Gator Baseball Hosts Weekend Series Against Georgia

This weekend the No. 2 Gator baseball team (34-5) will host a three-day series against the Georgia Bulldogs (20-18). The Gators are coming off of a 3-1 win over the Jacksonville University Dolphins on Tuesday. The Bulldogs come to Gainesville after a 12-0 loss against Clemson on Tuesday. The Gators are currently tied for the top spot in the SEC with No. 8 South Carolina. The Gators are currently 11-4 in the conference and Georgia is 6-9 in the conference and fifth in the East.

Before the Bulldogs loss to Clemson they beat South Carolina in Athens by winning the series despite losing the first day. This proves that Georgia can play well and Florida Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan is aware of how good teams are and how they go through up and downs

“They’re playing better, it’s not who you play it’s when you play teams obviously they didn’t play as well as they did against Clemson, but I would expect them to play well and I think they’ve got their line up figured out”.

The Gators themselves have also gone through ups and downs this season with going back and forth with the No. 2 and No. 1 spots in the country “Regardless of all of the teams you play all teams go through ups and downs during the season, you just hope you catch teams at the wrong time”. On Georgia’s side, junior right hander Robert Tyler (3-3, 2.77) will go up against Florida’s A.J. Puk(2-2, 3.41) . Puk is a left handed pitcher but O’Sullivan has hinted at a right handed showing for Puk, which will give the crowd a treat in the stadium. 

Highly recommend watching tonight’s Robert Tyler/AJ Puk matchup if you love #MLBDraft prospects. @KP_Omaha on the call.

— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogersD1) April 21, 2016

In Game 2, Florida junior right-hander Logan Shore(7-0, 2.50) will go against Georgia junior left-hander Connor Jones (5-2, 5.08). Sophomore Alex Faedo (7-1, 3.67) will face a pitcher to be announced on Saturday.

Georgia has one of the strongest schedules in the country with a high RPI of 37, however Georgia head Coach Scott Stricklin is aware of how strong Florida is, especially after they swept Texas A&M. 

Since it is Georgia, there is a rivalry here. “It’s one of the hidden rivalries we try not to think about.Obviously since it’s Georgia it means a little more to us, and the fans love it,” sophomore infielder Dalton Guthrie said. O’Sullivan is also proud of the dedicated Gator baseball fans and knows that they help the team with their record. 

You can catch this SEC match up at the McKethan Stadium on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. as well as on ESPNU, Friday on the SEC Network at 7 p.m., and 2 p.m. on Saturday on ESPN2. Coverage is also available for all three games on ESPN Gainesville 95.3 FM.

#Gators' uniform combination for the series opener against Georgia at 7:30 p.m. – live on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/oB7H6Xzpsz

— Gator Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 21, 2016