2023 Florida Gators baseball team

2023 Florida Gators baseball
SEC regular season co-champions
Gainesville Regional champions
Gainesville Super Regional champions
College World Series runners-up, 1–2 in CWS Finals
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
CBNo. 2
Record54–17 (20–10 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Chuck Jeroloman
  • Taylor Black
  • David Kopp
Home stadiumCondron Ballpark
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Southeastern Conference baseball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T   PCT W   L   T   PCT
Eastern
No. 2 Florida x‍†‍‍y 20 – 10 – 0   .667 54 – 17 – 0   .761
No. 19 Vanderbilt ‍‍‡‍y 19 – 11 – 0   .633 42 – 20 – 0   .677
No. 13 South Carolina ‍‍‍y 16 – 13 – 0   .552 42 – 21 – 0   .667
No. 7 Tennessee ‍‍‍y 16 – 14 – 0   .533 44 – 22 – 0   .667
No. 17 Kentucky ‍‍‍y 16 – 14 – 0   .533 40 – 21 – 0   .656
Georgia  ‍‍‍ 11 – 19 – 0   .367 29 – 27 – 0   .518
Missouri  ‍‍‍ 10 – 20 – 0   .333 30 – 24 – 0   .556
Western
No. 16 Arkansas x‍†‍‍y 20 – 10 – 0   .667 43 – 18 – 0   .705
No. 1 LSU ‍‍‍y 19 – 10 – 0   .655 54 – 17 – 0   .761
Auburn ‍‍‍y 17 – 13 – 0   .567 34 – 23 – 1   .595
No. 10 Alabama ‍‍‍y 16 – 14 – 0   .533 43 – 21 – 0   .672
Texas A&M ‍‍‍y 14 – 16 – 0   .467 38 – 27 – 0   .585
Mississippi State  ‍‍‍ 9 – 21 – 0   .300 27 – 26 – 0   .509
Ole Miss  ‍‍‍ 6 – 24 – 0   .200 25 – 29 – 0   .463
x – Division champion
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 26, 2023[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball

The 2023 Florida Gators baseball team represented the University of Florida in the sport of baseball during the 2023 college baseball season. Florida competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games were played at Condron Ballpark on the university's Gainesville, Florida, campus, in the third season at the ballpark. The team was coached by Kevin O'Sullivan in his sixteenth season as Florida's head coach. The Gators entered the season looking to return to the College World Series after a home regional final loss in the 2022 NCAA tournament.

Florida returned to the College World Series for the first time since the 2018 season. In a rematch of the 2017 championship series won by Florida, LSU defeated the Gators in the championship series 2–1, handing the Gators their third runner-up finish at the College World Series.

Previous season

See also: 2022 Florida Gators baseball team

Ranked ninth in the D1 Baseball preseason poll, the Gators dropped their opening series against unranked Liberty, and would not reach the top 10 again until the opening weekend of conference play, which was highlighted by a 2–1 series win at rival Miami. The Gators would go 3–3 against their first two conference opponents in Alabama and LSU, and defeated Florida State in their annual game in Jacksonville. However, Florida got swept at Georgia to drop to 3–6 in conference play. The Gators bounced back by taking the series against No. 2 Arkansas at home to get back to 5–7 against the conference. Traveling to Tallahassee to play the second of three games against Florida State, the Seminoles evened the series at one win apiece. The Gators lost their next two games in Nashville before avoiding the sweep against Vanderbilt. Florida would return home to host the top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers, who had lost only one conference game up to that point. The Volunteers were able to sweep the Gators by mounting a ninth-inning comeback and 11-inning defeat in the series finale,[2] to move the Gators to 6–12 against the conference, featuring a 4–11 stretch against the gauntlet of LSU, Georgia, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee. The Gators moved to an even 15–15 conference record by the end of the season, winning each of their remaining series against Kentucky, defending national champion Mississippi State, Missouri, and South Carolina, and won the season series against Florida State in Gainesville with a 7–5 ten-inning victory.

In a SEC baseball tournament marred by significant weather delays, the Gators were able to overcome a second-round loss to Texas A&M by winning their next three games, including a semifinal win to avenge their earlier second round loss to the Aggies, to set up a Championship Game against the regular season champion Volunteers. Florida was able to stymie the prolific Volunteers offense for the first four innings, but ultimately surrendered the first seven runs of the game in a 5–8 loss.[3]

