Top-15 Rivalry Battle Up Next for No. 14 Florida vs. No. 5 Florida State
Florida is 30-18 vs. the Seminoles under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan and the Gators have won 17 of the last 20 meetings.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – No. 14 Florida faces in-state rival No. 5 Florida State on Tuesday night in the first of three scheduled meetings during the 2022 season.
Tuesday’s neutral-site matchup is set for 7 p.m. ET at 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville, Fla., airing on SEC Network.
Last year, Florida (17-7, 3-3 SEC) and Florida State (16-7, 6-3 ACC) met just twice, with each team prevailing in their home park to split the series. In the latter of the two matchups, first baseman/outfielder Kendrick Calilao<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15092&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=QxP9zcp8f50UAMKJilW2fGNtWs6RhIMeaPBX-xgNQ1E&e= > provided a walk-off home run in the 10th inning to lift the Gators to a 3-2 victory.
Across the last 20 meetings, Florida is 17-3 vs. Florida State including a 12-2 mark over the previous 14 matchups. From June 12, 2016 to April 9, 2019, Florida won 11-straight games against the Seminoles – the longest winning streak by either team in the history of the rivalry. 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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=KdT9HKwsYi6a8y0x2wd7pr7QOz0pETzJKs96Ju9RKV8&e= >, Florida is 30-18 vs. FSU. The Gators trail the all-time series, 122-130-1, but hold a 13-11 edge in neutral-site games.
Pitching Matchup
Tuesday, March 29 | 7 p.m. (SECN)
Florida State RHP Carson Montgomery (3-0, 2.81 ERA)
Florida RHP Garrett Milchin<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15100&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=Gq_4Xz1H3Y5R7WsYBd4F1XsqOx4KmUNrjtU_wnOJW_E&e= > (1-0, 1.64 ERA)
Links WATCH<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D812f03b4-2De5ef-2D46a0-2Db978-2D4c7485973fef&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=7B-Hcl93lD-rQFta6jNAZ6NccUcrdhaI9mKKmwyI3qg&e= > | LISTEN<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_watch_-3FLive-3D3806-26type-3DLive&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=h0DO3g2andD_wW4Lw4W9acHp9BiVSIRotSWjQKtU7g0&e= >
Entering week seven of the season, Florida is ranked inside the top-18 of every major poll, peaking at No. 12 on the USA Today Coaches Poll while coming in at No. 14 on the D1Baseball Top 25.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gators went 2-2 last week, picking up a midweek win over Bethune-Cookman (W, 3-2) and going 1-2 vs. No. 21 LSU over the weekend at home. In the game one win vs. LSU, 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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=00WRkrnih5HbDLt-DpXN2uAtNlqO-cCTKoGSbq33mVU&e= > threw seven shutout innings to earn the victory while notching eight strikeouts. On Tuesday, Florida edged out Bethune-Cookman thanks to outfielder Jud Fabian’s<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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=XGALdkyatXA4J9pakGzOA1lPJLF8bOW1S8YE5er2jMk&e= > seventh-career multi homer game and a combined one-hitter by the Gators pitching staff.
SCOUTING THE SEMINOLES
After taking two out of three games against Duke over the weekend, Florida State enters the matchup with a 16-7 (6-3 ACC) record on the season. Coming into the year, the Seminoles were selected as the ACC baseball preseason favorite by the league’s 14 head coaches. Florida State is batting .284 as a team and owns a staff ERA of 3.58.
SULLY WINS 600TH
With a 13-6 victory to clinch the series over Alabama on March 19, O’Sullivan won his 600th game as Florida head coach – on the same day Georgia head coach Scott Stricklin<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_staff.aspx-3Fstaff-3D487&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=5SCX5l5GW9QJOxF_zDTn3rOnYkK1DljxSn_bPBgdqF0&e= > accomplished the feat. 2022 represents O’Sullivan’s 15th season as the head coach at Florida. During that time, O’Sullivan owns a 602-285 (.679) record, passing the legendary Dave Fuller (556-354-6) for the most wins in program history on March 9, 2021. O’Sullivan’s .679 winning percentage ranks third among all active Division I head coaches, while Florida’s .620 clip in SEC play since 2008 stands as the top mark in the conference.
MILCHIN VS. NOLES: PART FOUR
Tuesday represents right-handed pitcher Garrett Milchin’s<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15100&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=Gq_4Xz1H3Y5R7WsYBd4F1XsqOx4KmUNrjtU_wnOJW_E&e= > fourth-career start against Florida State, as he opened both games vs. the Noles last season. Milchin is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 12 innings pitched in the three prior meetings, although it has been feast or famine for Florida State in those matchups:
March 18, 2017: W, 4 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K
March 16, 2021: L, 1 2/3 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 1 K
April 13, 2021: ND, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
GATORS GOING YARD
Florida is tied for second in the nation with 48 home runs. This season, the Gators hit their 40th home run of the season in just their 20th game on March 20 at Alabama, whereas last year, Florida’s 40th home run occurred in the team’s 33rd game – on April 11 at Tennessee. Meanwhile, the Gator pitching staff has allowed 18 homers this year.
JUDDY JACKS
2021 All-American Fabian is tied for the SEC lead with 10 home runs (T-10 nationally). Fabian recorded his seventh career multi-homer game on March 22 vs. Bethune-Cookman and now sits at 42 career homers, which ranks sixth all-time at Florida. Five of Fabian’s last six multi-homer games have seen him homer in back-to-back at bats. Fabian is tied for 24th in the country with 22 BB and has drawn more free passes than strikeouts (20). The Ocala, Fla. native’s next home run milestone will come at 47 career homers, where Gator great Mike Zunino sits in fifth.
