GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators baseball team hosts the Jacksonville Dolphins at Condron Family Ballpark on Tuesday evening in the second of two scheduled meetings this season.
First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday with coverage on SEC Network+.
Although the Gators (18-17, 7-8 SEC) fell in a one-run affair, 7-6, to the Dolphins (16-18, 10-5 ASUN) back on March 19 in Gainesville, Florida maintains a substantial advantage in the all-time series at 66-36. The Orange & Blue has won 11 of the last 14 meetings overall and is 43-17 against Jacksonville at home. Florida is 20-8 in the series under head coach Kevin O'Sullivan, featuring a 15-6 home mark.
Pitching Matchups
| Tuesday | 6:30 ET (SEC Network+) | |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | LHP Dakota Stone (0-0, 0.00 ERA) |
| Florida | RHP Jake Clemente (0-0, 15.00 ERA) |
| Links | WATCH|LISTEN |
The Gators dropped out of the D1Baseball Top 25 for the first time this season following a 1-3 week against Florida State and South Carolina.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gators fell to then-No. 10 Florida State in Tallahassee last Tuesday (L 19-4) before dropping two of three at home against South Carolina (L 10-3, L 9-8, W 11-9). Despite the results, the Florida offense has turned a corner. The Gators scored five runs in the final three innings of game two and erupted for 14 hits and 11 runs in the game-three victory, equating to 20 hits and 16 runs in the team's last 11 offensive half-innings.
In the series finale, eight UF starters collected hits including five with multiple knocks in outfielderTy Evans(2-for-4), pitcher/designated hitterJac Caglianone(2-for-4), shortstopColby Shelton(3-for-5), catcherBrody Donay(2-for-4) and third basemanDale Thomas(2-for-4). Evans, Caglianone and Donay all went yard, highlighted by a team-high three RBI from Evans, who also went a career-best 4-for-4 while reaching base in all five plate appearances in game two on Saturday.
DOWNLOW ON THE DOLPHINS
Jacksonville comes into Tuesday wielding a 16-18 record and 10-5 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play. The Dolphins are slashing .281/.402/.413 with 25 home runs this season while pitching to a 6.84 ERA and 284 strikeouts across 293 1/3 innings on the mound. Defensively, Jacksonville has fielded at a .966 clip over 1,196 chances.
RELENTLESS REPTILES
Florida boasts 10 come-from-behind wins on the season, with all sevenofthe team'sSEC victories occurring in comeback fashion. The Gators wield three walk-off victories already this year.
DINGERS, GEMS, WHIFFS & BRUISES
Florida ranks among the top-15 teams nationally in home runs (75), strikeouts per nine innings (11.0), fielding percentage (.980) and hit-by-pitches (74). The Gators rank fourth nationally and third in the SEC in homers while coming in at 11th in the country and fourth in the SEC in K/9. The Orange & Blue boasts the 13th-best fielding percentage nationally, good for fourth in the conference. Florida leads the SEC and ranks 14th in NCAA Division I in HBP.
GOING STREAKING
The longest active on-base streak on the team belongs to Caglianone at 21 games, who also paces Floridawith a 14-game hit streak. The next-highest on-base streak on the roster belongs to Luke Heyman at nine games in a row.
THE CAGLIANONE FILE
Caglianonehomered for a program-record sixth-straight game on Sunday to obtain his 20th home run of the season, becoming the fifth player in program history with multiple 20-homer campaigns (Matt LaPorta, Brad Wilkerson, Jud Fabian, Wyatt Langford) and the fourth to do so in consecutive years (excludes LaPorta). Caglianone broke LaPorta's record of five-straight games with a homer, which he accomplished from March 24-April 1, 2007. With 12 long balls in the last 15 contests, Caglianone has passed Preston Tucker (57) for sole possession of second place on Florida's all-time home run list (60).
Perhaps most impressively, Caglianone has drawnmore walks (20) than strikeouts (14) and leads the Gators in virtually every offensive statistic including batting average (.394), on-base percentage (.488), slugging (.831), home runs (20), RBI (41), runs scored (40), on-base-plus-slugging (1.319) and at bats (142).He sits second in the SEC in homers (second nationally), third in hits (56)and total bases (118), fourth in batting and fifth in slugging.On the mound, he paces the team with a 3.89 ERA and 1.40 WHIP while ranking sixth in the SEC in BAA (.187) across 39 1/3 innings. Among qualified SEC pitchers, Caglianone has allowed the third-fewest hits (26) andseventh-least homers(four).
TYME TO SHINE
After going hitless for a four-game stretch from March 31 through April 6, Evans has returned to red-hot form over the last five games since: 9-for-20, .450/.522/.850, two home runs, two doubles, seven runs and five RBI. The junior has logged three multi-hit performances in that five-game stretch to increase his season total to 16, which trails Caglianone (19) for the team lead. In the last two games in particular, Evans was moved to the leadoff spot and responded by going 6-for-8 with two home runs, two doubles, five RBI, twogame-opening walks and zero strikeouts.
As a result, Evans has improved by more than .100 points in every slash category from last season, as he is hitting .353/.439/.618 across 136 at bats after batting .239/.302/.485 in 163 at bats in 2023. Evans already owns career highs in hits (48), runs scored (34) and walks (13) while his nine home runs are tied for his most in a single season.
BRO BOMBS
In the month of April, Donay is hitting .500/.571/1.250 (6-for-12) backed by three homers, eight RBI and five runs scored in just five games (three starts). The UF catcher/designated hitter has homered and driven in multiple runs in two of his last three starts. Donaywields a .273/.355/.564 slash line this year highlighted by five big flies.
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.
ClickHEREfor a Parking map.
- General Parkingis available in the west Condron FamilyBallpark baseball lot and the Fifield parking lot located directly across Hull Road.
- Disabled parkingis available on a first-come, first-serve basis in the Condron FamilyBallpark west lot with a valid Disabled Placard.
- Fans can followthis linkto an interactive parking map.
- RV Parkingis 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 theFifieldFlatlot.
- Do Not Park Illegally
- Park in designated parking spots (Do not park ongrass 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 foundhere.
MOBILE TICKETING & FLORIDA GATORS APP
As a reminder, mobile ticketing is required. There will be two ways to access your tickets:
1) through theFlorida Gators appfrom your mobile device or
2) throughFloridaGators.com/myaccount. Fans will also be able to transfer or donate their tickets easily within the app or online.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets are currentlyon sale now. Tickets can be purchasedonlineor by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directlyhere.
Tickets are currentlyon sale for the 2024 season, including both season tickets and single-gameoptions. Tickets can be purchasedonlineor by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683. Season ticket prices and availability can be accessed directlyherewhilesingle-game ticketsas well asOn-Deck Flex Passesare currently on sale now.
ON DECK
The Gators travel to Nashville, Tenn. for a three-game series against No. 13 Vanderbilt this weekend. Thursday night's series opener airs on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m. ET while game two begins on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Saturday's finale will stream on SEC Network+ at 3 p.m. ET.
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