# 2021 Florida Gators baseball team

The 2021 Florida Gators baseball team represented the University of Florida in the sport of baseball during the 2021 college baseball season. Florida competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games were played at Florida Ballpark on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, in the first season at the ballpark. The team was coached by Kevin O'Sullivan in his fourteenth season as Florida's head coach. The Gators entered the season looking to return to the College World Series after an early regional exit from the 2019 NCAA tournament (no tournament held in 2020 due to COVID-19).
Entering the season as the unanimous No. 1 ranked team, the Gators were swiftly eliminated from their own regional after losing 5–3 to South Florida and 19–1 to South Alabama.

## Previous season

The Gators finished the abridged 2020 season with a 16–1 record – highlighted by a 16–0 start – and did not play any conference games. They finished ranked No. 1 in all five major polls.

## Schedule

Legend :
| | Florida win |
| | Florida loss |
| | Postponement |
| Bold | Florida team member |
2021 Florida Gators baseball game log :
Regular season :
February (6–2) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | SEC Record |
| February 19 | No. 21 Miami (FL) Rivalry | No. 1 | Florida Ballpark Gainesville, FL | W 7–5 | T. Mace (1–0) | D. Federman (0–1) | F. Aleman (1) | 1,418 | 1–0 | — |
| February 20 | No. 21 Miami (FL) Rivalry | No. 1 | Florida Ballpark | L 9–10$^{13}$ | B. Wagner (1–0) | J. Butler (0–1) | None | 1,583 | 1–1 | — |
| February 21 | No. 21 Miami (FL) Rivalry | No. 1 | Florida Ballpark | L 6–8 | A. Arguellas (1–0) | H. Barco (0–1) | None | 1,668 | 1–2 | – |
| February 23 | at North Florida | No. 7 | Harmon Stadium Jacksonville, FL | W 9–6 | J. Butler (1–1) | E. Jones (0–1) | B. Specht (1) | 125 | 2–2 | – |
| February 24 | North Florida | No. 7 | Florida Ballpark | W 8–3 | C. Centala (1–0) | M. McKinley (1–1) | None | 1,562 | 3–2 | – |
| February 26 | Samford | No. 7 | Florida Ballpark | W 8–4 | T. Mace (2–0) | S. Strickland (1–1) | None | 1,743 | 4–2 | – |
| February 27 | Samford | No. 7 | Florida Ballpark | W 18–2 | J. Leftwich (1–0) | J. McCord (0–1) | None | 1,770 | 5–2 | – |
| February 28 | Samford | No. 7 | Florida Ballpark | W 10–9 | B. Sproat (1–0) | C. Isbell (0–1) | None | 1,673 | 6–2 | – |
March (10–6) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | SEC Record |
| March 3 | No. 21 Florida Atlantic | No. 6 | Florida Ballpark | L 2–3$^{10}$ | M. Entenza (1–0) | F. Aleman (0–1) | None | 1,626 | 6–3 | – |
| March 5 (1) | Florida A&M | No. 6 | Florida Ballpark | W 10–2 | T. Mace (3–0) | K. Coleman (0–2) | None | 1,510 | 7–3 | – |
| March 5 (2) | Florida A&M | No. 6 | Florida Ballpark | W 5–1 | J. Leftwich (2–0) | K. Fox (0–1) | None | 1,724 | 8–3 | – |
| March 7 | Florida A&M | No. 6 | Florida Ballpark | W 8–0 | H. Barco (1–1) | J. Hancock (0–3) | None | 1,865 | 9–3 | – |
| March 9 | Georgia State | No. 5 | Florida Ballpark | W 5–1 | G. Milchin (1–0) | S. Clark (0–1) | None | 1,657 | 10–3 | – |
| March 10 | Stetson | No. 5 | Florida Ballpark | W 10–7 | B. Sproat (2–0) | N. Chiseri (0–1) | None | 1,680 | 11–3 | – |
