Tuesday, April 4
Gainesville, FL
6 PM
Florida Gators
vs
Bethune-Cookman
No. 3 Florida Faces Bethune-Cookman in Midweek Tilt
Monday, April 3, 2023 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The No. 3 Florida Gators return to midweek play on Tuesday night with a 6 p.m. home matchup against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at Condron Family Ballpark.
The Gators (24-5, 7-2 SEC) hosted the Wildcats (16-12, 7-2 SWAC) twice last season, defeating BCU by scores of 3-2 (March 22) and 7-0 (May 10). Florida has won four-straight against Bethune-Cookman with a 35-1 all-time record in the series, including 15-1 under Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan.
Pitching Matchups
Florida remained at No. 3 in the D1Baseball Top-25 this week and rank as highly as No. 2 nationally at Baseball America, Perfect Game and the NCBWA. The Gators are also USA Today's No. 3 team.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Entering with wins in seven of the last nine games, Bethune-Cookman was picked to finish second out of six teams in the SWAC Eastern Division. The Wildcats are batting .287/.386/.407 as a team with 16 home runs while pitching to a 5.50 ERA. Defensively, the Wildcats have committed 33 errors in 28 games for a .966 fielding percentage.
LAST TIME THEY FACED
Right-handers Tyler Nesbitt and Nick Ficarrotta were excellent on the mound in both wins vs. BCU last year. In the March 22 game, Ficarotta pitched 4 1/3 innings with one unearned run allowed on one hit and two strikeouts, while Nesbitt pitched one scoreless frame with one walk and two strikeouts. On May 10, Nesbitt pitched four shutout innings on four hits, two walks and four strikeouts to earn the win, followed by four scoreless from Ficarrotta (1 H, 6 K) and one clean frame from Blake Purnell to produce a complete-game shutout.
TAMING THE TIGERS
The Gators took two of three against Auburn last weekend for the team's third-straight SEC series win to start conference play (seventh-straight SEC series win dating back to 2022). After dropping the opener, 10-1, Florida rebounded to win the final two games in convincing fashion, 12-5 and 17-8. Jac Caglianone was 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI, finishing a double shy of the cycle in game two while freshman catcher Luke Heyman went off for a career-high eight RBI, going 3-for-4 with a grand slam to cap off 14 unanswered runs in the finale.
CARDIAC GATORS
Of Florida's 24 wins, half of them (12) have come in comeback fashion. That is just one shy of last year's 66-game total of 13 comeback victories (20%). Florida delivered two more comeback wins in the series vs. Auburn, erasing a pair of one-run deficits in game two and overcoming an 8-3 Tiger lead in the finale thanks to 14 unanswered runs from the bottom of the fifth inning on. Florida is 10-2 when the opponent scores first this season, compared to 11-15 last year.
NON-CON RESUME
Off to a 17-3 start (.850) this season, Florida went 20-5 (.800) against non-conference regular season opponents in 2022. That mark featured a 19-3 record following the opening weekend of the year. Adding the totals together, UF is 36-6 across its previous 42 non-conference games (.857). The Gators are hitting .348/.444/.644 in non-conference play and outscoring teams by 6.2 runs/game.
IT ALL DA' PENS
Across the team's last 15 games, the Florida bullpen has worked to a 7-0 record with seven saves, a 2.69 ERA, .220 batting average against and 79 strikeouts (11.2 K/9) in 63 2/3 innings. Southpaw Philip Abner has not allowed an earned run across 11.0 innings spanning six appearances in that span, striking out 14 with a .154 BAA. Right-handers Ryan Slater (1-0, 3 G, 8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K) and Brandon Neely (7 G, 4 SV, 13.0 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 18 K) have also been excellent with respective ERAs of 1.08 and 1.38 in the last 15 matchups. Neely is a perfect 6-for-6 in save chances this year with a 3.22 ERA and 12.9 K/9 over 13 2/3 innings. Abner has been even more dominant across an equal sample size, holding a 3-0 record, 1.32 ERA and 15.5 K/9 in 13 2/3 frames.
SORRY FOR BEING OFFENSIVE
The Gators rank top-five nationally in runs (second - 290), home runs (second - 64), slugging percentage (second - .610), hits (third - 333), triples (fourth - 15) and batting average (fifth - .330). The Gators pace the SEC in slugging, hits, triples, at bats and total bases (615), boasting 47 more bases than the next-closest team (South Carolina, 568).
FILLING UP FRAMES
Now past the season's midpoint, the Gators are still scoring in more than half of their batted innings with runs in 52.2% of frames (120 of 230). Through 29 games, Florida has a run differential of plus-141, averaging 10.0 runs/game and 11.2 hits/game.
