Gators Baseball Visits UCF, Then Hosts FAU

The Florida Gators baseball team looks to build on its strong start to the season as the Gators prepare for a packed five-game week. Coming off a series win against the Miami Hurricanes, the Gators will hit the road for a midweek matchup against UCF on Tuesday before returning to Gainesville for a four-game home-stand. Florida will host FAU on Wednesday and then welcome Harvard to Condron Family Ballpark for a three-game weekend series.

Bouncing Back After First Loss

The Gators took two out of the three games against Miami this past weekend, securing a 6-2 win on Friday and a 6-3 victory on Saturday before falling 13-7 in Sunday’s series finale. The loss marked Florida’s first of the season, as the Gators pitching staff struggled to contain Miami’s offense late in the game.

One of the standout performers of the series was sophomore infielder Bobby Boser, who batted .400 over the week while adding two home runs, four RBIs, and seven runs scored. His consistency at the plate will be crucial as the Gators prepare for a long week ahead.

Another standout performance this weekend was freshman Aidan King, who received his first weekly SEC Award as SEC Pitcher of the Week. King came in relief after Pierce Coppola left the game with an unknown injury on Saturday. This week King recorded 6.1 inning pitched along with seven strikeouts and zero runs allowed.

Midweek Matchups: UCF and FAU

The Gators (11-1) will travel to Orlando on Tuesday night to face UCF (8-3) in what promises to be a competitive in-state showdown. The Knights have been solid at home and will be looking to notch a signature win against Florida. The Gators then return to Gainesville to take on FAU (10-1) on Wednesday night, a team known for its explosive offense.

Weekend Series vs. Harvard

Florida will wrap up the week with a three-game series against Harvard (0-6), as the Crimson open their first true road series. The Ivy League program faces a tough test against the Gators, who have been dominant offensively to start the year.

Injury Concerns: Kurland and Coppola

The Gators could be without second baseman Cade Kurland this week after he suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday’s game. Kurland, who was batting .353 with three homers and 13 RBIs, dove to make a defensive play but remained on the ground in visible pain. The medical staff popped his shoulder back into place, but his timeline for return remains uncertain.

Additionally, it’s unclear if left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola will take the mound this weekend after he was pulled early on Saturday. Coppola was removed in the third inning after back-to-back walks, and while head coach Kevin O’Sullivan stated it was more of a precaution, his status will be monitored leading up to the Harvard series.

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

Looking Ahead

A demanding schedule and potential sidelining of key players will test the Gators’ depth. However, with strong offensive performances from hitters like Boser and a deep pitching staff, Florida remains in a good position to keep their winning momentum going.

First pitch against UCF is set for 6 p.m. (ESPN+) Tuesday, with Wednesday’s home game against FAU also beginning at 6 p.m. (SEC Network+). The Harvard series will start Friday at 6:30 p.m., followed by Saturday’s game at 3 p.m. and Sunday’s finale at 1 p.m.