How to Watch: Florida baseball at South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday
Florida baseball hits the road for another Southeastern Conference matchup, this time against the sixth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks, on Saturday, April 22, for the third of a three-game weekend series inside Founders Park in Columbia, South Carolina, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.
The Gators got off to a strong start in non-conference play before earning a series win over the Alabama Crimson Tide at home to open SEC competition. Florida then took a single midweek game from the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee before sweeping a doubleheader over the Ole Miss Rebels on the road, following that up with two out of three at home from the Auburn Tigers.
Florida prevailed over the visiting Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at home before taking two of three on the road against the Tennessee Volunteers. Then on Tuesday, the Gators prevailed over the Seminoles again before dropping the opener to the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday, 13-11. They bounced back on Saturday, 2-1, before clinching the series on Sunday, 11-6. Florida then mercy-ruled the Florida A&M Rattlers on Tuesday, 17-7.
The Gators mercy-ruled in the opening game on Thursday night, 13-3, and dropped Game 2 on Friday night, 5-2.
How to Watch
SATURDAY (2 p.m. EDT)
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: ESPN 98.1FM/850AM WRUF
Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)
Projected Starting Pitchers
Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA |
FLORIDA | LHP Jac Caglianone | 4-1 | 4.74 |
SOUTH CAROLINA | TBD | 3-1 | 2.51 |
Starting Pitcher Notes
NOTES: The big thing with Jac Caglinaone is fastball command. When he doesn’t have it, getting out of the first inning isn’t a guarantee. But when he does have command, Caglianone is one of the tougher first-year arms in baseball. His fastball regularly hits 98-99 mph and his slider has a big, sweeping movement that fools lefties.
Kevin O’Sullivan will probably have Cags on a short leash, but last week’s five-inning outing against Georgia was a good way to bounce back before this start.
South Carolina has been going with TBD on Sundays since Noah Hall went down with back injuries and an uncertain timetable to return. Matthew Becker might be the favorite to start after getting the call against Vanderbilt a week ago. — David Rosenberg
Projected Starting Lineup
Pos. | Player Name | AVG | OBP | SLG | AB | R | H | HR | RBI |
C | .285 | .413 | .523 | 130 | 33 | 37 | 6 | 36 | |
1B | Jac Caglianone | .382 | .430 | .892 | 157 | 47 | 60 | 22 | 58 |
2B | .326 | .420 | .601 | 138 | 42 | 45 | 10 | 38 | |
3B | .283 | .395 | .475 | 99 | 22 | 28 | 3 | 19 | |
SS | .400 | .491 | .757 | 140 | 50 | 56 | 14 | 52 | |
LF | .389 | .546 | .796 | 108 | 49 | 42 | 9 | 23 | |
CF | .283 | .424 | .333 | 120 | 31 | 34 | 0 | 17 | |
RF | .231 | .289 | .408 | 130 | 22 | 30 | 4 | 33 | |
DH | .348 | .415 | .739 | 69 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 24 |
Projected Starting Lineup Notes
It’s unclear if Evans will return for this series, but Matt Prevesk would likely start in rightfield if he can’t go. Evans slid into the wall last Sunday and left the game early. He got the midweek game against Florida A&M off to rest up. — Rosenberg
Other Players to Watch
Gary Cosby Jr.-The Tuscaloosa News
Petry was already mentioned in the intro, but it’s worth going over his stats to give an idea of how truly dangerous he is. The Golden Spikes candidate is slashing .426/.487/.879 with 56 hits, 18 home runs and 56 RBIs. The only downside in his game is that he strikes out (31) a lot more than he walks (13), but the same can be said about Caglianone.
Limiting Petry is the key this weekend. A big home run at the right moment from him could completely turn the series in favor of South Carolina, especially being in Columbia. — Rosenberg
Series History
OVERALL | 51-53 |
AT HOME | 29-16 |
AWAY | 18-30 |
NEUTRAL | 4-7 |
NOTES: South Carolina has gotten the better of Florida in Columbia and in Hoover, Alabama, historically, but this is one of the best Gators teams we’ve seen in a while. Winning the series means taking the all-time lead. — Rosenberg
Predictions
GAME 3: Florida, 8-7
SERIES: Waldrep is the only starter I’m confident will give the Gators a chance to win, but this team plays like they have something to prove every night so I’m trusting the offense and picking a sweep. Sproat might give up four, but he’ll battle to keep Florida in it in the series opener.
South Carolina’s injuries on the mound might give UF the advantage on Sunday, too, but you never which Caglianone Florida is going to get.
Florida makes a statement with a sweep of No. 6 South Carolina. — Rosenberg
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