| March 12 | Jacksonville | No. 5 | Florida Ballpark | L 9–10 | T. Santana (2–2) | C. Scott (0–1) | J. McCoy (1) | 1,769 | 11–4 | – |
| March 13 | Jacksonville | No. 5 | Florida Ballpark | W 9–0 | J. Leftwich (3–0) | M. Cassala (1–2) | B. Sproat (1) | 2,052 | 12–4 | – |
| March 14 | Jacksonville | No. 5 | Florida Ballpark | W 5–2 | H. Barco (2–1) | M. Adams (1–1) | F. Aleman (2) | 1,844 | 13–4 | – |
| March 16 | at Florida State Rivalry | No. 5 | Dick Howser Stadium Tallahassee, FL | L 2–10 | C. Haney (2–0) | G. Milchin (1–1) | None | 1,581 | 13–5 | – |
| March 18 | Texas A&M | No. 5 | Florida Ballpark | W 13–4 | T. Mace (4–0) | D. Saenz (3–2) | None | 1,773 | 14–5 | 1–0 |
| March 19 | Texas A&M | No. 5 | Florida Ballpark | W 3–1 | J. Leftwich (4–0) | C. Jozwiak (1–2) | C. Scott (1) | 1,993 | 15–5 | 2–0 |
| March 20 | Texas A&M | No. 5 | Florida Ballpark | W 8–4 | H. Barco (3–1) | J. Childress (2–2) | F. Aleman (3) | 2,078 | 16–5 | 3–0 |
| March 26 | at No. 25 South Carolina | No. 5 | Founders Park Columbia, SC | L 8–9$^{14}$ | J. Bosnic (2–1) | B. Specht (0–1) | None | 1,938 | 16–6 | 3–1 |
| March 27 | at No. 25 South Carolina | No. 5 | Founders Park | L 1–4 | B. Jordan (2–2) | J. Leftwich (4–1) | B. Kerry (2) | 1,938 | 16–7 | 3–2 |
| March 28 | at No. 25 South Carolina | No. 5 | Founders Park | L 5–8 | W. Sanders (4–1) | H. Barco (3–2) | None | 1,938 | 16–8 | 3–3 |
| March 30 | vs. No. 18 Florida State Rivalry | No. 15 | 121 Financial Park Jacksonville, FL | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) | Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| March 30 | Mercer | No. 15 | Florida Ballpark | Canceled (inclement weather) | Canceled (inclement weather) | Canceled (inclement weather) | Canceled (inclement weather) | Canceled (inclement weather) | Canceled (inclement weather) | Canceled (inclement weather) |
| Rescheduled from March 6 due to the threat of rain. |||||||||||
April (12–5) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | SEC Record |
| April 1 | No. 3 Ole Miss | No. 15 | Florida Ballpark | W 4–1 | F. Aleman (1–1) | G. Hoglund (3–1) | T. Mace (1) | 2,335 | 17–8 | 4–3 |
| April 2 | No. 3 Ole Miss | No. 15 | Florida Ballpark | L 2–8 | D. McDaniel (4–0) | J. Leftwich (4–2) | T. Broadway (7) | 2,009 | 17–9 | 4–4 |
| April 3 | No. 3 Ole Miss | No. 15 | Florida Ballpark | W 6–5 | H. Barco (4–2) | D. Diamond (3–3) | R. Cabarcas (1) | 2,894 | 18–9 | 5–4 |
| April 6 | Stetson | No. 12 | Florida Ballpark | W 7–6 | G. Milchin (2–1) | J. Gonzalez (2–1) | F. Aleman (4) | 2,061 | 19–9 | – |
| April 7 | Florida A&M | No. 12 | Florida Ballpark | W 10–0$^7$ | C. Centala (2–0) | K. Wilson (1–4) | None | 2,042 | 20–9 | – |
| April 9 | at No. 6 Tennessee | No. 12 | Lindsey Nelson Stadium Knoxville, TN | L 4–6 | C. Dallas (5–0) | C. Scott (0–2) | S. Hunley (4) | 1,477 | 20–10 | 5–5 |
| April 10 | at No. 6 Tennessee | No. 12 | Lindsey Nelson Stadium | L 4–5 | M. McLaughlin (2–0) | T. Van Der Weide (0–1) | K. Connell (1) | 1,430 | 20–11 | 5–6 |
| April 11 | at No. 6 Tennessee | No. 12 | Lindsey Nelson Stadium | W 7–6 | C. Scott (1–2) | S. Hunley (4–2) | None | 1,537 | 21–11 | 6–6 |
| April 13 | No. 24 Florida State Rivalry | No. 18 | Florida Ballpark | W 3–2$^{10}$ | J. Leftwich (5–2) | C. Kwiatkowski (1–2) | None | 2,972 | 22–11 | – |
