Tuesday, March 17
Gainesville, Fla.
6:30 PM
Florida Gators
vs
Stetson
Jacob Kendall rounds second base during the Gators' game against the Hatters on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Madilyn Gemme
No. 18 Florida Wraps Homestand Against Stetson
Monday, March 16, 2026 | Baseball
The Gators have won five-straight games vs. the Hatters after posting victories in DeLand (W, 12-2) and Gainesville (W, 9-3) earlier this season.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 18 Florida Gators will put the bow on a 10-game homestand Tuesday with their third and final regular-season matchup against the Stetson Hatters.
First pitch between the Gators (18-3) and Hatters (9-12) is set for 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Having already defeated Stetson in DeLand (W, 12-2, 7 inn.) and Gainesville (W, 9-3) earlier this season, Florida has won five-sraight games in the head-to-head series. Overall, Florida is 90-36 vs. Stetson including 51-11 at home. The Gators have won 15 of 17 meetings in the series under Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan, featuring a perfect 9-0 in Gainesville.
Florida enters the midweek boasting victories in 35 of their last 43 regular-season games dating back to last season. Since the start of 2025. the Gators are 37-7 in regular-season, non-conference play.
Pitching Matchups
CHECKING OUR POLLS
Powered by a 4-0 week, the Gators moved up five spots to No. 18 in the D1Baseball Top 25 on Monday. Baseball America vaulted Florida eight spots to No. 17, which is also where the Orange & Blue comes in on Perfect Game's list. The Gators' highest ranking comes from the USA Today Coaches Poll (No. 14).
SCOUTING STETSON
After dropping their first series in Atlantic Sun Conference action to North Florida, two games to one, the Hatters sit at 9-12 overall and 2-4 on the road. Two weekends back, Stetson split a four-game series at No. 6 Arkansas but stumbled after taking game one against the Ospreys last Friday night. On the season, the Hatters are slashing .265/.369/.376 with 12 home runs while terrorizing the basepaths for 35 stolen bases in 38 attempts. The pitching has struggled, as evidenced by a 5.89 ERA, .286 batting average against and 162-to-87 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 175 2/3 innings. Stetson has backed that up with a .961 fielding percentage, committing 29 errors over 738 chances.
WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER
Posting their first 3-0 start to SEC play since 2021, Florida swept South Carolina in dominant fashion over the weekend. Allowing just three runs in 26.0 innings pitched across the three-game series, the Gators outscored the Gamecocks, 17-3, and did not surrender a run until the second inning of Sunday's finale (20 1/3 scoreless IP). In games one and two, Florida pitched back-to-back shutouts against an SEC opponent for the first time in nearly 13 years – since March 30-31 vs. No. 11 Ole Miss (7-0, 4-0). The Gators fired a combined 19.0 shutout innings with just four hits allowed, six walks and 26 strikeouts on Friday and Saturday to clinch the series.
As a result, Florida swept South Carolina for the second-straight season and for the first time at home since 2015. It also marked the Gators' first back-to-back series sweeps of the Gamecocks since the 1996-97 seasons.
HOLD ON A SEC
Following the weekend sweep of the Gamecocks, Florida has won seven-straight SEC series dating back to last season - three series longer than any other team in the conference. The Gators have three series sweeps in its seven-SEC-series win streak, during which they have delivered an absurd 17-4 record.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: STACKING SHUTOUTS
By picking up two more shutouts in the series sweep of South Carolina, Florida is now tied for the most shutouts thrown in the country with five. The Gators are nearly halfway to the single-season program record of 11 shutouts set in 2011 with 34 regular-season games remaining. Looking at other statistical categories, Florida ranks third nationally in sacrifice flies (16), 10th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.55), 12th in ERA (3.10), 15th in strikeouts per nine (11.5), 19th in walks per nine (3.25), 24th in WHIP (1.21), 28th in doubles (45), 31st in runs scored (170), 39th in hits (202), 39th in home runs (29) and 40th in double plays turned (17).
MIDWEEKS MANAGED
Propelled by a perfect 7-0 start to the midweek slate in 2026 after taking down No. 20 FSU one week ago, Florida is 19-2 in midweek play dating back to last season. The Gators began at 8-0 in home midweek contests in 2025 before dropping their final home midweek game of the season to USF. Since 2025, Florida is outscoring midweek opponents, 177-to-92.
