Florida Baseball Seeks Redemption Against FSU After Weekend Sweep

After starting 3-0 in conference play, the Florida Gators baseball team fell back down to Earth with a weekend series-sweep loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

After leading the series finale for the first five and a half innings, the Gators were outscored 14-3 the rest of the way, resulting in a 14-7 loss in Tuscaloosa as Florida was swept for the first time this season, and dropped an SEC series for the first time since April 2025. 

The Gators (19-6, 3-3 SEC) will look for redemption this week as they head to Jacksonville to face off against in-state rival Florida State (19-4, 5-1 ACC). Florida looks to earn a second win against the Seminoles this season, with their last meeting ending in a 6-3 Gator victory on March 10 at Condron Family Ballpark. 

Junior righty Russell Sandefer will get the start for Florida on the mound. The former UCF transfer has recorded 13 strikeouts while surrendering five runs and eight hits across eight full innings of action. But, after a shaky outing against Alabama, Sandefer and the rest of the bullpen will need to bounce back against a red-hot Seminoles team.

No. 10-ranked FSU is coming off of a series win over No. 14 NC State at home this past weekend, its second top-15 series win to begin ACC play, as they look to build upon a two-game win streak. They will be led by the arm of junior lefty Cooper Whited, who has logged 11 strikeouts while surrendering just three walks in eight innings of play across four appearances.

The Gators and Seminoles will both travel on the road tomorrow to VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville, Florida, with the game set to begin at 6 p.m. 

Category: Gators Baseball