Gator Baseball Hosts UNF Tonight

The Gator baseball team takes on the University of North Florida tonight at McKethan Stadium. The Gators are looking to seek revenge after an extra-inning 7-6 loss to the Ospreys earlier this season.

Tonight’s matchup will start with freshman right-hander Tucker Simpson (0-1, 4.96 ERA) on the mound for Florida. Gator starting pitchers are 0-7 so far this season. Simpson will face junior right-hander David Trexler (2-1, 2.70 ERA).

The Ospreys are hitting .318 on the season; their normal lineup is highlighted by junior first-baseman Ryan Roberson with a batting average of .369 and 12 RBI’s. Ryan Roberson is the brother of the Florida’s freshman designated hitter, Brady Roberson, who is hitting .294 with three RBI’s.

North Florida has a season record of 15-6 while Florida is sitting at 9-12. The only ranked opponent UNF has faced this season was Florida when they were No. 29, while Florida has faced four ranked opponents including Florida Gulf Coast (30), Indiana (29), Kentucky (9), and Florida State (5). Additionally, Florida will face No. 2 Vanderbilt this weekend in Nashville.

In the last matchup between UNF and UF, both teams used six pitchers each in their 10 inning game. The Osprey’s victory came off of a clutch RBI double from Corey Bass that scored Alex Bacon, giving the Ospreys a 7-6 lead. North Florida then brought a strong defensive performance in the bottom of the 10th that held the Gators to no runs to secure the win.

The Gators are coming off of a 2-1 series loss to No. 9 Kentucky this past weekend. Despite the loss, Florida did get their first Friday night win of the season.

North Florida is coming off of a sweep to Louisiana-Lafayette this past weekend with scores of 7-5, 7-1, and 7-1.  A victory over Florida would give them a four game winning streak.

The Gators and Ospreys are tied at 6-6 all-time. Seven out of the 12 games between the two schools have been decided by two runs or less, making this a great in-state rivalry. Florida’s loss to North Florida was in the midst of its six-game losing streak this season.

Florida’s tentative lineup is as follows:

Tune into Country 103-7 The Gator beginning at 6:55pm for live coverage of the game.

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