Behind Enemy Lines: Auburn-Florida series preview with Adam Dubbin of Gators Wire
The Auburn Tigers earned their first series win of the SEC slate last weekend when the Tigers took two-of-three games from Georgia at Plainsman Park.
This week, Auburn will face another top-10 team on the road in the Florida Gators, who enter this week ranked No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll. The Tigers and Gators will begin a three-game series on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. CT at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville.
Florida enters the series with a 22-4 record and has lost just one SEC game since conference play began on March 16. Florida has earned series wins over Alabama and, more recently, swept Ole Miss in Oxford.
There are very few holes within the Gators roster, as four batters hit .300 or higher, and two of those batters have hit over 10 home runs. Two weekend starters have over 50 strikeouts, with sophomore Jac Caglianone thriving in both aspects.
What else do we need to know about the Gators heading into this weekend’s crucial SEC series? We called in Adam Dubbin, managing editor of Gators Wire, to provide some insight. As always, he delivered.
Here is this week’s edition of Behind Enemy Lines with Gators Wire editor, Adam Dubbin.
The bats are hot in Gainesville
Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun
The Gators are enjoying early success in SEC play by coming into the series at 5-1. What have been some factors that have led to Florida’s conference wins?
Quite frankly, this team is an absolute juggernaut on offense and all three weekend starters have done relatively well. While we expected the bats to be good, few foresaw the contributions the freshmen would be making, as well as shortstop Josh Rivera’s offensive outburst. Watching this team, you get the feeling that on any given night the Gators will light up the board at a moment’s notice.
It's going down
Gary Cosby Jr.-The Tuscaloosa News
Jac Caglianone has one of the hottest bats in the country with 17 HR, 38 RBI, and a .400 average. Is he exceeding expectations in his season with the Gators?
Nobody really expects the kind of outburst we have seen from Cags to start the season, but it is worth noting that he has slowed down in SEC play going 0-for-11 before finally snapping the skid. However, that is really just a function of the talent gradient he is facing between non-conference and conference competition and he is still a beast to keep your eye on as he makes his in-season adjustments.
The list is long
Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun
Who are some other key names that we should look for at the plate this weekend?
Obviously, Wyatt Langford is a name on the must-watch list, along with Rivera as well as catcher Luke Heyman and second baseman Cade Kurland. Catcher BT Riopelle also has some beef in his bat. This is a much better-coached team at the plate than last year so even some of the weaker hitters need to be taken seriously.
Room for improvement
Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun
How well has Florida’s weekend rotation performed this season, and which member of the unit has the best chance of keeping Auburn’s bats in line?
On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give the Gators’ weekend rotation a 7.5 grade. (Brandon) Sproat looked fantastic in his complete-game shutout of Alabama but has otherwise not quite lived up to his hype, while Hurston Waldrep has had his up-and-downs and (Jac) Caglione also wavering at times. But the gestalt is that the corps gets the job done and that has been crucial to Florida’s success.
Even the portal is good in Florida
Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun
Who are some top freshmen/transfers that have made a name for themselves this season?
I have already named Heyman and Kurland, who have been the standouts thus far. Waldrep represents the top transfer as well. Fun fact: backup freshman quarterback Max Brown is also on the roster, but has not played.
There are no gray areas
Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun
What does Florida need to do well in order to win the series against Auburn at home?
The question for me really is, “What does Florida have to do wrong to lose this series at home?”
All hubris aside, the key for Auburn is to keep the Florida bats at bay long enough to slice into the soft underbelly of the team that is the bullpen — which has been the team’s Achilles heel this season, to say the least. If Florida’s starters can stymie the Tigers’ bats and the offense continues to roll along, I can see the kitties leaving Gainesville with their tails between their legs.
Gators break out the brooms
Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun
How do you see this series shaking out?
Florida sweeps the series, but at least one game will be a nail-biter. However, with the forecast calling for inclement weather on Saturday, if one of the games is pushed into a doubleheader, anything can happen.
