UF BSB: No. 9 Gators Open SEC Play With Trip to Alabama

No. 9 Gators Open SEC Play With Trip to Alabama

The Gators have won a program-best 10-straight games over Alabama and are 23-5 vs. the Tide under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 9 Florida travels to Tuscaloosa this weekend to open Southeastern Conference play with a three-game series at Alabama.

The series will span from Friday, March 18 to Sunday, March 20 with all three games streaming on SEC Network+. First pitch for the first-two matchups is set for 7 p.m. ET, while the Sunday series finale is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.

The Gators and Crimson Tide last faced off in the 2021 SEC Tournament, with the Orange & Blue winning by a score of 7-2 thanks to seven shutout innings from starting pitcher Franco Aleman<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14238&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=aALpNnTOKlvVvbjMF_h9LoAkO9YcGzdeaW790LOLnn8&e= >. Florida has swept each of the last two series vs. Alabama and enter the weekend riding a 10-game winning streak over the Tide including a six-game streak in Tuscaloosa. Additionally, the Gators have won 17 of the last 18 matchups.

Under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_coaches.aspx-3Frc-3D1445&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=GCafKPiUyKWFYTfSYW7CFj5nigjnfyBoA2qXeE0xY90&e= >, Florida is 23-5 vs. Alabama including a 9-3 mark on the road. Although the Gators hold a 64-57 edge in the all-time series, Florida is 23-30 against the Tide in Tuscaloosa.

Pitching Matchups
Friday | 7 p.m. ET (SECN+) Saturday | 7 p.m. ET (SECN+) Sunday | 2 p.m. ET (SECN+)

Entering week five of the season, Florida is ranked inside the top-13 by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA, peaking at No. 9 in the USA Today poll and the D1Baseball Top 25.

LAST TIME OUT
The Gators went 3-1 last week with a midweek win over Jacksonville (W, 1-0) before taking two-of-three against Seton Hall at home (W, 16-4 / W, 11-9 / L, 4-6). Florida’s midweek contest vs. No. 8 Florida State on March 15 was postponed due to inclement weather and rescheduled for Tuesday, May 17.

SCOUTING THE TIDE
Picked to finish fifth in the West Division in the SEC Coaches Preseason Poll, Alabama is off to a 12-6 start to the 2022 campaign. The Crimson Tide is 12-2 at home and 0-4 on the road, having swept a three-game series over Xavier to open the year before being swept by then-No. 1 Texas in Austin. Alabama enters the weekend having won three out of its last five games following a midweek loss at Southern Miss on Wednesday.

SULLY CLOSES IN ON 600
2022 represents O’Sullivan’s 15th season as the head coach at Florida. During that time, O’Sullivan owns a 598-282 (.680) record, passing the legendary Dave Fuller (556-354-6) for the most wins in program history on March 9, 2021. O’Sullivan’s .680 winning percentage ranks third among all active Division I head coaches, while Florida’s .622 clip in SEC play since 2008 stands as the top mark in the conference. O’Sullivan is just two wins away for 600 in his career (all at Florida).

HOME SCORELESS STREAK
From Feb. 27 to March 12, the Gators pitching staff went 31 2/3 innings without allowing a run at Florida Ballpark. The Gators blanked Georgia State in the final seven innings of game three on Feb. 27, then pitched back-to-back shutouts vs. Florida A&M (17-0) on March 2 and Jacksonville (W, 1-0) on March 8, before finally surrendering a run at home in the seventh inning vs. Seton Hall on March 12.

LEAVING THE YARD
Florida is tied for fourth in the nation with 31 home runs. Meanwhile, the Gators pitching staff has allowed just six homers.

ALL-NATIONAL DEFENSE
With just nine errors in 631 defensive chances, Florida ranks 10th nationally with a .986 fielding percentage.

PITCHING ON POINT
Florida ranks 19th nationally with a 2.78 team ERA. Opposing hitters are batting .212 against Gator pitchers.

PURNELL PACING NATION IN ERA
Making his first-nine career appearances, right-handed reliever Blake Purnell<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15103&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=45bXE-7swS8UYBTk0UzE1dUHU2fYQZo1K8qqVXu3_uk&e= > has not allowed an earned run across 17 2/3 IP this season. Purnell is tied for first in the nation with a 0.00 ERA as one of five qualifying pitchers yet to allow an earned run. Among those arms, Purnell has pitched the second-most innings. The redshirt freshman from Boynton Beach, Fla. has held opposing hitters to a .172 batting average with 16 strikeouts against just one walk.

AMERICA’S ACE
In his first-four starts, left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15091&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=K4apUla7L_e0E9NOB6Q3kKSYjXSXgIrS3la39lqz-ao&e= > owns a 3-1 record with a .193 ERA, 0.64 WHIP (16th nationally) and .159 batting average against. Barco has 34 strikeouts (T-27th nationally) against just two walks, translating to 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings, 0.8 walks per nine and a 17.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio (13th nationally). The sophomore southpaw is 10-2 across his last 14 starts dating back to the 2021 season.

SPROAT SHINES
Prior to Florida’s series at Miami, right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15106&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=gC3vPAOE3BvlDUs7aYZN8xWLfP_-92r86sACHXVWj4U&e= > had zero career quality starts, but the righty now enters the Alabama series with two in a row. Prior to picking up the win vs. Seton Hall on March 12 (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 5 K), Sproat made two starts during week three (at North Florida, at No. 22 Miami) and posted a 0.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 8 1/3 innings – earning him SEC Pitcher of the Week honors. Against No. 22 Miami on March 5, Sproat fired a career-high 6 1/3 shutout innings to earn the victory with four hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. Sproat wields a 1.03 WHIP, 11.0 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.

