Florida Baseball Faces Big Test At Unbeaten FSU

The Florida Gators will face their biggest midweek test of the season on Tuesday when they take on undefeated Florida State at Mike Martin Field/Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee. The matchup marks the first of three meetings between the two teams this season, with each game played at a different location throughout the season.

Despite Florida’s recent edge in the rivalry, winning five of the last nine meetings over the past three seasons, last year was a disaster for the Gators against the Seminoles. Florida went 0-3 with a staggering -30 run differential across the three games. Coach Kevin O’Sullivan, who boasts a 29-21 record against Florida State, will look to steer his team back on track in a rivalry that FSU still leads all-time 134-127-1.

Gators Coming Off a Statement Weekend

No. 7 Florida (15-2) enters the game with renewed confidence after dominating Harvard in a three-game weekend series, outscoring the Crimson by a combined 41-6. The Gators’ offense exploded, with standout performances from Bobby Boser and Ty Evans leading the charge. Boser was nearly unstoppable, going 5-for-10 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch while scoring seven runs and driving in 10. Even more impressively, he didn’t strike out all weekend.

Evans, who struggled to start the season, may have found his rhythm in Saturday’s doubleheader. Entering the day batting in the low .200s, he surged back to form with a 3-for-4 performance in the second game. He scored four runs and drove in three while finishing just a home run shy of the cycle. His efforts helped push his batting average up to .290, a promising sign for the Gators as they prepare for a tough week.

Pitching Shows Signs of Improvement

Following some bullpen struggles at the end of the Miami series and a rocky outing against UCF last Tuesday, Florida’s pitching staff responded well against Harvard. Unusual weekend starters Aidan King and Matthew Jenkins got the nod, with King delivering a dominant six-inning shutout performance, striking out eight while allowing just two hits.

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Jenkins however, ran into early trouble, allowing two runs on four hits in his first three innings. While reliever Luke McNeillie also struggled, surrendering three runs on three hits in just one inning of work.

The Gators’ pitching staff still racked up 34 strikeouts while issuing only six walks over the weekend. Harvard only managed to score in one of the three games, and five of its six total runs came in the first four innings of Saturday’s second game. The improved performance from Florida’s arms will need to carry over if they hope to contain Florida State’s (15-0) red hot offense.

Seminoles Remain Unbeaten

No. 5 FSU (15-0) enters the matchup as one of the nation’s final two unbeaten teams, alongside defending national champions, Tennessee (16-0), whom the Gators will face this weekend in a crucial SEC series in Knoxville. The Seminoles have been firing on all cylinders, making this a key measuring stick game for Florida as it aims to regain control in this rivalry and build momentum heading into the weekend.

With Florida State’s early dominance and Florida looking to prove itself after last season’s struggles, Tuesday night’s showdown in Tallahassee is shaping up to be a must-watch rivalry battle at 6 p.m. on ACCNX.