No. 7 Florida Closes Regular Season Against Auburn At McKethan Stadium
Wednesday, May 13, 2015 | Baseball
Florida vs. Auburn Series Notes
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After taking two of three games from defending national champion No. 8 Vanderbilt, No. 7 Florida (38-14/17-10 SEC) wraps up the regular season and will honor its three seniors this weekend when Western Division rival Auburn (33-20/12-15 SEC) comes to Gainesville.
In a matchup of sophomore right-handers, Logan Shore (6-5, 2.85) will face Tiger hurler Cole Lipscomb (6-2, 2.47) in Thursday's series opener at 7 p.m., sophomore left-hander A.J. Puk (7-3, 4.73) will oppose an AU pitcher to be determined in game two of the series on Friday at 7 p.m. and neither club has announced a starter for Saturday's finale at 1 p.m.
All three games of the weekend series can be heard through GatorZone.com and on the Gator IMG Sports Network with the combination of Jeff Cardozo and Mick Hubert. The entire series will be carried on SEC Network+ with Jeff Cardozo and Mick Hubert through participating TV providers only through WatchESPN. Live stats for each game will be available on GatorZone.com and fans can also follow updates of each game on @GatorZoneBB, the official Twitter account of the Gator baseball team.
QUICK HITS ABOUT THE GATORS
- UF will recognize LHP Bobby Poyner, RHP Aaron Rhodes and 3B Josh Tobias in pregame festivities on Saturday afternoon.
- Entering the final conference series, the Gators are 8-4 (.750) at home and were 9-6 (.600) on the road in SEC play.
- The Gators have a 21-4 (.840) non-conference mark this season and are 17-10 (.630) against SEC teams. The squad checks in at No. 6 in the latest RPI rankings from the NCAA.
- The Orange and Blue has a 6-3 (.667) mark in SEC series - 3-1 (.750) at home and 3-2 (.600) on the road.
- Florida's bullpen is 17-2 with a 2.98 ERA and 11 saves, and has registered 186 strikeouts in 223.2 innings.
- UF is hitting .296 as team, has compiled a team earned run average of 3.41 and leads the nation with a .985 fielding percentage.
- Florida has played error-free baseball in 30 of its 52 games and is 24-6 (.800) in those games. The single-season school record for fielding percentage is .978, set in 2010.
- The Gators are 34-2 (.944) when out-hitting their opponent, 29-3 (.906) when scoring first, 24-5 (.828) when hitting a homer and 19-1 (.950) when scoring in the first inning. UF came from behind in both of its victories over No. 8 Vanderbilt last weekend.
- Tobias, who continues to lead the Gators with a .361 overall batting average and a .348 league clip, was 6-for-16 (.375) in helping the Orange and Blue to three wins in four outings last week. He enters the Auburn series on a nine-game hitting streak in which he is 13-for-35 (.371) with eight runs, four walks and three doubles.
- Sophomore center fielder Buddy Reed (.316, 39 RBI, 38 runs) went 4-for-10 (.400) versus the Commodores, highlighted by a three-run homer in the first inning of the finale, when he was 3-for-5 and scored twice.
- Sophomore right fielder Ryan Larson (.316, 23 runs, 22 RBI) was a team-best .417 (5-for-12) in Nashville and is batting .368 (7-for-19) in his five-game hitting streak.
- Sophomore left-hander A.J. Puk (7-3, 4.73) was among the Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week on Monday following his career-high 12 strikeouts over seven innings to defeat Vanderbilt last Friday night. Over his last two starts, the lefty has totaled 23 strikeouts, permitted three walks and surrendered two runs in 13 innings.
- Junior righty Taylor Lewis (4-1, 1.78) had two scoreless appearances spanning 3.1 innings at No. 8 Vanderbilt and picked up the win in the deciding game three with 2.2 scoreless innings. He also leads the club with six saves and has 24 strikeouts in 35.1 innings, compared to eight walks.
- According to the most recent SEC statistics, Florida ranks No. 1 in fielding percentage (.985), No. 3 in team batting average (.296) and No. 5 in team ERA (3.41).
- Freshman JJ Schwarz is second in the league in RBI (54), tied for third in home runs (14) and sixth in slugging percentage (.612), junior Harrison Bader is tied for sixth in home runs (11), seventh in RBI (48) and ninth in slugging (.585), junior Richie Martin is tied for seventh in runs scored (47) and tied for ninth in stolen bases (16), Tobias is sixth in batting average (.361) and freshman Dalton Guthrie is 12th in runs scored (44).
SERIES NUGGETS
Head coach Kevin O'Sullivan is 9-4 (.692) against Auburn, 4-2 (.667) in Gainesville, 4-2 (.667) at Plainsman Park and 1-0 (1.000) at the SEC Tournament. The teams last met from May 10-12, 2013, when the Tigers took two of three games at McKethan Stadium.
TICKETS
Single-game tickets can be purchased online through GatorZone or by calling the Gator Ticket Office at 1-800-34-GATOR from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For all of the latest information on Florida baseball, log on to GatorZone or follow the team's Twitter account @GatorZoneBB.
PROMOTIONS
Thursday, May 14, 7 p.m.
- Presenting sponsor: COX Communications
- City of Gainesville Appreciation Night
Gainesville residents with valid I.D. can purchase 2-for-1 reserved bleacher seating. - City of Ocala Appreciation Night
Ocala residents with valid I.D. can purchase 2-for-1 reserved bleacher seating.
Friday, May 15, 7 p.m.
- Presenting sponsor: COX Communications
- Friday Night Fireworks
Following the game, there will be a fireworks display for all fans. - Pepsi Family Night
Families can purchase 4 general admission tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas for only $20. - Gator Booster Night
All Gator Booster members with valid ID receive 2-for-1 reserved bleacher seating. - Kona Ice Truck
Will be on the concourse serving flavored ice. - Giveaway Yard Sale
Fans will be able to grab one of our leftover giveaway items from the season.
Saturday, May 16, 1 p.m.
- Presenting sponsor: COX Communications
- Job Well Done Day
Elementary and Middle School students that have done a Job Well Done this year will receive free general admission passes from their teachers to the game, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. - Military/First Responder Appreciation Day
Military members, veterans, and first responders with valid ID receive 2-for-1 reserved bleacher seating. - Seniors Day
Fans, 55 and older, with valid ID receive 2-for-1 reserved bleacher seating. - Florida Baseball Beach Towel
The first 300 fans in attendance will receive a Florida Baseball beach towel. - Gators' Senior Day
Arrive early as prior to the game we will honor our Gator seniors Bobby Poyner, Aaron Rhodes and Josh Tobias - Balloon Animals
Balloon artist Magic Mike will be in attendance from 12-2 p.m. - Kids Korner
Kids Korner will be set up on the concourse with coloring pages and games for kids - Community National Anthem
Prior to the game, all kids 12 and under can run onto the field and stand with the Gator players during the National Anthem.
All Promotions are Subject to Change