SWINGING IT
Florida was hitting .186 as a team after opening weekend vs. Liberty, but the Gators now own a .301 batting average. The Orange & Blue have outscored opponents by a 135-51 margin on the season (+84).

HERE COMES THE JUD
2021 Third Team All-American outfielder Jud Fabian<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15127&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=zl8PXmk7j8rSJ1CfsR35lEncDC7IB2a8uwcoWunSydY&e= > is hitting .390/.544/.902 with six home runs and 17 RBI over Florida’s last 12 games. Fabian recorded his sixth-career multi-homer game on March 2 vs. Florida A&M and now sits at 38 career homers, which ranks eighth all-time at Florida. During that period, he has drawn 14 walks and struck out only eight times. Fabian is tied for second nationally with 18 walks and ranks T-27th with six homers.

TELL ME WYATT
Also over Florida’s last 12 games, outfielder Wyatt Langford<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15097&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=VA5GTrX_sENnOy_2tV2RM5FDD0jADW6dz7LqThC9UFo&e= > leads the Gators in batting with a .444/.528/.800 slash line. Langford has totaled four home runs, one triple, two doubles, 16 RBI, 12 runs and one stolen base over that stretch.

HALTER (ON) TOP
Off to a .391/.474/.656 start with a career-high four home runs, second baseman Colby Halter<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15096&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=gD4PmsTnP2VHGJW5xpYkHR5AYX17CztpxmZhDg6Id2Y&e= > hit safely in the first 14 games of 2022. Over Florida’s last 14 games, Halter is hitting .431/.516/.745. He leads Florida with three stolen bases (3-for-3) and was previously named the SEC Co-Player of the Week on Feb. 28.

A LONG ROAD BACK
On Tuesday, March 8, right-handed pitcher Tyler Nesbitt<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15101&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=XvwKeQ1ECAKsX77cc049NB9BTYGQ1u0acn2OOIDh6zY&e= > made his long-awaited return from Tommy John surgery and on Sunday, March 13, right-hander Nick Pogue<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15102&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=bq8x3kwhntP2brOouOCrwJiijExmWJ9Lizaf64pRCNc&e= > did the same. For Nesbitt and Pogue, their performances signified 728 and 733-day returns from the date of their last appearances on the mound – both of which came on March 10, 2020 vs. Florida State.

STERLIN SLAMS
Coming off an All-SEC Freshman Team 2021 season, outfielder Sterlin Thompson<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15108&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=vRHHBGkw-cmfwegCb1PtClbcyviIqHLxUEOqNz2JlCQ&e= > is batting .358/.423/.642 with five home runs and 18 RBI. Thompson hit safely in each of the first 13 games of the season, but saw the longest hitting streak of his career end with an 0-for-4 night vs. Jacksonville on March 8.

TAKE A FIC
After being out for all of 2021, right-handed pitcher Nick Ficarrotta<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15094&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=sk7gT1jdYEUgftMGHu6KEsbxG2AEYcFx6TcTGlgh-YU&e= > has appeared in eight games this season and ranks second on the team with a 1.42 ERA. Ficarrotta boasts a 2-0 record, a team-high three saves and 22 strikeouts in 19.0 innings pitched. He fired a career-high 4 2/3 scoreless frames on one hit and one walk with a career-high six strikeouts to earn the win at Stetson on Feb. 22. He also pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings with five strikeouts at No. 22 Miami to earn the save on March 5.

FRESHMAN FLIES
From Feb. 26 to March 2, a Florida freshman hit his first-career homer in four-straight games: Corey Robinson<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15110&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=g_30-hCESNgvr6QZLS_KOoCwDmwIHM81HHI6NC5zmYg&e= > (March 2), Deric Fabian<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15119&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=9tAR5bt78CaZxfccQ9UQ2JqzHppcvW8pBuWN7rg-0Ro&e= > (March 1), Ty Evans<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15111&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=gxc4vnA_kHMMBgJ3HheIw2ffJXFjPfvq4vfY34_0Bgg&e= > (Feb. 27) and Rene Lastres<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15115&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=YUdcOM77Tr-2KJOgyL2KF8JWkpK5CPq08pj8qCRKWeYGZk2QA8TlLmNSxJz-nCtd&s=1iOLRnICc7QXvZ_kmey6iHBi6fuLoWMWF5UabESKJls&e= > (Feb. 26).

DRAFT BUZZ
After being selected 40th overall in last year’s draft, Fabian is again projected as Florida’s top prospect by MLB Pipeline, coming in as the No. 45 overall prospect for the 2022 MLB Draft. Barco follows closely behind at No. 54, while Thompson (No. 90) and Sproat (No. 98) fell just inside the top 100. The Gators’ middle infield duo of Halter and Rivera recently received draft buzz as well, with D1baseball ranking the former as the No. 60 college prospect and the latter sitting at No. 78. All six of the aforementioned players were ranked as top-30 prospects in the SEC by D1Baseball, in addition to Pogue, who was tabbed the conference’s No. 50 prospect.

ON DECK
Following SEC Opening Weekend, Florida returns home for a midweek matchup vs. Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday, March 22 before hosting rival LSU for a three-game SEC series from March 25-27.