As the final month of the 2025 regular season gets under way, The Florida Gators (30-16, 8-13) are on the road to open a three-game series on Friday night against the South Carolina Gamecocks (26-20, 5-16) in Columbia, South Carolina.
In the words of the 2025 NCAA Champion Florida Basketball team, the Gator (baseball) boys will look to “stay hot” as they come into this series having won 10 of their last 12 games, are 7-2 in their last nine SEC matchups, and have won the last three series they’ve played. In their last 12 games, the Gators have outscored opponents 97-54, hitting .311/.423/.545. The pitching staff has an ERA of 4.13 in that stretch.
Going into their matchup Friday night, the Gators and Gamecocks have faced off 110 times, with South Carolina just ahead of Florida with a 54-56 series lead; however, if Florida can sweep South Carolina this weekend, then Florida would take the all-time meetings record.
Florida Gators look to take advantage of struggling Gamecocks
As it stands, Florida has the momentum going into the series , with the Gamecocks just 5-16 in SEC action. Their pitching has also struggled of late, posting a 7.89 ERA in their last 21 conference matchups and their lineup currently only slashing .261/.341/.393. If they have advantage anywhere, it’s in their defensive alignment. They can defend the field well, holding a .978 fielding percentage in conference play in 2025 so far.
As for the pitching matchups, game one Friday night will feature right-handed pitcher, Liam Peterson (7-2, 3.83 ERA) on the mound for the visiting Gators against right-handed pitcher, Brandon Stone (2-5, 4.96 ERA).
Currently, Baseball America has Peterson ranked as the top college pitcher for the 2026 MLB Draft at No. 3 overall. Over the course of the season, Peterson has struck out 80 and walked just 22. He has given up 22 earned runs on 47 hits over the course of 51 2/3 innings. In the month of April, he did not allow more than three earned runs in game, improving on his runs allowed total since March.
In game two on Saturday, the Gators will have right-handed pitcher, Aidan King (4-2, 3.47 ERA) on the mound against a left for the Gamecocks in Jake McCoy (4-3, 6.38 ERA).
King, the freshman from Jacksonville, FL. struggled in his April 19th start against Mississippi State, but rebounded back against Arkansas last week, giving up just one earned run in that game.
Over the course of the season, King has given up 19 earned runs on 24 hits. He has walked just 15 and struck out 53 over the course of 49 1/3 innings.
The pitchers for game three have yet to be determined.
On the offensive side, players to watch include infielder, Bobby Boser who was 5-for-12 against Arkansas, slashing .417/.462/.500. The senior from Wesley Chapel is the only player on the roster who has started all 46 games for the Gators and leads the team in at bats, with 179; runs scored at 56; home runs with 14 on the season; and stolen bases with 13. He also has 15 games in which he has multiple RBIs. He currently ranks in the top-10 of the SEC for runs, at bats, plates appearances, steals, total bases, home runs, and hits.
Luke Heyman will also be a player to watch with a current 1.000 fielding percentage. He leads SEC catchers in chances (424) and putouts (393) and is ranked 2nd with 11 runners caught stealing.
Not only can Heyman do it behind the plate, but put a bat in his hand and he is just as dangerous. He is hitting .325 currently with a .675 slugging percentage, seven home runs, and 22 RBIs in SEC player. Over the course of all other play, he is hitting .303/.406/.563, with 10 home runs, a triple, five doubles, 38 RBIs, and 31 runs scored.
One downside for Florida is that they will be without Colby Shelton, who has an OPS of 1.064 on the season and leads the SEC with 19 doubles, .377 average, and 66 hits. He has reached base in 44 of 45 games, including 23 multi-hit games.
Shelton missed the final game of the Arkansas series and has a wrist injury that is expected to keep him out for a bit of time.
In potential good news, pitcher Pierce Coppola was not listed on the injury report this week and in theory could make an appearance at some point.
Florida shortstop Colby Shelton has a hamate injury and is expected to miss the next three weeks. However, lefthander Pierce Coppola, who hasn't pitched since week three, is active and could make an appearance.
— Mark Etheridge (@marketheridge) May 2, 2025
First pitch on Friday night is currently set for 7:00PM. It will be broadcast live on the SEC Network and ESPN+.
After this series, the Gators will return home for one game against South Florida, hit the road for three games against Texas, and then conclude regular season play at home against Alabama in a three-game series before SEC Tournament play begins at the end of the month.