Friday Free-for-All: Super Regionals are Set - June 9, 2023
Friday Free-for-All: Super Regionals are Set!!
Today is Friday and that can mean only one thing – another version of Friday Free-for-All where you the member decide where the topic of conversation goes.
No. 2 Florida Primed for Supers Battle vs. South Carolina. This is the first-ever meeting between Florida and South Carolina in the Regional or Super Regional rounds.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No. 2 Florida baseball embarks on its first Super Regional since 2018 with a best-of-three series against No. 15-national seed South Carolina at Condron Family Ballpark this upcoming weekend.
Friday night's series opener is scheduled to air on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. Game two is on the books for Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.
Playing in the program's 11th Super Regional, Florida (48-15, 20-10 SEC) eyes a rematch with South Carolina (42-19, 16-13 SEC) after being swept by the Gamecocks in Columbia earlier this season (L 3-13, L 2-5, L 5-7). Despite dropping all three games, Florida is 16-11 vs. South Carolina across the previous 27 matchups and have won 12 of the last 15 meetings in Gainesville. The Gators own a 29-22 mark in the series under Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan which includes a robust 16-5 record at home.
Although the Gators and Gamecocks have never faced off in Super Regionals, South Carolina is 3-0 against Florida in the NCAA Tournament, all of which took place in the College World Series, most recently in 2012. South Carolina leads the all-time series, 54-51, but Florida holds a 29-16 edge in Gainesville.
Pitching Matchups
Friday | 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
Saturday | 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sunday | TBD | IF NECESSARY
South Carolina
RHP James Hicks (8-1, 3.32 ERA)
RHP Jack Mahoney (7-3, 4.05 ERA)
TBA
Florida
RHP Brandon Sproat (7-3, 4.70 ERA)
RHP Hurston Waldrep (8-3, 4.54 ERA)
LHP Jac Caglianone (6-3, 4.14 ERA
Florida is ranked at No. 2 in the D1Baseball Top-25 after going 2-1 at the SEC Tournament and earning a share of the SEC Regular Season Title. The Gators are ranked No. 2 by every major poll for the first time all year heading into the postseason.
GET TO KNOW THE GAMECOCKS South Carolina enters with a 42-19 record on the season including a 16-13 mark in SEC play. The Gamecocks are hitting .275/.412/.504 as a team with 115 home runs while pitching to a 4.17 ERA in 425 frames. Defensively, South Carolina wields a .974 fielding percentage.
STAFF INFLECTION Entering Regionals with a 4.87 team ERA and .237 batting average against in 495 innings, the UF pitching staff dominated across a five-game stretch at the NCAA Gainesville Regional. In 44 innings pitched, Gators hurlers went 4-1 with a 1.64 ERA, .205 batting average against and 48 strikeouts against 13 walks. Florida starters were even more dominant, posting a 4-0 record, 1.45 ERA, .186 BAA and 3.7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 31 innings of work.
REGIONAL REP At the Gainesville Regional, Florida opened with a 3-0 win over Florida A&M but dropped a 6-5 decision to Texas Tech to fall to the loser's bracket. Florida went 3-0 over the next two days to win its 15th Regional Title including the program's ninth in the O'Sullivan era, marking the first time since 1998 that UF won three-straight do-or-die games to win a Regional. It started with an 8-2 win over No. 10 UConn, followed by consecutive victories vs. Texas Tech (W 7-1, W 6-0) to earn UF its first Super Regional berth since 2018.
UNUSUAL SUSPECTS While mounting the team's Regional comeback from the loser's bracket, the Gators were carried by three unlikely starting pitchers for the final trio of games, outscoring their competition, 21-3. Hurston Waldrep, Cade Fisher and Ryan Slater combined for a 0.95 ERA, .188 batting average against and 19 strikeouts against just four walks (1.9 BB/9) in 19 innings.
IRREGULAR SEASON Florida's 42 wins in the regular season were the second-most in program history. The 2023 campaign represents the 28th 40-win season time in team history, 11 of which have come under O'Sullivan. The 2016 squad (44-11, 19-10 SEC) holds the record for regular-season wins at UF.
