Previewing the Gators Matchup Against FSU
By Will Thomas
![Florida utility Wyatt Langford #36 is safe as Florida St. infielder Alex Toral #19 can't make the tag in time at first base during the third inning Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville. The annual game, Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown, between the Florida State Seminoles and the University of Florida Gators, resumed after two year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Florida downed Florida St. 6-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jki 033122 Uffsubaseball 12](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Ff667a3c03da00bccd274297b66b4b904cfe840d21fd88e8148b65668f5f04858.jpg "Florida utility Wyatt Langford #36 is safe as Florida St. infielder Alex Toral #19 can't make the tag in time at first base during the third inning Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 121 Financial Ballpark in Jacksonville. The annual game, Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown, between the Florida State Seminoles and the University of Florida Gators, resumed after two year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Florida downed Florida St. 6-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jki 033122 Uffsubaseball 12")
It’s always a big deal when orange and blue meets garnet and gold. No matter the sport, no matter the stakes, it’s always intense. Tonight, the Gators host the Seminoles for the rubber match of their 3 game season series.
The pitching matchup will be a duel between 2 righties. The Noles are running Jackson Baumeister out onto the mound, who has a 1-2 record and a 4.30 ERA. Pitching for the Gators is Nick Ficarrotta, who owns a 3-0 record and a 3.65 ERA. Ficarrotta has the advantage in the ERA department, but baseball is as unpredictable as anything, so he’ll have to be on his game if the Gators want to pull out a win tonight.
The Gators will likely look to their usual contributors to put runs on the board tonight. Wyatt Langford has been the teams’ best hitter all season long, with a batting average of .359 and an OPS of 1.132. What’s maybe even more impressive is that he’s 1 of 3 Gators who have started all 51 games this year, along with Jud Fabian and Sterlin Thompson.
In Florida’s most recent matchup with FSU, Josh Rivera was the hero. He had 3 knocks and 3 RBI, including a home run and a stolen base. If Rivera can mimic those numbers, it’s hard not to like the Gators’ chances tonight.
The first matchup of the year between these two squads wasn’t quite as successful for Florida. They only totaled 2 hits, and starting pitcher Nick Pogue gave up 4 runs in the first inning, only recording 1 out.
A win for the Gators over a good FSU team would be a strong boost to the teams resume. If they follow it up with a series win over South Carolina, they’ll be in a great spot heading into the SEC Tournament.
It’s all on the line tonight. 2 huge rivals, 1 final game. Bragging rights all off-season. Let’s do what we do best: beat FSU.
Keep up with all things Gators here.