Tuesday, March 8
Gainesville, FL
6 PM
Florida Gators
vs
Jacksonville
No. 11 Gators Welcome Jacksonville for Midweek Series
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 11 Gators return to Florida Ballpark after a three-game series at No. 22 Miami over the weekend, hosting Jacksonville of the Atlantic Sun Conference for a two-game midweek set.
The pair of matchups will stream live at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Wednesday on SEC Network+.
Dating back to 1963, Florida and Jacksonville have faced off a grand total of 98 times with the Gators boasting a 64-34 edge in the all-time series including a 39-15 mark at home. Florida and Jacksonville met four times during the 2021 season, with the Gators going 3-1 after dropping the first matchup of the year to the Dolphins. The Orange & Blue have won three straight vs. Jacksonville and are 9-1 over the last-10 meetings. Under head coach Kevin O'Sullivan, Florida is 18-6 vs. the Dolphins including 14-4 at home.
Pitching Matchups
Entering week four of the season, Florida is ranked inside the top-13 by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA and USA Today, peaking at No. 10 and sitting at No. 11 in the D1Baseball Top-25.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gators went 4-1 last week, sweeping the midweek slate with wins at North Florida (W, 11-2) and vs. Florida A&M (W, 17-0) before taking two-of-three at No. 22 Miami (L, 2-5 / W, 8-1 / W, 11-3). With the strong week, Florida has won nine of its last-10 games.
SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS
Jacksonville is off to an 8-4 start to the season, but the Dolphins have stumbled as of late after opening the year with five-consecutive victories. Jacksonville hosted Butler in a three-game series last weekend, winning each of the first-two matchups prior to dropping the series finale. The Dolphins went 16-34 (3-15 ASUN) last season and entered the 2022 campaign picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic Sun preseason poll.
SULLY CLOSES IN ON 600
2022 represents O'Sullivan's 15th season as the head coach at Florida. During that time, O'Sullivan owns a 595-281 (.679) record, passing the legendary Dave Fuller (556-354-6) for the most wins in program history on March 9, 2021. O'Sullivan's .679 winning percentage ranks third among all active Division I head coaches, while Florida's .622 clip in SEC play since 2008 stands as the top mark in the conference. O'Sullivan is just five wins away for 600 in his career (all at Florida).
NESBITT'S RETURN
Tuesday's starting pitcher, right-hander Tyler Nesbitt, has not pitched in an official game since March 10, 2020 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Nesbitt appeared in five games as a freshman in 2020, logging a 0.00 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 11.2 IP.
HOT AT HOME
Florida is 33-6 across its last-39 regular season games at Florida Ballpark, including an 18-3 mark in their last-21. In the inaugural season of Florida Ballpark, the Gators delivered a dominant 28-9 record at home. Florida closed out the regular season with eight-straight home series victories, going 27-4 at home in the team's final 31 regular-season contests and losing just one game in the final 13 matchups in that span.
PITCHING ON POINT
Florida ranks 14th nationally with a 2.33 team ERA backed by a 1.89 ERA from the Gators bullpen. Florida pitchers have combined for a 1.72 ERA over the last-10 games dating back to Feb. 22 at Stetson.
OFFENSE ON POINT
Hitting just .186 as a team after opening weekend vs. Liberty, the Gators now own a .300 average heading into the Jacksonville midweek series (opponents: .200). Last week, the Gators batted .311 as a team while holding opponents to a .186 mark. Florida has outscored opponents by a 103-32 margin on the season (+71).
LEAVING THE YARD
The Gators rank second in the nation with 27 home runs. Meanwhile, the Florida pitching staff has allowed just five home runs all year.
HERE COMES THE JUD
2021 Third Team All-American outfielder Jud Fabian got off to a slow start to the season, but is hitting .379/.538/.828 with four homers and 10 RBI over Florida's last-eight games. Fabian recorded his sixth-career multi-homer game on March 2 vs. FAMU and homered again at Miami on March 5 to bring his career total to 36 home runs, which ranks tied-for-eighth all-time at Florida. The Ocala, Fla. native posted a .600 on-base percentage and slugged .750 during the three-game series at No. 22 Miami, drawing seven walks over the course of the weekend.
ALL-NATIONAL DEFENSE
With just six errors in 464 defensive chances, the Florida defense ranks 11th nationally with a .987 fielding percentage.
SPROAT SHINES
For the third time in as many weeks, a Gator garnered weekly SEC honors. This time it was right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat, who made two starts last week (at UNF, at No. 22 Miami) and posted a 0.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 8.1 innings of work. Dazzling against No. 22 Miami on March 5, Sproat fired a career-high 6.1 shutout innings to earn the victory with four hits allowed, two walks and eight strikeouts.
STERLIN SLAMS
Coming off an All-SEC Freshman Team 2021 season, outfielder Sterlin Thompson is batting .396/.408/.525 with a team-high five home runs (T-18 nationally) and 15 RBI.
