With two SEC baseball series remaining in the regular season, Florida is in need of as many wins as possible in its six remaining games.
The Gators (25-23, 10-14 SEC) couldn’t have picked a better place to start that mission this weekend against No. 4 Kentucky (35-10, 18-6) – Condron Family Ballpark.
Game one between Florida and Kentucky is now set for 3:30 p.m. ⏰#GoGators pic.twitter.com/80jsq0B8AP
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 10, 2024
UF is 54-18 at home since the start of last season despite an 18-11 record at Condron Family Ballpark in 2024. The Gators have claimed 15 of their last 17 three-game, regular-season series at CFB dating to the 2022 season.
Home Series Finale 🏠 #GoGators pic.twitter.com/lccA59thZK
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 9, 2024
Florida has won six straight series against Kentucky and last dropped a home series to the Wildcats in 2015. UF is 148-72-1 all-time vs. the Wildcats featuring a 79-30 record at home. The Gators are 27-21 in the series under coach Kevin O’Sullivan, highlighted by a 12-9 mark in Gainesville. Florida and Kentucky most recently faced off in Gainesville in 2022, when Florida posted victories in the first two games for a series win (W 9-2, W 9-1, L 8-1).
The series was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. today due to inclement weather in the forecast in the evening. Weather conditions forced a delay until the 3:30 p.m. start. The game will air on SEC Network+, ESPN 98.1-FM/850-AM WRUF. Games 2-3 will air on the SEC Network at noon on Saturday and Sunday.
Game one Gators 🐊#GoGators pic.twitter.com/1tAaVTXAhv
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 10, 2024
Florida will start left-hander Pierce Coppola (0-2, 10.50 ERA), while Kentucky will start righty Trey Pooser (3-1, 3.88). Liam Peterson (1-4, 6.54) and Jac Caglianone (5-1, 4.39) are scheduled to start for UF on the weekend.
Staff set 🔒
Coppola » Peterson » Cags#GoGators pic.twitter.com/XvHdqv7PVs
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 9, 2024
Caglianone looks to extend his on-base streak now at 34 games and his 27-game hitting streak, which is three games shy of tying Jacob Young’s program record of 30 straight set from 2019-2021.
Checked all the boxes ☑️
27th home run ✔️
27-game hit streak ✔️
34-game on-base streak ✔️#GoGators pic.twitter.com/LE4xbRawpb— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 8, 2024
Florida closes the regular season at No. 15 Georgia starting May 16. The Gators would have to remain above .500 overall to qualify for an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.