RUNNING THE STATE
Headlined by a pair of wins at No. 17 Miami and last Tuesday's victory over No. 20 FSU, the Gators are off to a 9-0 start to the season vs. teams from the state of Florida. In 25 games against in-state foes since 2025, Florida is 21-4 featuring wins against Miami (four), Stetson (four), Florida State (three), FIU (two), Jacksonville (two), North Florida (two), Florida Atlantic (two) and Florida A&M (two).
RELENTLESS REPTILES
Florida boasts eight come-from-behind victories through 21 games. In particular, the Gators' five-run comeback last Sunday vs. High Point marked their largest since May 15 of last season against Alabama (five runs).
RESPECT FOR THE LAW
Starting all four games at shortstop last week, sophomore Brendan Lawson went 4-for-8 with a .500/.789/1.375 slash line, 2.164 OPS, two home runs, one double and three steals while scoring seven runs and driving in three. The Canadian sophomore even led the team with 11 total bases despite logging just eight at bats, as he drew a whopping 10 walks and was also hit by a pitch. Powered by multiple free passes in all four contests, Lawson has now reached base safely in all 21 games this season and leads the SEC with the third-best on-base percentage in the country (.625). On pace to set the single-season record for OBP, Lawson paces the SEC with the third-highest slugging percentage (1.032) and fourth-most walks (26) nationally. He also sits 13th in the nation in home runs (10) and total bases (65), 20th in runs scored and 29th in RBI. Lawson has recorded 12 more walks than strikeouts (14).
THE RUSS BUS
In line to make his first start in Orange & Blue on Tuesday, junior hurler Russell Sandefer has made five relief appearances and carries a 3.60 ERA. The right-hander has struck out seven batters against five walks in 5.0 innings as a Gator after one season at UCF, where he pitched 50 2/3 innings over 18 outings including six starts and produced a 3.38 ERA. Sandefer has experienced success as a starter, making his final six appearances of 2025 out of the weekend rotation while throwing gems against Kansas State, TCU and Oklahoma State.
WHRITE'S OUT
Making two separate relief appearances in a 4-0 week for the Gators, redshirt sophomore Joshua Whritenour earned his second-career save on Tuesday vs. No. 20 Florida State before earning his first-career win in the series-opening victory over South Carolina on Friday night. Whritenour opened the week with 1 2/3 scoreless frames while fanning all five batters he faced to lock down the victory vs. the Seminoles, then fired 2 1/3 shutout innings with five strikeouts to pick up the win vs. the Gamecocks. The righty did not surrender a hit in either outing, finishing with 4.0 shutout, no-hit frames on the week with eight strikeouts. He has opened his collegiate career with 11 1/3-consecutive scoreless innings to go with a 0.88 WHIP, .108 batting average against and 18-to-six strikeout-to-walk ratio.
DESTINATION OMAHA
Coming off the program's 17th-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, O'Sullivan is in his 19th campaign at the helm of the Gators. Since O'Sullivan's 2008 arrival, Florida leads the sport with 308 SEC wins, 41 MLB debuts, 10 top-eight seeds, nine College World Series trips, nine Super Regionals hosted and six SEC titles. The Gators have advanced to nine of the last 15 College World Series overall – by far the most in the sport.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets and SEC Five-Pack Mini-Plans are currently on sale now in addition to single-game tickets. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683.
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.
PARKING/SHUTTLES
Fans are encouraged to park at the Fifield and IFAS lots during the weekend. An increased number of shuttles will be available for transportation to the ballpark each day.
Click HERE for a Parking map.
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.
BALLPARK PURCHASES
Condron Family Ballpark food and beverage sales are fully cashless. For convenience and to improve speed of service, all concession stands will only accept credit cards, debit cards, or touchless payment with smartphones. Fans with cash can stop at the first base Concession Stand to exchange cash for a Gift Card. Gift Cards can be used at any concession stand within Condron Family Ballpark.
ON DECK
The Gators trek to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for a three-game, weekend series against the Crimson Tide from March 20-22. The series opener is set for Friday night at 7 p.m. on SEC Network+.
