Gators Host Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown

GAINESVILLE, Fla.--No. 7 Florida (13-5) hosts No. 6 Florida State (13-1) on Tuesday in the first Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown of the season. It's the first Top 10 matchup of the year for the Gators.

PITCHING MATCHUPS | TICKETS

	Tuesday \| 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
UF	LHP Jordan Butler (1-1, 2.25)
FSU	RHP Conor Grady (2-0, 1.54)

SERIES HISTORY

Florida has won eight in a row against Florida State and 13 of the last 14. Head coach Kevin O'Sullivan is 14-2 against FSU in Gainesville. Florida State leads the overall series 128-118-1, but the Gators are 62-48 against the Seminoles in Gainesville.

QUICK HITS

SUNSHINE SHOWDOWN: Florida is currently on a program-best eight-game win streak over Florida State dating back to 2016. During those eight games, the Gators have shut out the Seminoles four times and outscored FSU 46-17.
QUIET BASEPATHS: Florida State does not have a stolen base against UF in the past 10 meetings (one attempt). Meanwhile, the Gators have 14 steals in those 10 games.
STARTING STRONG: Over the last five years, the Gators have won all 20 non-conference weekend series with an overall 55-5 record in those matchups.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Gators are in the midst of a 14-game homestand (7-2 record thus far). It's the longest stretch of home games for UF in 16 years, since Florida had a 19-game stretch in 2005 (15-4 record).
OFFENSE SURGING: UF's offense has heated up since the calendar turned to March. UF ranks second in the SEC in runs (138, 6th in NCAA) and hits (178, 9th in NCAA).

	February (6-4)	March (7-1)
Avg	.238	.354
Runs	47	91
Runs/Game	4.7	11.4
Home Runs	3	16
Slugging Pct.	.341	.580
On Base Pct.	.353	.436

LIMITING FREE PASSES: After allowing 12 walks on opening weekend, the pitching staff has steadily improved each week and only walked three batters in the series with Yale.
WHOA NELLY: Nelson Maldonado, a senior captain, has been on fire the last two weeks. Over the past 10 games, he is 17-for-35 (.486) with eight extra base hits, two home runs and 15 RBI. He has only struck out twice in 40 plate appearances in that span and has six multi-hit games.
STREAKING: Shortstop Brady McConnell has an active hitting streak of 14 games (21-51, .412). On the season, McConnell is tied for second in the SEC with 26 hits (15th in NCAA).
Jacob Young has a 10-game hitting streak (18-41, .439) since being inserted into the lineup at Jacksonville with six multi-hit games in that span.
FAB FRESHMAN: Florida's freshmen class has produced in a big way. Offensively, six true freshmen have combined to start 64 games and hit .323 (76-235) with nine home runs and 51 RBI. Kendrick Calilao leads the way with a .359 average and a team-best 19 RBI. In addition, Jud Fabian leads the team with five home runs and has a team-best four game-winning RBI. He's hitting .345 on the year with a .727 slugging percentage, fifth-best in the SEC. On the mound, seven freshman have combined for 62.0 innings with a 3.48 earned run average (24 ER allowed). Nolan Crisp has racked up seven saves in seven appearances. Crisp's seven saves lead the nation. Overall, all 16 Gators' newcomers have seen playing time this season, including 11 true freshmen.
COMPLETE GAME NOTES

PARKING INFORMATION

Tuesday also marks the start of spring football practice, which is open to fans. Practice is scheduled from 4:15-6:45 p.m. so normal parking options may be crowded. The following are recommended for fans attending baseball.

First-come, first-serve in O'Connell Center Garage
A FREE shuttle service is provided from Garage IX at the Intersection of Gale Lemerand Drive and Archer Road. The shuttle begins 2 hours prior to the start of the earliest scheduled event, and will end approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the last event. (map)
James G. Pressly Stadium
Law School
Frat Row, along Fraternity Drive
Please DO NOT park along any roads or in the grass and only use parking lots or garages.

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