With first pitch set for six p.m. on SEC Network+ at Vystar Ballpark, the Gators (19-6) are wanting to replicate the success from their first matchup of the marketing campaign with the Seminoles (19-4), after they posted a 6-3 win in Gainesville on March 10. A victory on Tuesday night time would give the Gators their eighth season collection in the final 9 over Florida State. The Gators have received 10 of 16 season collection throughout Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan‘s tenure, highlighted by wins in 25 of the final 33 conferences.
Powered by a dominant 38-23 document vs. FSU underneath O’Sullivan, Florida has moved the head-to-head collection to 135-130-1 in favor of the Seminoles. Playing in opposition to FSU at a impartial web site, the Gators are 15-13 total and 8-11 underneath O’Sullivan.
Pitching Matchups
CHECKING OUR POLLS
After enjoying to a 1-3 document final week, the Gators fell out of the D1Baseball Top 25. Although unranked by Baseball America and Perfect Game, Florida sits at No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
SCOUTING THE SEMINOLES
Coming off a weekend collection win at house in opposition to No.10 NC State (L 4-6, W 11-5, W 15-5) Florida State sits at 19-4 (5-1 ACC) with a 1-2 document in impartial video games. The Seminoles have swung the bats to a .304/.425/.518 slash line behind 34 homers and 23 steals in 30 makes an attempt. On the mound, FSU hurlers have logged a 3.53 ERA, .200 batting common in opposition to and 250-to-86 strikeout-to-walk ratio throughout 191.0 innings pitched. Having dedicated 21 errors in 23 video games, Florida State carries a .973 fielding share into Tuesday’s sport.
RIVALRY REVIEW
Florida pitching was dominant in the primary contest in opposition to Florida State. The Gators used six pitchers who mixed for a season-high 18 strikeouts, marking probably the most Florida has thrown in a sport in opposition to FSU this century. The Gatos additionally acquired sturdy performances from freshmen outfielders Cash Strayer and Jacob Kendall in the final assembly, as each had two RBI to drive in 4 of the Gators’ six runs. Shortstop Brendan Lawson put collectively a unbelievable efficiency, as he reached base safely in 4 of 5 plate appearances, highlighted by a solo house run.
MIDWEEK MASTERS
Propelled by an ideal 8-0 begin to the midweek slate in 2026, Florida is 20-2 in midweek play courting again to final season. The Gators started at 8-0 in house midweek contests in 2025 earlier than dropping their remaining house midweek sport of the season to USF. Since 2025, Florida is outscoring midweek opponents, 187-to-93.
RUNNING THE STATE
Headlined by a pair of wins at No. 17 Miami and a victory over No. 20 FSU, the Gators are off to a 10-0 begin to the season vs. groups from the state of Florida. In 25 video games in opposition to in-state foes since 2025, Florida is 21-4 that includes wins in opposition to Stetson (5), Miami (4), Florida State (three), FIU (two), Jacksonville (two), North Florida (two), Florida Atlantic (two) and Florida A&M (two).
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Through 25 video games performed, Florida paces the SEC in shutouts thrown (5) and sacrifice flies (19), sitting second and sixth in the nation in these classes, respectively. The Gators additionally rank fifteenth nationally in strikeouts per 9 (11.2), 18th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.05), twenty fourth in win share (.760), thirty first in doubles (52) and ERA (3.83), thirty third in WHIP (1.27), thirty fourth in hits allowed per 9 (7.79), forty first in walks allowed per 9 (3.67) forty sixth in runs scored (191) and 51st in house runs (32).
THE LAWSON FILE
Entering the midweek matchup, Lawson leads Florida in each slash class with a .380/.585/.915 batting line on high of 10 house runs, two triples, 4 doubles, 29 RBI, 29 runs and 6 steals. He has drawn 27 free passes in opposition to 16 strikeouts for a 25.5% stroll charge and 15.1% strikeout charge. Lawson leads the SEC with the fourth-best on-base share in the nation whereas rating second in the convention in each slugging share (sixth nationally) and walks (tenth nationally).
SANDEFER’S SECOND START
Junior right-handed pitcher Russell Sandefer will make his second begin of the season on Tuesday in opposition to Florida State. Making his first begin in Orange & Blue one week in the past in opposition to Stetson, Sandefer retired all 9 batters he confronted to end with 3.0 shutout innings and 6 strikeouts. He has a observe document as a starter, making his remaining six appearances at UCF in 2025 out of the weekend rotation whereas throwing gems in opposition to Kansas State, TCU and Oklahoma State.
THE WIEC IS HOT
Across Florida’s final 5 video games, nook infielder Ethan Surowiec has paced the workforce in batting (.353) and on-base share (.476). The sophomore slugger has totaled two doubles, six runs and 5 RBI in that span whereas elevating his total batting line .308/.432/.484 with 10 extra-base hits. Surowiec is the lone Gator to begin all 25 video games this season whereas his 24 RBI and 19 walks rank second on the roster.
DESTINATION OMAHA
Fresh off this system’s Seventeenth-straight journey to the NCAA Tournament, O’Sullivan is in his nineteenth marketing campaign on the helm of the Gators. Since O’Sullivan’s 2008 arrival, Florida leads the game with 305 SEC wins, 41 MLB debuts, 10 top-eight seeds, 9 College World Series journeys, 9 Super Regionals hosted and 6 SEC titles. The Gators have superior to 9 of the final 15 College World Series total – by far probably the most in the game.
ON DECK
The Gators stay on the street for a three-game collection at No. 4 Arkansas this weekend from March 27-29. The collection opener is ready for Friday night time at 7 .m. ET on SEC Network+.