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First pitch between the Gators (18-3) and Hatters (9-12) is set for 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Having already defeated Stetson in DeLand (W, 12-2, 7 inn.) and Gainesville (W, 9-3) earlier this season, Florida has won five-sraight games in the head-to-head series. Overall, Florida is 90-36 vs. Stetson including 51-11 at home. The Gators have won 15 of 17 meetings in the series under Head Coach Kevin O'Sullivan, featuring a perfect 9-0 in Gainesville.
Florida enters the midweek boasting victories in 35 of their last 43 regular-season games dating back to last season. Since the start of 2025. the Gators are 37-7 in regular-season, non-conference play.
Pitching Matchups
| Tuesday | 6:30 ET (SECN+) | |
|---|---|
| Stetson | RHP Joel Core (0-1, 5.40 ERA) |
| Florida | RHP Russell Sandefer (0-0, 3.60 ERA) |
| Links | WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS |
CHECKING OUR POLLS
Powered by a 4-0 week, the Gators moved up five spots to No. 18 in the D1Baseball Top 25 on Monday. Baseball America vaulted Florida eight spots to No. 17, which is also where the Orange & Blue comes in on Perfect Game's list. The Gators' highest ranking comes from the USA Today Coaches Poll (No. 14).
SCOUTING STETSON
After dropping their first series in Atlantic Sun Conference action to North Florida, two games to one, the Hatters sit at 9-12 overall and 2-4 on the road. Two weekends back, Stetson split a four-game series at No. 6 Arkansas but stumbled after taking game one against the Ospreys last Friday night. On the season, the Hatters are slashing .265/.369/.376 with 12 home runs while terrorizing the basepaths for 35 stolen bases in 38 attempts. The pitching has struggled, as evidenced by a 5.89 ERA, .286 batting average against and 162-to-87 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 175 2/3 innings. Stetson has backed that up with a .961 fielding percentage, committing 29 errors over 738 chances.
WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER
Posting their first 3-0 start to SEC play since 2021, Florida swept South Carolina in dominant fashion over the weekend. Allowing just three runs in 26.0 innings pitched across the three-game series, the Gators outscored the Gamecocks, 17-3, and did not surrender a run until the second inning of Sunday's finale (20 1/3 scoreless IP). In games one and two, Florida pitched back-to-back shutouts against an SEC opponent for the first time in nearly 13 years – since March 30-31 vs. No. 11 Ole Miss (7-0, 4-0). The Gators fired a combined 19.0 shutout innings with just four hits allowed, six walks and 26 strikeouts on Friday and Saturday to clinch the series.
As a result, Florida swept South Carolina for the second-straight season and for the first time at home since 2015. It also marked the Gators' first back-to-back series sweeps of the Gamecocks since the 1996-97 seasons.
HOLD ON A SEC
Following the weekend sweep of the Gamecocks, Florida has won seven-straight SEC series dating back to last season - three series longer than any other team in the conference. The Gators have three series sweeps in its seven-SEC-series win streak, during which they have delivered an absurd 17-4 record.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: STACKING SHUTOUTS
By picking up two more shutouts in the series sweep of South Carolina, Florida is now tied for the most shutouts thrown in the country with five. The Gators are nearly halfway to the single-season program record of 11 shutouts set in 2011 with 34 regular-season games remaining. Looking at other statistical categories, Florida ranks third nationally in sacrifice flies (16), 10th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.55), 12th in ERA (3.10), 15th in strikeouts per nine (11.5), 19th in walks per nine (3.25), 24th in WHIP (1.21), 28th in doubles (45), 31st in runs scored (170), 39th in hits (202), 39th in home runs (29) and 40th in double plays turned (17).
MIDWEEKS MANAGED
Propelled by a perfect 7-0 start to the midweek slate in 2026 after taking down No. 20 FSU one week ago, Florida is 19-2 in midweek play dating back to last season. The Gators began at 8-0 in home midweek contests in 2025 before dropping their final home midweek game of the season to USF. Since 2025, Florida is outscoring midweek opponents, 177-to-92.
RUNNING THE STATE
Headlined by a pair of wins at No. 17 Miami and last Tuesday's victory over No. 20 FSU, the Gators are off to a 9-0 start to the season vs. teams from the state of Florida. In 25 games against in-state foes since 2025, Florida is 21-4 featuring wins against Miami (four), Stetson (four), Florida State (three), FIU (two), Jacksonville (two), North Florida (two), Florida Atlantic (two) and Florida A&M (two).