Florida's run in the SEC Tournament proved to be enough to earn a No. 13 national seed, and host the Gainesville Regional. After a second-round loss to the Oklahoma Sooners, Florida was able to hold off Central Michigan with a 6–5 victory in the elimination game to set up a rematch against Oklahoma in the regional final. Florida was able to take the first game with a 7–2 victory to set up a winner-take-all game for the right to advance to the Super Regional against Virginia Tech. Florida got a 2–1 lead in the seventh inning before a 5-hour, 33-minute rain delay struck Gainesville. Florida was able to add to their lead to obtain a 3–1 advantage over the Sooners in the bottom of the seventh inning, but surrendered four runs in the top of the eighth inning, and was only able to make up one of the runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. As a result, their season came to a close with a late-night, rain delayed, 4–5 home loss to the eventual national runners-up.[4]

Preseason

Preseason SEC awards and honors

Outfielder and catcher, Wyatt Langford and BT Riopelle, respectively, were named to the All-SEC preseason first-team.[5]

Preseason All-SEC First Team
Player No. Position Class
Wyatt Langford 36 OF Junior
BT Riopelle 15 C Senior
Preseason All-SEC Second Team
Player No. Position Class
Hurston Waldrep 12 P Junior

Coaches poll

The SEC baseball coaches' poll was released on February 9, 2023.[5]

SEC East Coaches' Poll
Predicted
finish 		Team Points
1 Tennessee 90 (12)
2 Florida 79 (2)
3 Vanderbilt 64
4 South Carolina 51
5 Georgia 48
6 Kentucky 34
7 Missouri 19

Roster

2023 Florida Gators baseball team
Players Coaches
# Pos. Name B/T Height Weight Year Home town
1 INF Dale Thomas R/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr De Leon Springs, FL
2 OF Ty Evans L/L 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Auburndale, FL
3 LHP Cade Fisher L/L 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Dalton, GA
4 INF Cade Kurland R/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Tampa, FL
5 INF Colby Halter L/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Jacksonville, FL
6 INF Tyler Shelnut R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Lake City, FL
8 RHP Brandon Sproat R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Pace, FL
9 C Salvy Alvarez R/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Miami, FL
10 RHP Tyler Nesbitt R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS So LaBelle, FL
11 OF Michael Robertson L/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS Fr Venice, FL
12 RHP Hurston Waldrep R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Thomasville, GA
13 RHP Ryan Slater R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS So Palm Harbor, FL
14 LHP Jac Caglianone L/L 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 245 lb (111 kg) So Tampa, FL
15 C BT Riopelle L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sr Marietta, GA
16 C Rene Lastres R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Hialeah Gardens, FL
17 RHP Yoel Tejada Jr. R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So LaBelle, FL
18 LHP Pierce Coppola L/L 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) So Verona, NJ
20 RHP Jake Clemente R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr Coral Springs, FL
21 RHP Sam Sloan R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) RS So Bartow, FL
22 RHP Brandon Neely R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Seville, FL
23 INF Deric Fabian R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Ocala, FL
24 INF Josh Rivera R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Avon Park, FL
25 OF Richie Schiekofer L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Gr Millburn, NJ
26 RHP Clete Hartzog L/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Panama City, FL
27 RHP Fisher Jameson R/R 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Lake Worth, FL
28 C Luke Heyman R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Longwood, FL
32 OF Tucker Talbott R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) RS So Atlantic Beach, FL
33 OF Erik Blair L/L 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Fort Lauderdale, FL
36 OF Wyatt Langford R/R 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jr Trenton, FL
41 RHP Blake Purnell R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS So Boynton Beach, FL
43 OF Matt Prevesk L/L 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Apopka, FL
46 RHP Nic Ficarrotta R/R 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) RS So Palm Harbor, FL
47 LHP Chris Arroyo L/L 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 220 lb (100 kg) So Gurabo, PR
49 LHP Carsten Finnvold L/L 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Boca Raton, FL
50 RHP Anthony Ursitti R/R 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) So Fort Myers, FL
55 LHP Philip Abner L/L 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So Charlotte, NC
66 OF Max Brown R/R 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Tulsa, OK
Head coach

7 Kevin O'Sullivan

Assistant coach(es)

Taylor Black
Chuck Jeroloman
David Kopp
Mike Rivera

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: October 4, 2023

Schedule

Legend
  Florida win
  Florida loss
  Postponement
Bold Florida team member
2023 Florida Gators baseball game log
Regular season
Postseason
Schedule Source:[9]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.

Record vs. conference opponents

Last two do not qualify for conf. tourn. Blank are not scheduled. Blue are home games, otherwise away.