PIECE OF BLAKE
Making his first-seven career appearances, right-handed reliever Blake Purnell has not allowed an earned run across 14.0 IP to begin the year. Purnell is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and has 14 strikeouts compared to just one walk.
TAKE A FIC
After being out for all of 2021, right-handed pitcher Nick Ficarrotta has appeared in six games already to open the year with a 2-0 record, two saves, a 1.32 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched. He fired a career-high 4.2 scoreless frames on one hit and one walk with a career-high six strikeouts to earn the win at Stetson on Feb. 22. He also pitched 2.2 shutout innings with five strikeouts at No. 22 Miami to earn the save on March 5.
FRESHMAN FLIES
From Feb. 26 to March 2, a Florida freshman hit his first-career homer in four-straight games: Corey Robinson (3/2), Deric Fabian (3/1), Ty Evans (2/27) and Rene Lastres (2/26).
BALLPARK OF THE YEAR
Opened in 2021, the state-of-the-art Florida Ballpark was named Ballpark Digest's 2021 College Ballpark of the Year in December. Newly equipped with permanent outfield concessions and restrooms, Florida Ballpark features a 360-degree open concourse, shade structures for fans and high definition video and sound.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES APPLENTY
Numerous Gators garnered recognition leading up to the 2022 season, beginning with a trio of preseason All-Americans in left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco (first team), Fabian (first team) and Thompson (third team). In particular, Barco received a consensus preseason All-America distinction, earning honors from every major publication. Barco and Fabian also received Preseason All-SEC First Team nods.
POSITIONAL STANDOUTS
A handful of Gators were ranked by D1Baseball as top players in the nation at their respective positions heading into the season: Barco (No. 7 starting pitcher), infielder Colby Halter (No. 9 second baseman), Fabian (No. 10 outfielder), shortstop Josh Rivera (No. 16 shortstop), catcher Mac Guscette (No. 19 catcher), Thompson (No. 20 outfielder), left-handed pitcher Philip Abner (No. 28 relief pitcher), infielder/designated hitter Kris Armstrong (No. 41 first baseman), left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola (No. 65 starting pitcher), Sproat (No. 101 starting pitcher) and right-handed pitcher Nick Pogue (No. 104 starting pitcher).
DRAFT BUZZ
After being selected 40th overall in last year's draft, Fabian is again projected as Florida's top prospect by MLB Pipeline, coming in as the No. 45 overall prospect for the 2022 MLB Draft. Barco follows closely behind at No. 54, while Thompson (No. 90) and Sproat (No. 98) fell just inside the top 100. The Gators' middle infield duo of Halter and Rivera recently received draft buzz as well, with D1baseball ranking the former as the No. 60 college prospect and the latter sitting at No. 78. All six of the aforementioned players were ranked as top-30 prospects in the SEC by D1Baseball, in addition to Pogue, who was tabbed the conference's No. 50 prospect.
OPENING THE GATES
The gates of Florida Ballpark will open two hours and 15 minutes prior to first pitch for every home game.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON GAME DAY
Those visiting Florida Ballpark on game day should be aware of updated traffic patterns surrounding the ballpark. The 2022 season welcomes the addition of Ballpark Way, which will serve as a connecting route to the ballpark from Archer Road. For those departing the ballpark via Hull Road, fans will be directed to turn right onto Hull Road from the parking lot and travel eastbound towards SW 23rd Drive. See HERE for a postgame traffic guide to utilize when departing the ballpark.
PARKING/SHUTTLES
General Parking is available in the west Florida Ballpark baseball lot and the Fifield parking lot located directly across Hull Road. Disabled parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Florida Ballpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard. Click HERE for a Parking map.
Due to the likelihood of increased traffic for this weekend, parking may be limited around Florida Ballpark and other athletic venues located on the southwest side of campus. Fans are encouraged to park in the lot located at Fifield Hall.
There will be a free shuttle service provided to and from the Fifield parking lot each day of the weekend series.
MOBILE TICKETING & FLORIDA GATORS APP
As a reminder, mobile ticketing is required. There will be two ways to access your tickets:
1) through the Florida Gators app from your mobile device or
2) through FloridaGators.com/myaccount. Fans will also be able to transfer or donate their tickets easily within the app or online.
For a smoother and safer entry on game day, fans are encouraged to add their tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay account in advance of coming to the ballpark.
ON DECK
Following this week's midweek slate, the Gators host Seton Hall in a three-game series spanning from Friday, March 11 to Sunday, March 13. All-three games will stream live on SEC Network+.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
The pair of matchups will stream live at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Wednesday on SEC Network+.
