Florida baseball climbed up a pair of spots to No. 9 in the D1Baseball Top 25 poll after its series victory over Seton Hall last weekend. However, the Gators dropped their final game in the series, 6-4, to give the Pirates their first win of the season. Coach Kevin O’Sullivan and his team will now look toward their midweek showdown with No. 8 Florida State at Florida Ballpark at 6 p.m. EDT on Tuesday after the disappointing loss.
Second basemen Colby Halter may have lost his 16-game hitting steak during the first game on Saturday but still leads Florida with the best batting average at .391. However, he exited the second half of the doubleheader with an injury and didn’t return to the lineup on Sunday. Catcher Mac Guscette during the first game also came up limping to first base and didn’t return for the rest of the series.
Center fielder Jud Fabian used a pair of homers in the doubleheader to take the team lead with six. The Gators still sit top five in the nation for most home runs with 31.
Since Florida and the Seminoles are playing only a midweek series, fans won’t see either team trot out its ace. Sullivan could elect to call on pitcher Garrett Milchin or Tyler Nesbitt to toe the rubber first Tuesday.
Florida State currently sits at 10-5 with most of its losses occurring in extra innings. The Seminoles took the last two games versus Wake Forest to steal the series.
It’s also important to note the weather as publishing there is a 60% chance of rain with the waterworks expected to arrive later on Tuesday evening.