RELENTLESS REPTILES
Florida boasts eight come-from-behind victories through 21 games. In particular, the Gators' five-run comeback last Sunday vs. High Point marked their largest since May 15 of last season against Alabama (five runs).
RESPECT FOR THE LAW
Starting all four games at shortstop last week, sophomore Brendan Lawson went 4-for-8 with a .500/.789/1.375 slash line, 2.164 OPS, two home runs, one double and three steals while scoring seven runs and driving in three. The Canadian sophomore even led the team with 11 total bases despite logging just eight at bats, as he drew a whopping 10 walks and was also hit by a pitch. Powered by multiple free passes in all four contests, Lawson has now reached base safely in all 21 games this season and leads the SEC with the third-best on-base percentage in the country (.625). On pace to set the single-season record for OBP, Lawson paces the SEC with the third-highest slugging percentage (1.032) and fourth-most walks (26) nationally. He also sits 13th in the nation in home runs (10) and total bases (65), 20th in runs scored and 29th in RBI. Lawson has recorded 12 more walks than strikeouts (14).
THE RUSS BUS
In line to make his first start in Orange & Blue on Tuesday, junior hurler Russell Sandefer has made five relief appearances and carries a 3.60 ERA. The right-hander has struck out seven batters against five walks in 5.0 innings as a Gator after one season at UCF, where he pitched 50 2/3 innings over 18 outings including six starts and produced a 3.38 ERA. Sandefer has experienced success as a starter, making his final six appearances of 2025 out of the weekend rotation while throwing gems against Kansas State, TCU and Oklahoma State.
WHRITE'S OUT
Making two separate relief appearances in a 4-0 week for the Gators, redshirt sophomore Joshua Whritenour earned his second-career save on Tuesday vs. No. 20 Florida State before earning his first-career win in the series-opening victory over South Carolina on Friday night. Whritenour opened the week with 1 2/3 scoreless frames while fanning all five batters he faced to lock down the victory vs. the Seminoles, then fired 2 1/3 shutout innings with five strikeouts to pick up the win vs. the Gamecocks. The righty did not surrender a hit in either outing, finishing with 4.0 shutout, no-hit frames on the week with eight strikeouts. He has opened his collegiate career with 11 1/3-consecutive scoreless innings to go with a 0.88 WHIP, .108 batting average against and 18-to-six strikeout-to-walk ratio.
DESTINATION OMAHA
Coming off the program's 17th-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, O'Sullivan is in his 19th campaign at the helm of the Gators. Since O'Sullivan's 2008 arrival, Florida leads the sport with 308 SEC wins, 41 MLB debuts, 10 top-eight seeds, nine College World Series trips, nine Super Regionals hosted and six SEC titles. The Gators have advanced to nine of the last 15 College World Series overall – by far the most in the sport.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets and SEC Five-Pack Mini-Plans are currently on sale now in addition to single-game tickets. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683.
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.
PARKING/SHUTTLES
Fans are encouraged to park at the Fifield and IFAS lots during the weekend. An increased number of shuttles will be available for transportation to the ballpark each day.
Click HERE for a Parking map.
- 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.
- Fans can follow this link to an interactive parking map.
- RV Parking is available in the Fifield Flat lot. Reserved RV parking is not available for Florida baseball games. All motor home parking is on a first come, first-served basis.
- On-board generators are permitted, however exterior or pull-along generators are prohibited at all times. For safety reasons, all motor homes/RVs are required to utilize exhaust extensions or "smoke stacks" to channel exhaust fumes to the top of the motor home/RV.
- Overnight stays are only allowed on weekend series in the Fifield Flat lot.
- Do Not Park Illegally
- Park in designated parking spots (Do not park on grass or in No Parking Zones).
- Vehicles are subject to towing if they block streets, sidewalks, service drives, or fire lanes, or if illegally parked in a disabled space.
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.
BALLPARK PURCHASES
Condron Family Ballpark food and beverage sales are fully cashless. For convenience and to improve speed of service, all concession stands will only accept credit cards, debit cards, or touchless payment with smartphones. Fans with cash can stop at the first base Concession Stand to exchange cash for a Gift Card. Gift Cards can be used at any concession stand within Condron Family Ballpark.
ON DECK
The Gators trek to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for a three-game, weekend series against the Crimson Tide from March 20-22. The series opener is set for Friday night at 7 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
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