Dating back to 1963, Florida and Jacksonville have faced off a grand total of 98 times with the Gators boasting a 64-34 edge in the all-time series including a 39-15 mark at home. Florida and Jacksonville met four times during the 2021 season, with the Gators going 3-1 after dropping the first matchup of the year to the Dolphins. The Orange & Blue have won three straight vs. Jacksonville and are 9-1 over the last-10 meetings. Under head coach Kevin O'Sullivan, Florida is 18-6 vs. the Dolphins including 14-4 at home.
Pitching Matchups
| Tuesday | 6:00 p.m. (SECN+) | Wednesday | 6 p.m. (SECN+) | |
| Jacksonville | RHP Michael Darrell-Hicks (0-0, 3.86 ERA) | RHP Heston Mosley (0-1, 6.75 ERA) |
| Florida | RHP Tyler Nesbitt (0-0, 0.00 ERA) | TBD |
| Links | WATCH | LISTEN | WATCH | LISTEN |
Entering week four of the season, Florida is ranked inside the top-13 by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA and USA Today, peaking at No. 10 and sitting at No. 11 in the D1Baseball Top-25.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gators went 4-1 last week, sweeping the midweek slate with wins at North Florida (W, 11-2) and vs. Florida A&M (W, 17-0) before taking two-of-three at No. 22 Miami (L, 2-5 / W, 8-1 / W, 11-3). With the strong week, Florida has won nine of its last-10 games.
SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS
Jacksonville is off to an 8-4 start to the season, but the Dolphins have stumbled as of late after opening the year with five-consecutive victories. Jacksonville hosted Butler in a three-game series last weekend, winning each of the first-two matchups prior to dropping the series finale. The Dolphins went 16-34 (3-15 ASUN) last season and entered the 2022 campaign picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic Sun preseason poll.
SULLY CLOSES IN ON 600
2022 represents O'Sullivan's 15th season as the head coach at Florida. During that time, O'Sullivan owns a 595-281 (.679) record, passing the legendary Dave Fuller (556-354-6) for the most wins in program history on March 9, 2021. O'Sullivan's .679 winning percentage ranks third among all active Division I head coaches, while Florida's .622 clip in SEC play since 2008 stands as the top mark in the conference. O'Sullivan is just five wins away for 600 in his career (all at Florida).
NESBITT'S RETURN
Tuesday's starting pitcher, right-hander Tyler Nesbitt, has not pitched in an official game since March 10, 2020 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Nesbitt appeared in five games as a freshman in 2020, logging a 0.00 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 11.2 IP.
HOT AT HOME
Florida is 33-6 across its last-39 regular season games at Florida Ballpark, including an 18-3 mark in their last-21. In the inaugural season of Florida Ballpark, the Gators delivered a dominant 28-9 record at home. Florida closed out the regular season with eight-straight home series victories, going 27-4 at home in the team's final 31 regular-season contests and losing just one game in the final 13 matchups in that span.
PITCHING ON POINT
Florida ranks 14th nationally with a 2.33 team ERA backed by a 1.89 ERA from the Gators bullpen. Florida pitchers have combined for a 1.72 ERA over the last-10 games dating back to Feb. 22 at Stetson.
OFFENSE ON POINT
Hitting just .186 as a team after opening weekend vs. Liberty, the Gators now own a .300 average heading into the Jacksonville midweek series (opponents: .200). Last week, the Gators batted .311 as a team while holding opponents to a .186 mark. Florida has outscored opponents by a 103-32 margin on the season (+71).
LEAVING THE YARD
The Gators rank second in the nation with 27 home runs. Meanwhile, the Florida pitching staff has allowed just five home runs all year.
HERE COMES THE JUD
2021 Third Team All-American outfielder Jud Fabian got off to a slow start to the season, but is hitting .379/.538/.828 with four homers and 10 RBI over Florida's last-eight games. Fabian recorded his sixth-career multi-homer game on March 2 vs. FAMU and homered again at Miami on March 5 to bring his career total to 36 home runs, which ranks tied-for-eighth all-time at Florida. The Ocala, Fla. native posted a .600 on-base percentage and slugged .750 during the three-game series at No. 22 Miami, drawing seven walks over the course of the weekend.
ALL-NATIONAL DEFENSE
With just six errors in 464 defensive chances, the Florida defense ranks 11th nationally with a .987 fielding percentage.
SPROAT SHINES
For the third time in as many weeks, a Gator garnered weekly SEC honors. This time it was right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat, who made two starts last week (at UNF, at No. 22 Miami) and posted a 0.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 8.1 innings of work. Dazzling against No. 22 Miami on March 5, Sproat fired a career-high 6.1 shutout innings to earn the victory with four hits allowed, two walks and eight strikeouts.
STERLIN SLAMS
Coming off an All-SEC Freshman Team 2021 season, outfielder Sterlin Thompson is batting .396/.408/.525 with a team-high five home runs (T-18 nationally) and 15 RBI.