BLAST OFF
Florida has collected double-digit hits in 22 of 29 games (75.9%) this season while homering in 25 of 29 contests (86.2%). The Gators' 64 homers prorate to 121 over the 55-game regular season and to 145 homers across 66 games, which was the season's length one year ago. The school record of 132 home runs was set in 1998.
TEJEDA TUESDAY
Tuesday starter Yoel Tejeda Jr. is making his first appearance since starting against FAU on March 7. In advance of his fourth-career start, Tejeda Jr. holds a 4.7 K/9 and 6.5 BB/9 through 9 2/3 innings.
THE CAGLIANONE ZONE
Leading the nation with 18 home runs (three more than any SEC player), first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone has collected multiple hits in seven-straight games and is 18-for-33 (.545/.571/1.121) during that time with five homers, 14 RBI and nine runs. Caglianone's .958 slugging percentage also paces the NCAA while his 44 RBI are tied for fifth - one behind Tommy White's SEC-leading 45.
THE LANGFORD FILE
All-American outfielder Wyatt Langford leads UF with a .550 on-base percentage and is hitting .392 through 22 games with more than twice as many walks (25) as strikeouts (12). That equates to an impressive 22.5% walk rate and 10.8% strikeout rate. Langford's .861 slugging percentage is .164 points higher than last year's robust mark of .697. In the series finale vs. Auburn, Langford went 3-for-3 with a home run and two doubles, reaching base in all six of his plate appearances thanks to a trio of walks.
MIKEY ROB'S STREAK
Redshirt freshman center fielder Michael Robertson has reached base in all 26 games to begin his UF career, a streak which is tops among all Gators this season. Robertson's 21 walks are tied for second on the squad and his .460 on-base percentage is fourth among qualified Gators.
ON DECK
Florida travels to Knoxville to take on No. 11 Tennessee in a three-game series from Thursday, April 6 through Saturday, April 8. All three installments will be televised nationally.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON GAME DAY
Those visiting Condron Family Ballpark on game day should be aware of updated traffic patterns surrounding the ballpark. Fans are advised to utilize Ballpark Way, which will serve as a connecting route to the ballpark from Archer Road. For departures, a postgame traffic flow pattern guide can be found here.
PARKING/SHUTTLES
General Parking is available in the west Condron Family 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 Condron Family Ballpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard. Click HERE for a Parking map.
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.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are currently on sale for the 2023 season, including both season tickets and single-game options. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directly here, while single-game sales can be found here.
Continue to check FloridaGators.com for additional updates related to the 2023 baseball season.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
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The Gators (24-5, 7-2 SEC) hosted the Wildcats (16-12, 7-2 SWAC) twice last season, defeating BCU by scores of 3-2 (March 22) and 7-0 (May 10). Florida has won four-straight against Bethune-Cookman with a 35-1 all-time record in the series, including 15-1 under Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan.
Pitching Matchups
| Tuesday | 6 p.m. (SECN+) | |
| BCU | LHP Alec Mendez (0-0, 1.93 ERA) |
| Florida | RHP Yoel Tejeda Jr. (0-0, 8.38 ERA) |
| Links | WATCH | LISTEN |
Florida remained at No. 3 in the D1Baseball Top-25 this week and rank as highly as No. 2 nationally at Baseball America, Perfect Game and the NCBWA. The Gators are also USA Today's No. 3 team.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Entering with wins in seven of the last nine games, Bethune-Cookman was picked to finish second out of six teams in the SWAC Eastern Division. The Wildcats are batting .287/.386/.407 as a team with 16 home runs while pitching to a 5.50 ERA. Defensively, the Wildcats have committed 33 errors in 28 games for a .966 fielding percentage.
LAST TIME THEY FACED
Right-handers Tyler Nesbitt and Nick Ficarrotta were excellent on the mound in both wins vs. BCU last year. In the March 22 game, Ficarotta pitched 4 1/3 innings with one unearned run allowed on one hit and two strikeouts, while Nesbitt pitched one scoreless frame with one walk and two strikeouts. On May 10, Nesbitt pitched four shutout innings on four hits, two walks and four strikeouts to earn the win, followed by four scoreless from Ficarrotta (1 H, 6 K) and one clean frame from Blake Purnell to produce a complete-game shutout.
TAMING THE TIGERS
The Gators took two of three against Auburn last weekend for the team's third-straight SEC series win to start conference play (seventh-straight SEC series win dating back to 2022). After dropping the opener, 10-1, Florida rebounded to win the final two games in convincing fashion, 12-5 and 17-8. Jac Caglianone was 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI, finishing a double shy of the cycle in game two while freshman catcher Luke Heyman went off for a career-high eight RBI, going 3-for-4 with a grand slam to cap off 14 unanswered runs in the finale.