2023 SEC baseball records

Source: 2023 SEC baseball game results, 2023 SEC baseball schedule

Team W–L ALA ARK AUB FLA UGA KEN LSU MSU MIZZ MISS SCAR TENN TAMU VAN Team Div SR SW
ALA 16–14 1–2 2–1 1–2 . 1–2 0–3 1–2 3–0 3–0 . . 2–1 2–1 ALA W4 5–5 2–1
ARK 20–10 2–1 3–0 . 0–3 . 1–2 3–0 . 2–1 2–1 3–0 3–0 1–2 ARK W1 7–3 4–1
AUB 17–13 1–2 0–3 1–2 2–1 . 2–1 2–1 3–0 3–0 2–1 . 1–2 . AUB W3 6–4 2–1
FLA 20–10 2–1 . 2–1 2–1 2–1 . . 3–0 3–0 0–3 2–1 1–2 3–0 FLA E1 8–2 3–1
UGA 11–19 . 3–0 1–2 1–2 2–1 1–2 . 0–3 1–2 0–3 2–1 . 0–3 UGA E6 3–7 1–3
KEN 16–14 2–1 . . 1–2 1–2 1–2 3–0 3–0 . 3–0 1–2 1–2 0–3 KEN E5 4–6 3–1
LSU 19–10 3–0 2–1 1–2 . 2–1 2–1 1–2 . 3–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 . LSU W2 7–2 2–0
MSU 9–21 2–1 0–3 1–2 . . 0–3 2–1 . 2–1 1–2 0–3 1–2 0–3 MSU W6 3–7 0–4
MIZZ 10–20 0–3 . 0–3 0–3 3–0 0–3 . . 2–1 0–3 3–0 1–2 1–2 MIZZ E7 3–7 2–5
MISS 6–24 0–3 1–2 0–3 0–3 2–1 . 0–3 1–2 1–2 . . 1–2 0–3 MISS W7 1–9 0–5
SCAR 16–13 . 1–2 1–2 3–0 3–0 0–3 1–1 2–1 3–0 . 1–2 . 1–2 SCAR E3 4–5 3–1
TENN 16–14 . 0–3 . 1–2 1–2 2–1 1–2 3–0 0–3 . 2–1 3–0 3–0 TENN E4 5–5 3–2
TAMU 14–16 1–2 0–3 2–1 2–1 . 2–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 2–1 . 0–3 . TAMU W5 6–4 0–2
VAN 19–11 1–2 2–1 . 0–3 3–0 3–0 . 3–0 2–1 3–0 2–1 0–3 . VAN E2 7–3 4–2
Team W–L ALA ARK AUB FLA UGA KEN LSU MSU MIZZ MISS SCAR TENN TAMU VAN Team Div SR SW

Updated for entire regular season. Tiebrkrs: FLA>ARK VAN common. KEN&TENN>ALA LSU common. TENN>KEN hd–hd.

Rankings

Main article: 2023 NCAA Division I baseball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314151617Final
Coaches'[10]55*6643333 (2)3 (2)4352 (1)2 (1)22*2*2
Baseball America[11]32222222224573222*2*2
Collegiate Baseball^[12]2237675665868432222
NCBWA†[13]432632232т343632222*2
D1Baseball[14]77665333334474222*2*2

^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

References

  1. ^ "2023 SEC Baseball Standings". secsports.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  2. ^ Bortner, Sullivan (April 24, 2022). "Florida Falls to No. 1 Tennessee in Extras". floridagators.com. University Athletic Assoc., Inc., Fox Sports Sun & IMG College. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  3. ^ Bortner, Sullivan (May 29, 2022). "Gators Fall to No. 1 Tennessee in SEC Tournament championship". floridagators.com. University Athletic Assoc., Inc., Fox Sports Sun & IMG College. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  4. ^ Carter, Scott (June 6, 2022). "Gators Lose Late Lead, Fall to Oklahoma in Gainesville Regional". floridagators.com. University Athletic Assoc., Inc., Fox Sports Sun & IMG College. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "LSU Picked To Win 2023 SEC Baseball Championship". Southeastern Conference. secsports.com. February 9, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  6. ^ Bortner, Sullivan (March 24, 2023). "Schedule Change Announced for Florida-Ole Miss Series". floridagators.com. University Athletic Assoc., Inc., Fox Sports Sun, IMG College. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  7. ^ Bortner, Sullivan (March 28, 2023). "Tuesday Night's Sunshine Showdown in Jacksonville Postponed". floridagators.com. University Athletic Assoc., Inc., Fox Sports Sun, IMG College. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Bortner, Sullivan (March 17, 2023). "Florida to Play Friday Doubleheader vs. Alabama". floridagators.com. University Athletic Assoc., Inc., Fox Sports Sun, IMG College. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  9. ^ "2023 Baseball Schedule". Florida Gators. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  10. ^ "Baseball Coaches Poll". sportspolls.usatoday.com. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  11. ^ "College Baseball Top 25 Rankings". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "NCAA DIV I Baseball Polls-Collegiate Baseball Newspaper". baseballnews.com. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  13. ^ "NCBWA Division I Poll". sportswriters.net. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  14. ^ "College Baseball Rankings News & Analysis". D1 Baseball. Retrieved November 3, 2022.