Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators breezed past Alabama in their Southeastern Conference opener on Thursday night, as right-hander Brandon Sproat tossed a one-hit shutout in a nifty 1 hour, 50 minutes. Florida's 3-0 win was the program's quickest game since a 2-1 victory over Florida Gulf Coast University in 2008 – also played in an hour and 50 minutes – that featured a future Cy Young Award runner-up named Chris Sale finishing on the mound for FGCU.

When the Gators and Crimson Tide returned to Condron Ballpark early Friday afternoon, it was to play an impromptu doubleheader due to a stormy forecast for Saturday. The two games, played with a one-hour break in between, totaled 5 hours, 27 minutes.

The Gators won the first game, 8-7, and Alabama took the second, 6-3.

"A long day at the park. They were two tough games,'' said UF catcher BT Riopelle, who crouched behind the plate for both. "We really wanted to solidify a [series] sweep there because those are the type of games that solidify you a national seed or win you a conference championship in the regular season, stuff like that, but we didn't get it done."

Fifth-ranked Florida (18-4, 2-1) failed to sweep, but that is no reason to fire nasty Twitter missives or to bury your head under the covers for days. Alabama (17-4, 1-2) is a veteran team with a dangerous lineup, led by fifth-year senior first baseman Drew Williamson, who went 5-for-10 with a homer and six RBI in Friday's doubleheader.

Florida has completed 40 percent of the regular season (22 of 55 games). With a rare empty schedule over the weekend, head coach Kevin O'Sullivan said the team would take Saturday off, return to practice Sunday and Monday, and then head to Florida State for Tuesday night's Sunshine Showdown at Dick Howser Stadium.

There is much to still learn about this Gators team, but based on its body of work, one player the Gators can't lose if they are going to make a run at a national championship is shortstop Josh Rivera. Rivera is blossoming into one of the nation's top players right before our eyes. The fourth-year junior, immensely talented since he first stepped onto the field for the Gators, has grown in his mental approach to the game.

In the Gators' win in Game 1 Friday, Rivera slapped an infield single down the third-base line to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. The Gators never led until Rivera's one-out swinging bunt scored Michael Robertson from third with the winning run. Alabama took the lead five different times in the game.

Here is what Rivera said of his mindset in the at-bat against Crimson Tide reliever Riley Quick, who struck out Rivera in the seventh with runners on first and third. Quick intentionally walked Jac Caglianone to get to Rivera.

"The pitcher beat me in a big-time situation in my previous at-bat,'' Rivera said. "All I was thinking about is he wasn't going to beat me again. I was struggling to see the ball out of his hand a little bit. He had a really good sinker, a really good slider, so I just wanted to put the ball in play. That was all that was on my mind.

"I knew it was a big-time deal for me just to put the ball in play and make them make a play. Thankfully I did a little swinging bunt. Not everybody is prepared for that. I knew the only play they had was at home. Mission accomplished. It's funny how the game repays you like that, especially in those big-time moments."

Rivera crushed Alabama pitching throughout the series, going 7-for-12 with two home runs, four RBI, four runs and two stolen bases. Rivera is hitting .418 (33-for-79) and has already established career highs in home runs (10) and RBI (35). Perhaps more importantly, considering Florida's deep lineup, Rivera is playing superbly in the field. He has committed only two errors in 22 games and flashed above-average range.

O'Sullivan has praised Rivera all season for his revamped approach at the plate, based on patience, improved pitch recognition, and a willingness to drive the ball up the middle instead of trying to pull everything.

Drafted by the Padres out of IMG Academy in 2019, Rivera signed with the Gators to improve his future. He went undrafted in the 2022 draft, a disappointing development following a lackluster season. Instead of playing summer ball, Rivera took time off, renewed his outlook about the game, and returned to school, determined to have fun and let the game come to him.

"I've always had confidence in myself," Rivera said Friday night. "More of a mental thing. Me moving out of my way. I try to control the mental side and trust my approach."

Rivera's contributions can't be overstated when you consider the Gators are 5-1 since outfielder Wyatt Langford, ranked among the top three prospects in the 2023 draft, was injured. Or that two-way star Caglianone and right fielder Ty Evans went a combined 0-for-20 with six strikeouts in the Alabama series. And you can't forget about Rivera's glove.

"He played really good again,'' O'Sullivan said.

If you have heard that before this season, you have Rivera to thank.
  QUOTE OF NOTE I
"We're never satisfied. We're looking to go out there and compete and win every single game. We're a very tough and tight group of guys. We can win in many ways. We have three dogs on the mound that can go out there. We've got pieces in the back end of the pen that can win us games. One through nine, whoever we throw out there every day will give us a chance to win." – Catcher BT Riopelle on team's identity
 
QUOTE OF NOTE II
"Any time you win a series, you've got to feel good about it. At the same time, when you have an opportunity to win three games on the weekend, you've just got to take advantage of it." – Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan on the Alabama series
  EXTRA BASES Langford, out since struck by a foul ball on March 10, is on the mend and scheduled for a return visit to the doctor next week, according to O'Sullivan. There is no timetable for the return of Langford, who was in the dugout for the Alabama series. "I think it's going to be sooner than later,'' O'Sullivan said. … Robertson was picked off first in the bottom of the seventh in Game 2 Friday with the tying run in scoring position. The mental error happened when freshman Cade Kurland swung and missed at a ball in the dirt to strike out. Kurland took off running, which prompted a throw to first from Alabama catcher Mac Guscette. When Robertson saw Kurland running toward first, he took off for second, which Colby Halter occupied. The double play ended the inning with Alabama ahead 4-3. "You've got a runner in front of you. There's nowhere to go. We had a bunch of momentum at that point. Something to learn from,'' O'Sullivan said. … Left-hander Pierce Coppola, who has not pitched since his collegiate debut a season ago, remains sidelined. Coppola has not pitched this season due to shoulder discomfort and initially hoped to be ready by conference play. "He's had a setback. We're still trying to figure that one out," O'Sullivan said. "We should have more answers here in the next week or so." … Riopelle, when asked the last time he caught 18 innings of a doubleheader: "I don't really think ever unless I was 10." … Third baseman Halter homered to lead off the bottom of the ninth in Game 1 Friday, tying the score at 7. Halter has raised his batting average from .214 to .277 by going 7-for-19 over his last six games. "He's a grinder," Rivera said. "He's always in there hitting and working on his approach to get better if possible. He knows he has the ability to have a big impact for this team." … Florida's starters went 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in the three-game series, highlighted by Sproat's dominant performance Thursday. The trio of Sproat, Caglianone and Hurston Waldrep pitched 20 innings, allowed 13 hits, struck out 24, and walked eight … UF's bullpen was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in the series, allowing eight hits while walking three and striking out 11 in seven innings. Reliever Brandon Neely threw the ball well in the third game despite giving up a two-run homer to Caden Rose. Neely struck out seven of the 13 batters he faced.