| April 16 | Missouri | No. 18 | Florida Ballpark | W 8–5 | C. Scott (2–2) | S. Halvorsen (3–2) | None | 2,102 | 23–11 | 7–6 |
| April 17 (1) | Missouri | No. 18 | Florida Ballpark | W 8–6 | J. Leftwich (6–2) | L. Veinbergs (1–1) | None | 2,628 | 24–11 | 8–6 |
| April 17 (2) | Missouri | No. 18 | Florida Ballpark | W 6–4 | H. Barco (5–2) | Z. Hise (0–5) | T. Van Der Weide (1) | 2,236 | 25–11 | 9–6 |
| April 20 | at Jacksonville | No. 15 | John Sessions Stadium Jacksonville, FL | W 8–7 | T. Van Der Weide (1–1) | J. Carver (1–2) | J. Carrion (1) | 809 | 26–11 | – |
| April 23 | at Auburn | No. 15 | Plainsman Park Auburn, AL | W 4–2 | C. Scott (3–2) | T. Bright (3–4) | J. Leftwich (1) | 1,551 | 27–11 | 10–6 |
| April 24 | at Auburn | No. 15 | Plainsman Park | Postponed (rain) Makeup: April 25 as a 7-inning doubleheader | Postponed (rain) Makeup: April 25 as a 7-inning doubleheader | Postponed (rain) Makeup: April 25 as a 7-inning doubleheader | Postponed (rain) Makeup: April 25 as a 7-inning doubleheader | Postponed (rain) Makeup: April 25 as a 7-inning doubleheader | Postponed (rain) Makeup: April 25 as a 7-inning doubleheader | Postponed (rain) Makeup: April 25 as a 7-inning doubleheader |
| April 25 (1) | at Auburn | No. 15 | Plainsman Park | L 8–10$^7$ | J. Gonzalez (1–3) | J. Leftwich (6–3) | W. Morrison (1) | 1,137 | 27–12 | 10–7 |
| April 25 (2) | at Auburn | No. 15 | Plainsman Park | W 6–4$^7$ | H. Barco (6–2) | M. Barnett (2–3) | T. Van Der Weide (2) | 1,535 | 28–12 | 11–7 |
| April 30 | No. 2 Vanderbilt | No. 14 | Florida Ballpark | L 7–11 | K. Rocker (10–1) | F. Aleman (1–2) | None | 3,341 | 28–13 | 11–8 |
| The boxscore incorrectly lists Aleman as the winning pitcher and Mace as having earned a save. According to Rule 10, Section 25, a starting pitcher must pitch for at least five innings to receive credit as the winning pitcher, and per Section 26, a save may not be credited to a winning pitcher. Aleman, the starting pitcher, pitched for the first four innings, and Mace for the remaining five. Therefore, Mace should have been credited as the winning pitcher. Rescheduled from April 18 due to the threat of rain. |||||||||||
May (7–6) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | SEC Record |
| May 1 | No. 2 Vanderbilt | No. 14 | Florida Ballpark | W 11–8 | T. Mace (5–0) | J. Leiter (7–2) | None | 3,390 | 29–13 | 12–8 |
| May 2 | No. 2 Vanderbilt | No. 14 | Florida Ballpark | W 5–3 | H. Barco (7–2) | C. McElvain (3–1) | J. Leftwich (2) | 2,986 | 30–13 | 13–8 |
| May 4 | Stetson | No. 10 | Florida Ballpark | W 9–6 | T. Van Der Weide (2–1) | N. Long (0–1) | C. Scott (2) | 2,222 | 31–13 | – |
| May 6 | at Kentucky | No. 10 | Kentucky Proud Park Lexington, KY | L 5–7 | D. Harper (3–0) | T. Van Der Weide (2–2) | None | 1,161 | 31–14 | 13–9 |
| May 7 | at Kentucky | No. 10 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 8–5 | C. Scott (3–3) | A. Strickland (1–1) | J. Leftwich (3) | 1,598 | 32–14 | 14–9 |
| May 8 | at Kentucky | No. 10 | Kentucky Proud Park | W 9–2 | H. Barco (8–2) | Z. Lee (4–5) | J. Leftwich (4) | 1,406 | 33–14 | 15–9 |
| May 11 | at Stetson | No. 9 | Conrad Park DeLand, FL | L 1–6 | D. Garcia (3–1) | B. Specht (0–2) | None | 425 | 33–15 | – |
