Florida Opens 41st NCAA Tournament Against No. 4 Rider as 8 National Seed
Updated
Updated · 247Sports · May 29
Florida Opens 41st NCAA Tournament Against No. 4 Rider as 8 National Seed
11 articles · Updated · 247Sports · May 29
Friday’s Gainesville Regional opens at 1 p.m. ET with host Florida facing No. 4 seed Rider in the Gators’ 41st NCAA Tournament appearance.
No. 8 national seed Florida will start right-hander Russell Sandefer, 3-2 with a 4.38 ERA, against Rider’s PJ Craig, who is 9-3 with a 3.39 ERA.
The winner moves into Saturday’s 6 p.m. winner’s-bracket game against either No. 2 seed Miami or No. 3 seed Troy.
Florida enters on a 10-2 run over its last 12 games, batting .324 with 32 homers in that span and homering in 13 straight contests.
The regional extends Florida’s 18th straight postseason berth under Kevin O’Sullivan, the nation’s longest active streak, and marks the program’s 20th time hosting a regional.
With ace Aidan King rested, how will Florida strategically deploy the SEC Pitcher of the Year in the double-elimination regional?
Does Florida's tight 8-7 opening win signal a vulnerability that could derail their path to the College World Series?