CARDIAC GATORS
Of Florida's 24 wins, half of them (12) have come in comeback fashion. That is just one shy of last year's 66-game total of 13 comeback victories (20%). Florida delivered two more comeback wins in the series vs. Auburn, erasing a pair of one-run deficits in game two and overcoming an 8-3 Tiger lead in the finale thanks to 14 unanswered runs from the bottom of the fifth inning on. Florida is 10-2 when the opponent scores first this season, compared to 11-15 last year.
NON-CON RESUME
Off to a 17-3 start (.850) this season, Florida went 20-5 (.800) against non-conference regular season opponents in 2022. That mark featured a 19-3 record following the opening weekend of the year. Adding the totals together, UF is 36-6 across its previous 42 non-conference games (.857). The Gators are hitting .348/.444/.644 in non-conference play and outscoring teams by 6.2 runs/game.
IT ALL DA' PENS
Across the team's last 15 games, the Florida bullpen has worked to a 7-0 record with seven saves, a 2.69 ERA, .220 batting average against and 79 strikeouts (11.2 K/9) in 63 2/3 innings. Southpaw Philip Abner has not allowed an earned run across 11.0 innings spanning six appearances in that span, striking out 14 with a .154 BAA. Right-handers Ryan Slater (1-0, 3 G, 8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K) and Brandon Neely (7 G, 4 SV, 13.0 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 18 K) have also been excellent with respective ERAs of 1.08 and 1.38 in the last 15 matchups. Neely is a perfect 6-for-6 in save chances this year with a 3.22 ERA and 12.9 K/9 over 13 2/3 innings. Abner has been even more dominant across an equal sample size, holding a 3-0 record, 1.32 ERA and 15.5 K/9 in 13 2/3 frames.
SORRY FOR BEING OFFENSIVE
The Gators rank top-five nationally in runs (second - 290), home runs (second - 64), slugging percentage (second - .610), hits (third - 333), triples (fourth - 15) and batting average (fifth - .330). The Gators pace the SEC in slugging, hits, triples, at bats and total bases (615), boasting 47 more bases than the next-closest team (South Carolina, 568).
FILLING UP FRAMES
Now past the season's midpoint, the Gators are still scoring in more than half of their batted innings with runs in 52.2% of frames (120 of 230). Through 29 games, Florida has a run differential of plus-141, averaging 10.0 runs/game and 11.2 hits/game.
BLAST OFF
Florida has collected double-digit hits in 22 of 29 games (75.9%) this season while homering in 25 of 29 contests (86.2%). The Gators' 64 homers prorate to 121 over the 55-game regular season and to 145 homers across 66 games, which was the season's length one year ago. The school record of 132 home runs was set in 1998.
TEJEDA TUESDAY
Tuesday starter Yoel Tejeda Jr. is making his first appearance since starting against FAU on March 7. In advance of his fourth-career start, Tejeda Jr. holds a 4.7 K/9 and 6.5 BB/9 through 9 2/3 innings.
THE CAGLIANONE ZONE
Leading the nation with 18 home runs (three more than any SEC player), first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone has collected multiple hits in seven-straight games and is 18-for-33 (.545/.571/1.121) during that time with five homers, 14 RBI and nine runs. Caglianone's .958 slugging percentage also paces the NCAA while his 44 RBI are tied for fifth - one behind Tommy White's SEC-leading 45.
THE LANGFORD FILE
All-American outfielder Wyatt Langford leads UF with a .550 on-base percentage and is hitting .392 through 22 games with more than twice as many walks (25) as strikeouts (12). That equates to an impressive 22.5% walk rate and 10.8% strikeout rate. Langford's .861 slugging percentage is .164 points higher than last year's robust mark of .697. In the series finale vs. Auburn, Langford went 3-for-3 with a home run and two doubles, reaching base in all six of his plate appearances thanks to a trio of walks.
MIKEY ROB'S STREAK
Redshirt freshman center fielder Michael Robertson has reached base in all 26 games to begin his UF career, a streak which is tops among all Gators this season. Robertson's 21 walks are tied for second on the squad and his .460 on-base percentage is fourth among qualified Gators.
ON DECK
Florida travels to Knoxville to take on No. 11 Tennessee in a three-game series from Thursday, April 6 through Saturday, April 8. All three installments will be televised nationally.
TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON GAME DAY
Those visiting Condron Family Ballpark on game day should be aware of updated traffic patterns surrounding the ballpark. Fans are advised to utilize Ballpark Way, which will serve as a connecting route to the ballpark from Archer Road. For departures, a postgame traffic flow pattern guide can be found here.
PARKING/SHUTTLES
General Parking is available in the west Condron Family 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 Condron Family Ballpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard. Click HERE for a Parking map.
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.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are currently on sale for the 2023 season, including both season tickets and single-game options. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directly here, while single-game sales can be found here.
Continue to check FloridaGators.com for additional updates related to the 2023 baseball season.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
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