No. 5 Gators Set for Top-25 SEC Showdown with No. 24 Tide

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – SEC Opening Weekend officially gets underway on Thursday night, with No. 5 Florida set to host No. 24 Alabama at 7 p.m. on SEC Network in the first installment of a three-game series. 

The history between Florida (16-3) and Alabama (16-2) dates back to 1940 in Tuscaloosa. Although the Tide won the first six meetings and 10 of the first 12, the Gators are 20-2 in the series since 2011 and 26-6 under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan. Florida has won five-straight home games vs. Alabama, sporting victories in 11 of the last 12 in Gainesville.

Across the all-time series, the Orange & Blue hold a 67-58 advantage that features a 36-18 mark in home matchups. The Gators have won 13 of the last 14 meetings overall.

Pitching Matchups

 
The Gators moved up one spot to No. 5 in the D1Baseball Top-25 this week and rank as highly as No. 2 in the nation according to Baseball America and Perfect Game. Florida sits at No. 4 in the USA Today Poll.

SERIES PROMOS

The first 750 fans on Friday, March 17 will receive green Florida baseball script St. Patrick’s day T-shirts, presented by GFL Environmental. Shirts are available at Gates 1 and 2 for those in the Diamond Deck, as well as Gate 3. Green Kirspy Kreme donuts will also be handed out at Gate 1 to the first 250 fans.

FOOD TRUCK SCHEDULE

There will be two food trucks located in the Dizney Grove area beyond the outfield wall on each day of the weekend series.

Thursday: Tony Dilla, Fat Tiki

Friday: Mayflower Cellars, B’z Gelati

Saturday: Frios, Cajun Knights

SCOUTING THE TIDE

After opening the season with a 14-0 record, Alabama has dropped two of its last four contests. Picked to finish fifth in the SEC West, the Tide is hitting a robust .349/.468/.618 with 39 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 25 attempts. On the mound, Alabama hurlers have worked to a 3.43 ERA backed by a .970 fielding percentage.

LAST TIME THEY FACED

The Gators and Tide faced four times last season, playing a series in Tuscaloosa during SEC Opening Weekend (W 6-4, W 13-6, L 7-8) and meeting again in Hoover at the SEC Tournament (W, 11-6).

THE REFRESH

Florida took all three against Siena (W 3-2, W 11-0, W 12-2) in a home weekend series to go 5-0 last week. UF then came from behind to defeat UNF, 7-2, in a midweek contest highlighted by catcher Rene Lastres’ go-ahead, two-run triple in the fifth. 

IT’S CALLED A WINNING STREAK

The Gators enter Thursday’s premiere riding a seven-game winning streak dating back to Sunday’s…