BREAKOUT STER
After batting .301/.396/.470 with All-SEC Freshman Team honors in 2021, 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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=Jfle9xDL09a0SAfyZ1N1ifG4xBpNCxcyjb_F2LZuL6I&e= > has raised his slash line to a .337/.409/.642 clip through the first 24 games of his sophomore season. Thompson owns a career-high seven homers in fewer than half as many games as last season (55), while tying for the team lead with 32 hits. Last weekend vs. No. 21 LSU, Thompson paced Florida in all three slash categories (.500/.667/1.125), picking up four hits in eight at bats with one home run, one triple, three RBI, three runs and three walks (vs. zero strikeouts).
EASY AS BLAKE
In his first-11 career appearances, right-handed relief ace 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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=_ZnCVP1ylkvE3plc6MLCflwKWBZ-CzyP9F5IowsgnW8&e= > did not allow an earned run across 19 1/3 innings to open the season. Purnell now sports a 0.87 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, one save, 18 strikeouts and one walk on the year.
TELL ME WYATT
Over Florida’s last 10 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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=An9gdgOSrOH_nSi9-ujKVkmv5lmgw5_8coX0NOgVB6c&e= > leads the Gators in every slash category with a .400/.467/.950 line. Langford has six home runs, one triple, two doubles, 16 RBI, 14 runs and four steals in that span. On the season, Langford leads Florida in batting (.385), OBP (.447), slugging (.719), OPS (1.166) and stolen bases (five) while tying for the team high in hits (32) and RBI (26).
SCANNING THE BARCO
In his first-six starts, Barco owns a 5-1 record with a 1.41 ERA, which ranks 27th nationally. Among the top-45 qualifying pitchers for the national ERA title, Barco’s 38 1/3 innings rank second. The Florida ace also ranks fourth in the nation with a 0.63 WHIP and 14th with a 10.40 K-to-BB ratio. Boasting 52 strikeouts (T-16), Barco’s ratios translate to 12.2 strikeouts per nine and 1.2 walks per nine. The sophomore* southpaw is 12-2 across his last 16 starts dating back to the 2021 season.
STATE OF THE DEFENSE
With 18 errors in 885 defensive chances, Florida ranks 18th nationally with a .980 fielding percentage. All three of the Gators’ starting outfielders – Fabian, Langford and Thompson – have yet to make an error across a combined 129 defensive chances on the season.
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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=jijdTvCUgtIsAnEh28LtEwVbZrPojgvcqOyyTGgvkw0&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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=Z3EbaYT-mL7DGzy-vqdWPxG_PK6eu2GOIP_qUl5n2Ac&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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=OLH0eQXIPWOW6xfCxwKNTM4X9uxlaTc9NtWx9u0ZK2U&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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=fefoNpR1_eTV_vbZb4i7gAn_yVCxxqgRjwRZdYLmVss&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 right-hander 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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=nB8fVAC2dv_Xuz53xDn8Dp5V6hVNLGt4qhFvrf1PEyk&e= > (No. 98) fell just inside the top 100. The Gators’ middle infield duo of 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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=3Hf4NA4Q94gGW6Zr4vCVC5nhVPHH8AqfQsLBC1blKIA&e= > and Josh Rivera<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15104&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=LwzRcX0y-0SqE2URd8UVkhy-rP5p5ar6_8fZ6suC67w&e= > 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 right-handed pitcher 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=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=bnCGaSqeV5Pnxu-BtQ7hSkduf-37q1CBuzwJrdlDIqc&e= >, who was tabbed the conference’s No. 50 prospect.
Recently updated on March 14, Florida placed five players on Baseball America’s top-200 draft prospects list: Barco (No. 23), Fabian (No. 33), Thompson (No. 53), Sproat (No. 96), Halter (No. 198).
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<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__s1445136311.t.en25.com_e_er-3Fs-3D1445136311-26lid-3D1301-26elqTrackId-3DF42DAD870CD1B888DE14DCC3F8C8916F-26elq-3Df69e4978773d47758819914b4936bd42-26elqaid-3D3046-26elqat-3D1&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=6Rx5_JBsFtKp47_v_dxZylnCcCrSh7ljmEsZA7qzeas&e= > from your mobile device or
2) through FloridaGators.com/myaccount<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__s1445136311.t.en25.com_e_er-3Fs-3D1445136311-26lid-3D1324-26elqTrackId-3DE19038CB8FD63F3F29DC57131044A028-26elq-3Df69e4978773d47758819914b4936bd42-26elqaid-3D3046-26elqat-3D1&d=DwIF-g&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ILy319LPdAbg3ImiLQb1su1jegL45QJC6edHjc50CzLisZ8jPQ4Fsi1iHf_OSxB&s=wI2LvL-Yyikq-k-dpvvci7bZalKl_2WG6RhdaLcfdN8&e= >. Fans will also be able to transfer or donate their tickets easily within the app or online.
For a smoother and safer entry on game day, fans are encouraged to add their tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay account in advance of coming to the ballpark.
ON DECK
The Gators travel to Athens, Ga. for a three-game series at Georgia, spanning from Thursday, March 31 to Saturday, April 2. Game one will air on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET.
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