PIECE OF BLAKE
Making his first-seven career appearances, right-handed reliever Blake Purnell has not allowed an earned run across 14.0 IP to begin the year. Purnell is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and has 14 strikeouts compared to just one walk.
TAKE A FIC
After being out for all of 2021, right-handed pitcher Nick Ficarrotta has appeared in six games already to open the year with a 2-0 record, two saves, a 1.32 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched. He fired a career-high 4.2 scoreless frames on one hit and one walk with a career-high six strikeouts to earn the win at Stetson on Feb. 22. He also pitched 2.2 shutout innings with five strikeouts at No. 22 Miami to earn the save on March 5.
FRESHMAN FLIES
From Feb. 26 to March 2, a Florida freshman hit his first-career homer in four-straight games: Corey Robinson (3/2), Deric Fabian (3/1), Ty Evans (2/27) and Rene Lastres (2/26).
BALLPARK OF THE YEAR
Opened in 2021, the state-of-the-art Florida Ballpark was named Ballpark Digest's 2021 College Ballpark of the Year in December. Newly equipped with permanent outfield concessions and restrooms, Florida Ballpark features a 360-degree open concourse, shade structures for fans and high definition video and sound.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES APPLENTY
Numerous Gators garnered recognition leading up to the 2022 season, beginning with a trio of preseason All-Americans in left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco (first team), Fabian (first team) and Thompson (third team). In particular, Barco received a consensus preseason All-America distinction, earning honors from every major publication. Barco and Fabian also received Preseason All-SEC First Team nods.
POSITIONAL STANDOUTS
A handful of Gators were ranked by D1Baseball as top players in the nation at their respective positions heading into the season: Barco (No. 7 starting pitcher), infielder Colby Halter (No. 9 second baseman), Fabian (No. 10 outfielder), shortstop Josh Rivera (No. 16 shortstop), catcher Mac Guscette (No. 19 catcher), Thompson (No. 20 outfielder), left-handed pitcher Philip Abner (No. 28 relief pitcher), infielder/designated hitter Kris Armstrong (No. 41 first baseman), left-handed pitcher Pierce Coppola (No. 65 starting pitcher), Sproat (No. 101 starting pitcher) and right-handed pitcher Nick Pogue (No. 104 starting pitcher).
DRAFT BUZZ
After being selected 40th overall in last year's draft, Fabian is again projected as Florida's top prospect by MLB Pipeline, coming in as the No. 45 overall prospect for the 2022 MLB Draft. Barco follows closely behind at No. 54, while Thompson (No. 90) and Sproat (No. 98) fell just inside the top 100. The Gators' middle infield duo of Halter and Rivera recently received draft buzz as well, with D1baseball ranking the former as the No. 60 college prospect and the latter sitting at No. 78. All six of the aforementioned players were ranked as top-30 prospects in the SEC by D1Baseball, in addition to Pogue, who was tabbed the conference's No. 50 prospect.
OPENING THE GATES
The gates of Florida Ballpark will open two hours and 15 minutes prior to first pitch for every home game.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON GAME DAY
Those visiting Florida Ballpark on game day should be aware of updated traffic patterns surrounding the ballpark. The 2022 season welcomes the addition of Ballpark Way, which will serve as a connecting route to the ballpark from Archer Road. For those departing the ballpark via Hull Road, fans will be directed to turn right onto Hull Road from the parking lot and travel eastbound towards SW 23rd Drive. See HERE for a postgame traffic guide to utilize when departing the ballpark.
PARKING/SHUTTLES
General Parking is available in the west Florida Ballpark baseball lot and the Fifield parking lot located directly across Hull Road. Disabled parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Florida Ballpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard. Click HERE for a Parking map.
Due to the likelihood of increased traffic for this weekend, parking may be limited around Florida Ballpark and other athletic venues located on the southwest side of campus. Fans are encouraged to park in the lot located at Fifield Hall.
There will be a free shuttle service provided to and from the Fifield parking lot each day of the weekend series.
MOBILE TICKETING & FLORIDA GATORS APP
As a reminder, mobile ticketing is required. There will be two ways to access your tickets:
1) through the Florida Gators app from your mobile device or
2) through FloridaGators.com/myaccount. Fans will also be able to transfer or donate their tickets easily within the app or online.
For a smoother and safer entry on game day, fans are encouraged to add their tickets to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay account in advance of coming to the ballpark.
ON DECK
Following this week's midweek slate, the Gators host Seton Hall in a three-game series spanning from Friday, March 11 to Sunday, March 13. All-three games will stream live on SEC Network+.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/INF
/ Baseball2025 Florida Baseball Season Highlights
Monday, June 23
Florida-Fairfield Highlights
Saturday, May 31
5.31.25 Conway Regional Postgame
Saturday, May 31
5.30.25 Conway Regional Postgame
Friday, May 30