SEC CHAMPS Finishing the season with a 20-10 SEC record, Florida won its 16th SEC Regular Season Championship in program history including the team's sixth under O'Sullivan. After being swept on the road at then-No. 6 South Carolina, the Gators went 11-3 including 9-3 in SEC play down the stretch to win the University of Florida's sixth overall conference title in 2023, which leads the SEC.
SULLY SUPERLATIVES Since the start of the O'Sullivan Era at Florida (2008-present), Florida has earned more top-eight national seeds (10) than any program in the nation. The Gators have also hosted 12 NCAA Regionals out of a possible 15 during O'Sullivan's tenure (no NCAA Tournament in 2020), which is also tops in the sport. UF has now made 15-straight NCAA Tournament appearances under O'Sullivan, a streak that ranks second nationally.
SUPER SIZE ME Florida is hosting its ninth Super Regional since 2008, which leads the nation.
AWARDS CENTRAL Pick a position on the diamond, and there's a good chance there's a Gator vying for a postseason honor there. Second baseman Cade Kurland was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball on Wednesday while first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone was named one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award. That same day, righty Brandon Neely was announced as a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award. Last week, Caglianone was picked as one of five finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year while Josh Rivera was named one of five finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, which goes to the nation's top shortstop.
GOLDEN CAGS Caglianone joins LSU's Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes as one of three finalists for the 2023 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award in addition to being a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy. Caglianone's 31 home runs lead the nation and set a new program record, as he is the first SEC player to eclipse 30 homers since 2003. Caglianone is also chasing UF's single-season RBI record, as his 84 (T-fifth in NCAA) are one from tying Preston Tucker's record of 85 set in 2009. On the mound, Caglianone sports a team-low .184 BAA and is 3-1 with a team-best 1.61 ERA and .178 ERA across his last six starts.
LOADED UP THE MIDDLE Each of Florida's starting middle infielders have blasted more home runs this season than any other Gator in the history of their positions: Rivera with 16 at shortstop and Kurland with 16 at second base.
LANG BANGS Two-time All-American Wyatt Langford leads UF in every slash category (.387/.511/.799) and has drawn 12 more walks (50) than strikeouts (38). Despite missing seven games to injury, Langford has totaled 18 home runs, 24 doubles, a team-high 75 runs, 48 RBI and eight steals. With 44 career home runs, Langford is three from tying Mike Zunino for sixth all-time at UF while his 24 doubles in 2023 are the second-most in a season at Florida behind Zunino's 28 in 2012. He has never committed an error across 217 career chances.
GATOR TATERS The Gators enter Super Regional play with 126 home runs across 63 games this season, which ranks second in a single season in program history behind the 1998 squad (132). The 2022 team blasted 121 homers in 66 games, which ranks third all-time.
ALL-SEC CLEANUP Florida led the conference with seven All-SEC honorees as well as a league-high five First Team players. Caglianone, Kurland, Rivera, Langford and Neely were named to the All-SEC First Team while Brandon Sproat received a Second Team nod. Kurland and catcher/designated hitter Luke Heyman were both honored on the Freshman All-SEC Team.
BT = BIG TIME Florida catcher BT Riopelle has already swatted five postseason home runs in just eight games, leaving the yard three times to tie a program record at the SEC Tournament in Hoover. His 10 RBI in Hoover also set a new team record. At Regionals, Riopelle busted out of an 0-for-15 slump in the Game 7 winner-take-all, homering twice and driving in hour runs to send the Gators to Supers. Five of Riopelle's six postseason hits are homers.
HIGHLY OFFENSIVE Backed by double-digit runs in 22 games and 10-plus knocks in 34 contests, Florida ranks top-10 nationally in home runs (third - 126) and slugging (sixth - .549) while ranking 12th with 512 runs scored. Through 63 games, the Gators have scored in 44.1% of their batted innings (226 of 513) and are averaging 9.7 hits/game. UF ranks top-three in the SEC in homers (T-first), triples (first), slugging (second), runs (second), RBI (second), total bases (second), batting average (third), hits (third) and doubles (third).
DOUBLE-DIGIT DING DONGS Six different Gators have blasted 10 or more home runs this season, which is a program record. Five of those players have 15-plus jacks.
RELENTLESS REPTILES 19 of UF's wins have been comeback dubs (39.6%), more than last year's 66-game total of 13 (30.1%). After going 0-20 last season when trailing after six innings, Florida has four wins in that scenario and is 6-2 when tied after six. Even more impressively, the Gators are 15-7 when the opponent scores first, compared to 11-15 last year.
