Gators Open Final Season at McKethan Stadium Against Marshall

Friday, February 14

Gainesville, FL

6:30 PM

Florida Gators

Marshall

Senior Austin Langworthy and the Gators open their season against a first-time opponent this weekend.

Gators Open Final Season at McKethan Stadium Against Marshall

Thursday, February 13, 2020 | Baseball

By: Zach Dirlam

GAINESVILLE, Fla.- Florida Baseball opens the 2020 season with a three-game series against Marshall, with the season-opening game set for 6:30 p.m. Friday at McKethan Stadium.

As part of a season-long celebration of the final season at McKethan Stadium, members of the McKethan family will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for Friday night's game.

All three games this weekend will stream live on SEC Network+, via the ESPN app.

PITCHING MATCHUPS

	Friday \| 6:30 p.m. (SECN+)	Saturday \| 4 p.m. (SECN+)	Sunday \| 1 p.m. (SECN+)
Florida	RHP Tommy Mace	RHP Jack Leftwich	RHP Nick Pogue
Marshall	RHP Wade Martin	RHP Brady Choban	RHP Jeffrey Purnell

Gates Open: 4:30 p.m.

PARKING INFORMATION
Due to the men's basketball game versus Vanderbilt on Saturday, Feb. 15, the O'Connell Center lot will be closed off for basketball season ticket holders. Baseball fans may park in the O'Connell Center Parking Garage until full. The next parking option is in Garage 14 off Gale Lemerand Dr. Free shuttle services will be provided. Drop-off locations will be at Gate 2 of Exactech Arena for basketball, and at the Lemerand Center entrance on Stadium Rd. for baseball.

SERIES HISTORY (First Meeting)

Friday night will be the first-ever meeting between the Gators and Marshall.

BASE HITS (Full Game Notes)

Winning Tradition: Florida has been one of, if not the most consistently successful programs in the nation over the last decade. The Gators also have the most College World Series appearances since Kevin O'Sullivan's tenure as head coach began in 2008.

College World Series Appearances (since 2008)
- Florida – 7
- Arkansas – 5
- Florida State – 5
- LSU – 5
- North Carolina – 5
- TCU – 5
- Five Teams – 4

Total Wins (2010-19)
- Louisville – 470
- Vanderbilt – 464
- LSU – 457
- Florida – 455
- Florida State – 450

Most 40-Win Seasons (2010-19)
- Florida State – 10
- Louisville – 9
- Florida – 8
- Arkansas – 8
- Dallas Baptist – 8
- LSU – 8
- Three Teams – 7

Longest Active NCAA Tournament Streaks
- Florida State – 42 (1978-2019)
- Vanderbilt – 14 (2006-19)
- Texas A&M – 13 (2007-19)
- Florida – 12 (2008-19)
- Clemson – 11 (2009-19)

Opening Strong: Florida has won its opening weekend series each of the last 12 seasons, and it has swept nine of those series, including the last five in a row.

Star-Studded Newbies: Florida's roster features 15 newcomers this season, 13 of which are freshmen from a consensus top-three recruiting class.

Gators Closed 2019 with Hot Bats: Florida's offense surged late in the 2019 season, scoring 7-plus runs in seven of its final 11 games. Although the Gators went 1-2 in the Lubbock Regional, they scored 29 runs in three games – their highest regional total since scoring 33 in the 2011 Gainesville Regional.

PROMOTIONS

Friday, February 14th vs. Marshall | Opening Night

Special Entrance / Photo Opportunity – Walk the blue carpet at the main entrance and take a photo with the national championship sign in the background.
Food Truck Fridays – Food Truck Fridays are back! Cilantro Tacos and Soup to Nuts will be serving food throughout the game on the third base concourse, next to autograph alley.
Gators Students Rewards Check-In – UF students can check in via the Gators Students Rewards app to earn points toward great prizes.
Dazzlers – Members of the Dazzlers will join Albert in attendance for the game.
Kid's Korner – Come check out the newest additions to Kid's Korner, located on the first base side of the concourse. Kids (12 and under) have a chance to walk away with a prize.
Foul Ball for Queso – If a fan catches a clean foul ball out of the air with no deflections, everyone in attendance will win free queso!
Pepsi Ticket Deal – Fans may purchase the Pepsi ticket deal – which includes a ticket, hot dog, and drink – for only $7 each. This offer is only available for walk-up purchases the day of the game.
UFAA Ticket Deal – All UFAA members may purchase half-priced general admission tickets.
Military and First Responders – All military members and first responders, active and retired, may purchase half-priced general admission tickets.

Saturday, February 15th vs. Marshall

Kid's Korner – Come check out the newest additions to Kid's Korner, located on the first base side of the concourse. Kids (12 and under) have a chance to walk away with a prize.
Foul Ball for Queso – If a fan catches a clean foul ball out of the air with no deflections, everyone in attendance will win free queso!
Section Wars – Two sections will compete against each other for the chance to win a prize courtesy of Domino's.
Military and First Responders – All military members and first responders, active and retired, may purchase half-priced GA tickets.
Seniors – All senior citizens, ages 55 and older, may purchase half-priced general admission tickets while supplies last.

Sunday, February 16th vs. Marshall

Community Anthem – Kids 12 and under can stand on the field next to their favorite Gators during the National Anthem! Sign-ups for this are on the third base side in autograph alley, beginning at 12 p.m. Sign-ups end at 12:30 p.m.
Kids Circle The Bases – Kids (12 and under) can circle the bases following the game! Sign-ups for this are on the third base side in autograph alley, beginning in the 8th inning.
Kid's Korner – Come check out the newest additions to Kid's Korner, located on the first base side of the concourse. Kids (12 and under) have a chance to walk away with a prize.
Foul Ball for Queso – If a fan catches a clean foul ball out of the air with no deflections, everyone in attendance will win free queso!
Dollar Sundays – Fans may purchase general admission tickets for only $1!