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Florida baseball entered SEC play with confidence after a 16-2 non-conference start that included wins over rivals Florida State and Miami.
But it’s been shakier for the Florida Gators within the conference though the first six games in league play.
Florda (18-8. 0-6 SEC) was swept at home by No. 3 Georgia after being swept at No. 1 Tennessee the week before. The losses dropped Florida to No. 23 in this week's USA Today baseball Top 25
More concerning is the lopsided results, as UF has been outscored 62-20 in its first six league games. Florida is coming off a game in which it was run-ruled in seven innings by UGA in a 15-4 loss.
“I can't recall a weekend quite like this, to be honest with you,” Florida baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan said following Sunday’s loss. “Obviously disappointing. We had a team meeting yesterday after the game, pressed on them a little bit and obviously they did not respond.”
Florida will look to get back on track with another matchup against No. 4 FSU on Tuesday night (6 p.m., ACC Network, WRUF AM 850)
Here are some reasons why UF has gotten off to a poor SEC start:
Florida was missing its top two starters for its series over the weekend against Georgia. Sophomore righty Liam Peterson was held out due to arm fatigue, while redshirt junior lefty Piece Coppola has missed most of the month with a shoulder issue.
In addition, Florida has lost a key bullpen piece, lefty Frank Menendez, for the season with an elbow injury.
The injuries have exposed UF's lack of pitching depth. Freshman righty Aidan King has performed admirably with a 4.50 ERA and seven strikeouts in his first two SEC starts. But sophomore righty Jake Clemente (5 IP, 6 ER) hasn't taken the next step in his first two SEC starts of the season. Sophomore righty Alex Philpott has two saves on the season but failed in his first save opportunity in SEC play, surrendering a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning against the Bulldogs.
“We'll have to figure out the pitching,” O’Sullivan said. “Obviously, what we're doing right now is not working, so we'll make some changes."
Florida had a chance to tie the score in the bottom of the ninth on Friday night against Georgia when Colby Shelton walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. But Florida left fielder Blake Cyr failed to move Shelton over to third on a sacrifice bunt and struck out. A grounder by Brendan Lawson moved Shelton to third with two outs, and Landon Stripling then walked. But with runners on first and third, designated hitter Brody Donay struck out on three pitches to end the game.
Florida has played the No. 1 (Tennessee) and No. 3 (Georgia) teams in the USA Today Top 25 to start the 2025 season, as the Vols and Bulldogs have combined to go 46-4 to start the season.
The schedule won't necessarily lighten up this weekend as UF travels to face No. 15 Ole Miss. But after that, Florida starts an eight-game homestand with six SEC games against Vanderbilt and Missouri, two teams that aren't ranked. By then, Florida may find itself healthier on the mound and more capable of staying in games against conference opponents.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Why Florida basketball has struggled to start SEC play and can it turn
Continue reading...
But it’s been shakier for the Florida Gators within the conference though the first six games in league play.
Florda (18-8. 0-6 SEC) was swept at home by No. 3 Georgia after being swept at No. 1 Tennessee the week before. The losses dropped Florida to No. 23 in this week's USA Today baseball Top 25
More concerning is the lopsided results, as UF has been outscored 62-20 in its first six league games. Florida is coming off a game in which it was run-ruled in seven innings by UGA in a 15-4 loss.
“I can't recall a weekend quite like this, to be honest with you,” Florida baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan said following Sunday’s loss. “Obviously disappointing. We had a team meeting yesterday after the game, pressed on them a little bit and obviously they did not respond.”
Florida will look to get back on track with another matchup against No. 4 FSU on Tuesday night (6 p.m., ACC Network, WRUF AM 850)
Here are some reasons why UF has gotten off to a poor SEC start:
Pitching injuries have hurt Florida baseball
Florida was missing its top two starters for its series over the weekend against Georgia. Sophomore righty Liam Peterson was held out due to arm fatigue, while redshirt junior lefty Piece Coppola has missed most of the month with a shoulder issue.
In addition, Florida has lost a key bullpen piece, lefty Frank Menendez, for the season with an elbow injury.
The injuries have exposed UF's lack of pitching depth. Freshman righty Aidan King has performed admirably with a 4.50 ERA and seven strikeouts in his first two SEC starts. But sophomore righty Jake Clemente (5 IP, 6 ER) hasn't taken the next step in his first two SEC starts of the season. Sophomore righty Alex Philpott has two saves on the season but failed in his first save opportunity in SEC play, surrendering a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning against the Bulldogs.
“We'll have to figure out the pitching,” O’Sullivan said. “Obviously, what we're doing right now is not working, so we'll make some changes."
Florida baseball's situational hitting still needs work
Florida had a chance to tie the score in the bottom of the ninth on Friday night against Georgia when Colby Shelton walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch. But Florida left fielder Blake Cyr failed to move Shelton over to third on a sacrifice bunt and struck out. A grounder by Brendan Lawson moved Shelton to third with two outs, and Landon Stripling then walked. But with runners on first and third, designated hitter Brody Donay struck out on three pitches to end the game.
Florida baseball has played two Top 10 teams to start the season
Florida has played the No. 1 (Tennessee) and No. 3 (Georgia) teams in the USA Today Top 25 to start the 2025 season, as the Vols and Bulldogs have combined to go 46-4 to start the season.
The schedule won't necessarily lighten up this weekend as UF travels to face No. 15 Ole Miss. But after that, Florida starts an eight-game homestand with six SEC games against Vanderbilt and Missouri, two teams that aren't ranked. By then, Florida may find itself healthier on the mound and more capable of staying in games against conference opponents.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Why Florida basketball has struggled to start SEC play and can it turn
Continue reading...