100-STRIKEOUT DUO Sproat and Waldrep are the ninth 100-strikeout duo in program history, and the first since Jackson Kowar (115) and Brady Singer (114) accomplished the feat in 2018. Florida is 17-5 in Sproat's last 22 starts and the right-hander has gone five innings in all but one start in that span.
2023 GAINESVILLE SUPER REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, June 9 Game One - 6 p.m. - ESPN2
Saturday, June 10 Game Two - 3 p.m. - ESPN2
*Sunday, June 11 Game Three - TBD *If necessary
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.
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. There will be a free shuttle service provided to and from the Fifield parking lot each day of the weekend series.
Neely, Caglianone Named NCBWA Award Finalists. Brandon Neely was tabbed a Stopper of the Year Finalist and Jac Caglianone a Dick Howser Trophy Finalist.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A pair of University of Florida baseball standouts were honored as award finalists by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association on Wednesday and Thursday in closer Brandon Neely and first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone
Neely was announced as one of 10 finalists for the 18th Annual Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball. Meanwhile, Caglianone was named one of five finalists for the 36th Dick Howser Howser Trophy, presented to the national college baseball player of the year.
A Seville, Fla. native, Neely is the lone SEC representative to be a Stopper of the Year finalist. The Dick Howser Trophy finalists also includes LSU's Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes, West Virginia's JJ Wetherholt and Wake Forest's Rhett Lowder.
Shifting to Florida's full-time closer in 2023 after serving as a weekend starter as a freshman, Neely has secured a perfect 12 saves in 12 opportunities this season. The First Team All-SEC reliever's 12 saves lead the conference and are tied for seventh nationally. Making 28 appearances out of the pen, the right-hander wields a 3.63 ERA, .237 batting average against and 61 strikeouts in 44 2/3 frames.
The Stopper of the Year recipient will be announced via a news conference on Friday, June 16, at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.
Caglianone, a 2023 All-Southeastern Conference First Team selection via Tampa, Florida, is the all-time leader for home runs in a season for the Gators with 31 and the first SEC slugger to hit 30-plus homers since the 2003 season. He also has been a key starting rotation pitcher for UF with a 7-3 record, and 81 strikeouts in 69 innings.
The Gators standout led UF to a 20-10 SEC mark (tied for first overall with Arkansas) and an SEC-most 48 victories entering the Super Regionals. A USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalist also leads NCAA DI with .5 round-trippers per clash with 31 in 62 games.
As it pertains to the Dick Howser Trophy, the winner's name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze bust of Howser, and the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.
NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport's only college media-related organization, founded in 1962. The Howser Trophy was created in 1987, shortly after Howser's death.
2023 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalists
Kyle Amendt, Dallas Baptist (6-5, 237, Jr. Pleasantville, Iowa)
Cade Denton, Oral Roberts (6-3, 180, Jr., Rowlett, Texas)
Simon Miller, UTSA (6-2, 210, Jr., Canton, Texas)
Camden Minacci, Wake Forest (6-2, 215, Jr., Tampa, Fla.)
Tyson Neighbors, Kansas State (6-2, 220, So., Royse City, Texas)
Brandon Neely Florida (6-3, 210, So., Seville, Fla.)
Mitchell Scott, Kent State (6-1, 225, Gr., San Mateo, Calif.)
Teddy Sharkey, Coastal Carolina (5-11, 215, Jr., Wall, N.J.)
James Tallon, Duke (6-5, 195, Fr., Arlington, Va.)
Andrew Walters, Miami (6-4, 220. Jr., Palm Bay, Fla.)
2023 NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy Finalists
Jac Caglianone Florida
Dylan Crews, LSU
Rhett Lowder, Wake Forest
Paul Skenes, LSU
JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia
UF MBK: Zyon Pullin Joins Loaded Transfer Class. The first-team All-Big West honoree averaged 18.3 points last season.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Florida added grad transfer guard Zyon Pullin to its loaded 2023 transfer class, head coach Todd Golden announced on Thursday.
The 6-foot-4 guard racked up 1,312 points over his four years at UC Riverside. Pullin became a three-time All-Big West honoree as his scoring average increased every season, culminating with first-team honors in 2022-23 as he posted 18.3 points per game.
