-fIY_DrUqpjIE&e= or by searching for the “Florida Baseball” station).

The all-time series between Florida and Arkansas sits in a deadlock prior to the start of the upcoming series, with both teams featuring 32-32 head-to-head records in a rivalry that dates back to 1979. While the Gators are 6-4 across the previous 10 matchups and command an 18-12 edge at home in the series, the Razorbacks have won 13 of 24 meetings in Fayetteville. Under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_coaches.aspx-3Frc-3D1291&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=4j3DDFY7hyp4kLhx0ZOnbZytNnSoIkKAlwMIUXkIRo4&e= >, Florida is 14-18 against Arkansas including 4-5 on the road. When these two programs last met for an SEC series in Fayetteville back in April of 2016, Florida came away with a series sweep (W 12-8, W 9-2, W 8-2).

Entering the weekend series, the Gators have won 15 of their last 20 games including seven of their last 10. With a 17-10 record in SEC play, Florida has sole possession of third place in the SEC East standings, sitting just one game back of No. 4 Tennessee and a mere half-game behind No. 3 Vanderbilt.

LAST TIME OUT
By taking games one (W, 4-3) and two (W, 9-2) at home versus Georgia last weekend, Florida clinched their eighth consecutive home series win and fifth-straight series victory overall. Led by Tommy Mace<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14223&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=yD1HvxXyaT5t4K4ivQgifsWMi3CdxbRmQwu0QJjOFZY&e= >, Trey Van Der Weide<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14235&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=e4riaAgwTm1cN6H_-tDIKXDPY-YjjnJucFQxRUG3iec&e= > and Jack Leftwich<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14221&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=VIB9_EYoAwlF_aKfPc7oGXqMZVYqvHIN6F-oArstkcM&e= >, the Gators tied their season-best with 16 strikeouts to claim the series opener – thanks in large part to a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth by Josh Rivera<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14229&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=zQd-4nqIxHr2ha40pmRRxcZu1_3WYiTFEYGJam6B8-8&e= >. In game two, Florida blasted four home runs (tied for season high) including Jud Fabian’s<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14217&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=Xs_hpta0RK1JdsoTBn_29PwJGVzIgcDgtkF3_41f2mc&e= > fourth two-homer game of the season as Hunter Barco<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14211&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=8pcfknan4oZXI8s-KSyqqJ8POLwDKDhNpKXmTA3V8lk&e= > improved to 9-2 with his fifth straight win on the mound. Kendrick Calilao<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14215&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=qxyD9N-G2kjD-AC-3SHmVhrsw6UW5EiMekKITLxoKo0&e= > also homered for the second consecutive contest in the series-clinching win. Florida ultimately finished 2-1 on the weekend after dropping the series finale by a 6-1 tally.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Although Florida sports a losing record on the road, the squad is 5-2 across their previous seven SEC games away from home. Most recently, the Gators took two-of-three from Kentucky in Lexington from May 6-8.

HERE COMES THE JUD
Preseason All-American outfielder Fabian is currently tied for first in the SEC and in the country with 20 home runs after registering his fourth two-home run game of the season in game two against Georgia. With the multi-homer game, Fabian has now homered twice on three consecutive Saturdays and is just the fifth player in Florida baseball history to launch 20 home runs in one season. Over the last 18 games, the Gator center fielder is slashing .344/.476/.859 with a team-high nine home runs, 17 RBI and four stolen bases. Fabian boasts a 15-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that time, improving his season slash line to .267/.383/.634. Fabian also ranks fifth in the SEC in slugging percentage (.634), fifth in walks (37), tied for fifth in total bases (121) and tied for ninth in runs (48).

IT ALL DA’ PENS
Last weekend against Georgia, the Florida bullpen combined for eight innings of relief, allowing just one unearned run and scattering five hits while striking out nine. Bulldog batters hit just .179 versus Florida relief pitching across the three games. By posting a 0.00 ERA in the series, Gator relievers improved to 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 23 innings across Florida’s last three SEC series (vs. No. 2 Vanderbilt, at Kentucky, vs. Georgia).

