5 tests Florida will face en route to back to back SEC titles
5 tests Florida will face en route to back-to-back SEC titles NCAA.com
Here are the five toughest tests the Gators will face in each series if they want their 15th overall SEC regular season crown: MORE: All-time series record: Florida leads 131-67-1; 2017 result: Florida won series 2-1 The Gators will face one of the best starting pitchers on their slate in Kentucky’s Sean Hjelle on Thursday night, in the first game of the three-game series with the Wildcats in Lexington. Kentucky’s 6-foot-11 ace is 2-0 in his career against Florida, allowing only one earned run through 6.2 innings pitched. Last year in Gainsville, Hjelle pitched 5.2 innings allowing six hits, three runs (one earned), while striking out five in a 12-4 Wildcats win. As a freshman, when he was primarily Kentucky’s closer, Hjelle picked up the win in relief after the Wildcats bested the Gators, 5-4, in 10 innings. Road Trip
Top 10 Matchup
Thursday Night Primetime () are ready. — Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) Thursday’s showdown between Hjelle and the Gators’ Brady Singer will be one of the best regular season matchups of the year. Florida’s offense ranks eighth overall in runs scored (290) while Kentucky is right behind in ninth (289). This one has potential to be an instant classic. Brady Singer vs. Sean Hjelle comparison Player ERA W-L IP H R ER SO BB BAA Brady Singer 2.79 7-1 56.2 46 19 17 54 14 .220 Sean Hjelle 3.09 5-2 58.1 46 23 20 53 9 .206 All-time series record: Auburn leads 131-113-2; 2017 result: Auburn won series 3-0 How’s this for Florida: In back-to-back series, the Gators have to face Hjelle and Auburn’s Casey Mize, both of whom – along with Singer and Jackson Kowar – will be in the conversation for SEC Pitcher of the Year. In game two of the Tigers’ regular-season series sweep over Florida last year, Mize out-dueled Singer allowing five hits, one run (unearned) while striking out eight over seven innings of work. While the Tigers swept the Gators in the regular season last year, Florida got its revenge with a 5-4 win in the second round of the 2017 SEC tournament. Auburn started red-hot, and its 6-9 start in SEC hides how good the Tigers really are. RELATED: While a lot can change before the rematch of last year's SEC Tournament Championship Game, as it currently stands right now, a clash between Florida’s offense and Texas A&M’s pitching staff should be an awesome series for college baseball fans. Through April 18th, Florida’s offense ranks first in the SEC in runs scored (290) and total bases (670), and second in hits (393) and home runs (58). Meanwhile, the Aggies’ staff ranks first in the conference in team ERA (2.82) and earned runs allowed (107). Florida third baseman Jonathan India has been dominant from the jump with .438/.562/.860 splits, 53 hits, 12 home runs and 31 RBI. J.J. Schwartz, and Will Dalton have been two other big power bats in the Gators' lineup, and will be tested against the Aggies' startersi including John Doxakis, Mitchell Kilkenny and Stephen Kolek, and a deep bullpen headlined by closer Nolan Hoffman.
CHAMPS
PRESENTED BY NCAA BaseballHere are the five toughest tests the Gators will face in each series if they want their 15th overall SEC regular season crown: MORE: All-time series record: Florida leads 131-67-1; 2017 result: Florida won series 2-1 The Gators will face one of the best starting pitchers on their slate in Kentucky’s Sean Hjelle on Thursday night, in the first game of the three-game series with the Wildcats in Lexington. Kentucky’s 6-foot-11 ace is 2-0 in his career against Florida, allowing only one earned run through 6.2 innings pitched. Last year in Gainsville, Hjelle pitched 5.2 innings allowing six hits, three runs (one earned), while striking out five in a 12-4 Wildcats win. As a freshman, when he was primarily Kentucky’s closer, Hjelle picked up the win in relief after the Wildcats bested the Gators, 5-4, in 10 innings. Road Trip
Top 10 Matchup
Thursday Night Primetime () are ready. — Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) Thursday’s showdown between Hjelle and the Gators’ Brady Singer will be one of the best regular season matchups of the year. Florida’s offense ranks eighth overall in runs scored (290) while Kentucky is right behind in ninth (289). This one has potential to be an instant classic. Brady Singer vs. Sean Hjelle comparison Player ERA W-L IP H R ER SO BB BAA Brady Singer 2.79 7-1 56.2 46 19 17 54 14 .220 Sean Hjelle 3.09 5-2 58.1 46 23 20 53 9 .206 All-time series record: Auburn leads 131-113-2; 2017 result: Auburn won series 3-0 How’s this for Florida: In back-to-back series, the Gators have to face Hjelle and Auburn’s Casey Mize, both of whom – along with Singer and Jackson Kowar – will be in the conversation for SEC Pitcher of the Year. In game two of the Tigers’ regular-season series sweep over Florida last year, Mize out-dueled Singer allowing five hits, one run (unearned) while striking out eight over seven innings of work. While the Tigers swept the Gators in the regular season last year, Florida got its revenge with a 5-4 win in the second round of the 2017 SEC tournament. Auburn started red-hot, and its 6-9 start in SEC hides how good the Tigers really are. RELATED: While a lot can change before the rematch of last year's SEC Tournament Championship Game, as it currently stands right now, a clash between Florida’s offense and Texas A&M’s pitching staff should be an awesome series for college baseball fans. Through April 18th, Florida’s offense ranks first in the SEC in runs scored (290) and total bases (670), and second in hits (393) and home runs (58). Meanwhile, the Aggies’ staff ranks first in the conference in team ERA (2.82) and earned runs allowed (107). Florida third baseman Jonathan India has been dominant from the jump with .438/.562/.860 splits, 53 hits, 12 home runs and 31 RBI. J.J. Schwartz, and Will Dalton have been two other big power bats in the Gators' lineup, and will be tested against the Aggies' startersi including John Doxakis, Mitchell Kilkenny and Stephen Kolek, and a deep bullpen headlined by closer Nolan Hoffman.