"We are very excited to welcome Zyon into our program here at Florida," Golden said. "He's a very talented, mature young man who's won a lot of games in college and been very productive along the way. He has great positional size and plays with great pace and tempo. He will be a great asset to our team this year."
A native of Pleasant Hill, Calif., Pullin recorded four double-doubles and 19 games of 20+ points while at UC Riverside. Twelve of his 20-point games came last season, highlighted by a career-high 30 points vs. San Diego.
As a junior, Pullin averaged 14.3 points and averaged a career-high 5.6 rebounds as he earned second-team All-Big West honors. During his sophomore campaign, Pullin scored 12.1 points and dished 4.5 assists per game and earned honorable mention All-Big West in his first season as a starter.
Pullin is the Gators' fifth addition via the transfer portal this offseason, joining Walter Clayton Jr., Micah Handlogten, EJ Jarvis and Tyrese Samuel in what is rated the nation's No. 1 transfer class by data and analytics website EvanMiya.com. Florida has also inked a pair of incoming freshmen in Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon.
Zyon Pullin
G | 6-4 | Pleasant Hill, Calif. | UC Riverside| College Park HS
* Scored 1,312 points in 109 games with 77 starts during in his four seasons at UC Riverside, averaging 12.0 points per game over his career, including 18.3 during 2022-23.
* A three-time All-Big West honoree, earning first-team recognition in 2022-23, second-team in 2021-22 and honorable mention in 2020-21.
* A three-year starter whose scoring average increased every season, building from 4.1 points off the bench as a freshman, jumping to 12.1 points as a sophomore, 14.3 as a junior and 18.3 as a senior. He helped UC Riverside to a winning record - overall and conference - all three seasons as a starter.
* Posted four double-doubles and 19 games of 20+ points at UC Riverside, including a high of 30 vs. San Diego (12/20/22) that included a 5-for-6 performance from 3-point range.
* Had notable performances against power conference opponents, posting 21 points at Oregon, 17 points at Colorado and 10 points and eight assists in a win at Arizona State.
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Gators Begin National Search for Pitching Coach. Florida softball head coach Tim Walton announced the search with the departure of assistant coach Mike Bosch Thursday afternoon.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Head Coach Tim Walton of the Florida softball program has announced the departure of assistant coach Mike Bosch and a national search for his replacement Thursday afternoon. Bosch's duties within the program primarily included the development of UF's pitching staff.
"At the conclusion of the season Mike and I sat down and discussed the year and his career here as our pitching coach. We decided that moving in a different direction was best for the program," Walton said. "Mike is the hardest working person I have ever been around. His objective teaching style and game planning are at the top of the industry. This was an extremely difficult decision for us to make. Mike is a tremendous man and cares deeply for his athletes and the Gator Softball Program. I wish him, his wife Ellen and his family the absolute best." Since his hiring in July of 2018, Bosch has served as Florida's pitching coach over the last five seasons and has helped mentor and develop UF's pitchers who have earned two NFCA All-American accolades, three NFCA All-Southeast Region awards, three All-SEC selections and 10 SEC Pitcher of the Week honors.
"Being part of this University of Florida championship program has been an amazing professional and personal experience," Bosch said. "Thank you to Athletic Director Scott Stricklin and Head Coach Tim Walton. As I look forward to the next chapter in my coaching career, I wish Coach Walton and the team continued success."
Along the way he helped mentor Kelly Barnhill during her senior season in 2019, which led to her third NFCA All-American accolade and the program's fifth SEC Tournament Championship where Barnhill was tabbed the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
In 2021, Bosch guided Elizabeth Hightower to being the program's ninth overall NFCA All-American pitcher in program history. During that season the Gators also tied the 2012 single-season record with 12 saves, which saw Katie Chronister finish third nationally in the category and tie the individual single-season mark with six on the year.
Walton and the Gators will now conduct a national search for the program's next pitching coach, which has produced nine NFCA All-American pitchers who have earned 20 All-American accolades since the program's inception in 1997.
(Special to 1st & Ten Florida by Florida Athletics)
Huge Official Visit Weekend for Billy Napier and the Gators check out the latest schedule of visitors this weekend. What are you expecting from this weekend?