BARCO DAY EQUALS WINNING WAYS
Left-handed pitcher Barco improved to 9-2 on the season and 6-0 across his previous seven starts with a victory vs. Georgia in game two, including wins in each of his last five games started. He has not lost a start since March 28 at South Carolina. Over his last seven starts, Barco is 6-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 39 innings of work. All four of the aforementioned marks lead the team during that span. Barco’s nine wins are tied for second in the SEC and tied for third nationally.

GOING STREAKING
Third baseman Kirby McMullen<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14224&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=v5z6fREkgaDYRwmyp_PemdqW-y2vf2OLCEXX96Ch9_I&e= > has reached base in 23 consecutive games dating back to April 7, while outfielder Jacob Young<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14236&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=3Qt-GopqjEXIAOLuYt9zeGiEjpLg7RP_TSiK0qE3RdA&e= > currently owns an active on-base streak of 18 games. During their streaks, McMullen is slashing .289/.406/.458 while Young has batted at a .286/.367/.364 clip. While also wielding a five-game hitting streak, Young has driven in nine runs with a .364/.400/.455 slash line across Florida’s last five. Infielder Cory Acton<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14209&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=Bc_zFNWOBSMCKkiAK_DeGfA-E3QRiwZdT7KQVeA5DTw&e= > has an active on-base streak of 14 games as well. McMullen and Acton’s streaks represent the longest of the 2021 season for both players.

CALI-LOUD
First baseman/outfielder Calilao notched two hits apiece in five of Florida’s last six games. Calilao leads the Gators with a .500 batting average and eight runs over that span while sporting a .950 slugging percentage and four homers. The showing includes a terrific series at Kentucky in which Calilao put the Gators on his back. Entering as an eighth-inning pinch hitter with the Gators down 4-3 in game two, Calilao worked a full count and then singled in Jordan Carrion<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14239&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=jca02WbWFHAvcUG4dckaX_ynEtV88mVyQO3t14DRVow&e= > to tie the game up in the eighth. Calilao then won it in the top of the ninth with a two-out, three-run home run to left-center. In game three, Calilao earned the start in right field and proceeded to go 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI to power Florida to a series-clinching victory in Lexington.

YOUNG & WILD
Young enters Thursday’s series opener having driven in nine runs across Florida’s last five games. During that span, Young is slashing .364/.400/.455 with eight hits, two doubles, two runs scored and one stolen base in addition to his RBI production.

FLORIDA IN THE SEC RANKINGS
As a team, Florida ranks inside the top four in the SEC in sacrifice flies (second; 28), doubles (third; 95), hits (fourth; 496), batting average (fourth; .283), triples (fourth; 12) and walks (fourth; 244). As a pitching staff, the Gators rank second with 16 saves, second in fewest walks allowed (148) and fourth in innings pitched (455.2).

NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Gators rank 12th in the country with 496 total hits this season. Florida is also tied for 11th nationally in sacrifice flies, 15th in walks, tied for 20th with 64 home runs, tied for 32nd in doubles and 36th with a .461 slugging percentage.

SULLY MAKES SCHOOL HISTORY
Gators head coach <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_coaches.aspx-3Frc-3D1291&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=4j3DDFY7hyp4kLhx0ZOnbZytNnSoIkKAlwMIUXkIRo4&e= > Kevin O’Sullivan<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_coaches.aspx-3Frc-3D1291&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=3gZG2VuuBbWHNLR3agEzWQb0uqPLsR1qC_LRqTyTuFE&s=4j3DDFY7hyp4kLhx0ZOnbZytNnSoIkKAlwMIUXkIRo4&e= > passed Dave Fuller for the most wins in program history. O’Sullivan has 582 career wins and a .681 winning percentage (which ranks third among active coaches with at least 10 Division I seasons). Fuller finished his illustrious Gators head coaching career with 556 wins from 1948-75.

NEXT TIME OUT
With the regular season concluding this weekend in Fayetteville, Florida’s next action comes in the form of the 2021 SEC Baseball Tournament, scheduled for May 25-30 in Hoover, Ala.