Gators Climb To No. 7 After Series Win Against Miami

The Florida Gators continued their strong start to the season by finishing the week with a 4-1 record, including a marquee series victory against rival Miami.

After securing wins against Stetson and North Florida earlier in the week, Florida took the first two games of the weekend series against the Hurricanes before dropping the Sunday finale.

Despite the series-ending loss, Florida’s performance was enough to move them up one spot in this week’s D1Baseball rankings, jumping from No. 8 to No. 7. Coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s squad showcased its offensive firepower and pitching depth throughout the week, proving it is one of the nation’s most complete teams.

https://twitter.com/d1baseball/status/1896572529356988465

Key Performers: Boser, Heyman, and Lawson Shine

One of the standout players for Florida this week was senior infielder Bobby Boser. Boser delivered a stellar performance, batting .400 while adding two home runs, four RBIs, and seven runs scored. His consistency at the plate provided a major boost for the Gators offense.

Catcher Luke Heyman also made his presence felt, especially in Saturday’s victory over Miami, where he belted a pair of two-run home runs, accounting for four of Florida’s six runs. His power surge was instrumental in securing the series win.

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Another key contributor was freshman Brendan Lawson, who has been on a tear early in the season. Lawson batted .388 for the week, driving in four runs and scoring six times. His ability to get on base and produce runs has been a huge asset for Florida.

Injury Concerns Loom Over Florida

While the series win was a success, Florida suffered a couple of significant injuries that could have long-term implications. Second baseman Cade Kurland exited Saturday’s game after making a diving play, suffering a shoulder dislocation. The medical staff was able to pop it back into place, but his timeline for return remains uncertain. Kurland has been a key part of the Gators lineup, batting .353 with three home runs, 13 RBIs, and eight runs scored this season.

The second injury concern is left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola, who was pulled in the third inning of Saturday’s game after walking back-to-back batters. O’Sullivan and the medical staff opted for caution, and while Coppola insisted he was fine, the decision to remove him raises questions about his availability moving forward.

No update on Pierce Coppola … Sully said he just didn't look right in the 3rd, went out and asked him how he was, Coppola said he felt fine but they pulled him.

Cade Kurland's shoulder popped out in the first, popped back in.

— Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) March 2, 2025

Around the Top 25: Texas A&M Plummets, New Teams Enter Rankings

While Florida moved up, Texas A&M suffered the biggest fall of the week. The Aggies entered Sunday on a four-game losing streak before snapping it with a dominant 14-4 run-rule win over Rice. However, the damage was already done, as they plummeted from No. 1 all the way down to No. 14. The loss of star third baseman Gavin Grahovac for the season due to a shoulder injury has clearly hurt their performance.

Meanwhile, the back end of the rankings saw four new teams enter the Top 25. No. 22 Auburn (4-0 this week), No. 23 Alabama (4-0 this week), No. 24 Coastal Carolina (4-0 this week) and No. 25 Oklahoma State (4-1 this week, lost to Tennessee)

As new teams joined, several programs fell out of the rankings, including Duke (formerly No. 17), Mississippi State (formerly No. 18), Cincinnati (formerly No. 23) and TCU (formerly No. 25).

Looking Ahead

The Gators will look to build on their momentum as they head into two midweek games against UCF and FAU. With injuries to key players, depth will be tested, but Florida has the talent to remain among the nation’s elite. If their bats stay hot and pitching holds up, expect the Gators to continue climbing the rankings.