| May 14 | Georgia | No. 9 | Florida Ballpark | W 4–3 | J. Leftwich (7–3) | B. Harris (4–1) | None | 3,009 | 34–15 | 16–9 |
| May 15 | Georgia | No. 9 | Florida Ballpark | W 9–2 | H. Barco (9–2) | J. Woods (3–1) | None | 3,471 | 35–15 | 17–9 |
| May 16 | Georgia | No. 9 | Florida Ballpark | L 1–6 | J. Cannon (3–2) | F. Aleman (1–3) | None | 2,715 | 35–16 | 17–10 |
| May 20 | at No. 1 Arkansas | No. 9 | Baum–Walker Stadium Fayetteville, AR | L 1–6 | P. Wicklander (5–1) | T. Mace (5–1) | K. Kopps (8) | 11,084 | 35–17 | 17–11 |
| May 21 | at No. 1 Arkansas | No. 9 | Baum–Walker Stadium | L 3–4 | K. Kopps (10–0) | J. Leftwich (7–4) | None | 11,084 | 35–18 | 17–12 |
| May 22 | at No. 1 Arkansas | No. 9 | Baum–Walker Stadium | L 3–9 | Z. Vermillion (3–0) | F. Aleman (1–4) | None | 11,084 | 35–19 | 17–13 |
Postseason :
SEC Tournament (3–1) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | SECT Record |
| May 25 | vs. (11) Kentucky First Round | No. 13 (6) | Hoover Metropolitan Stadium Hoover, AL | W 4–1 | T. Mace (6–1) | S. Harney (3–2) | J. Leftwich (5) | 3,499 | 36–19 | 1–0 |
| May 26 | vs. No. 8 (3) Mississippi State Second Round | No. 13 (6) | Hoover Metropolitan Stadium | W 13–1$^7$ | H. Barco (10–2) | B. Smith (4–3) | None | 5,235 | 37–19 | 2–0 |
| May 27 | vs. (10) Alabama Third Round | No. 13 (6) | Hoover Metropolitan Stadium | W 7–2 | F. Aleman (2–4) | D. Smith (1–8) | None | 8,625 | 38–19 | 3–0 |
| May 29 | vs. No. 4 (2) Tennessee Semifinals | No. 13 (6) | Hoover Metropolitan Stadium | L 0–4 | C. Sewell (4–1) | B. Sproat (2–1) | None | 8,735 | 38–20 | 3–1 |
NCAA tournament: Gainesville Regional (0–2) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall Record | Regional Record |
| June 4 | (4) South Florida First round | No. 14 (1) | Florida Ballpark | L 3–5 | D. Burns (5–5) | T. Mace (6–2) | O. Kerkering (5) | 3,581 | 38–21 | 0–1 |
| June 5 | (3) South Alabama First round elimination game | No. 14 (1) | Florida Ballpark | L 1–19 | M. Smith (7–1) | H. Barco (10–3) | None | 3,673 | 38–22 | 0–2 |
    Schedule Source:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll. Parentheses indicate tournament seedings.

## Record vs. conference opponents

Last two do not qualify for conf. tourn. Blank are not scheduled. Blue are home games, otherwise away.
2021 SEC baseball recordsvte
Source: 2021 SEC baseball game results, 2021 SEC baseball schedule :
| Team | W–L | ALA | ARK | AUB | FLA | UGA | KEN | LSU | MSU | MIZZ | MISS | SCAR | TENN | TAMU | VAN | Team | Div | SR | SW |
| ALA | 12–17 | | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 0–3 | . | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–2 | ALA | W5 | 3–7 | 2–2 |
| ARK | 22–8 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | 3–0 | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | ARK | W1 | 10–0 | 2–0 |
| AUB | 10–20 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | . | . | 2–1 | . | AUB | W6 | 3–7 | 0–3 |
| FLA | 17–13 | . | 0–3 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | . | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | FLA | E3 | 7–3 | 2–2 |
| UGA | 13–17 | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 2–1 | . | . | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | UGA | E5 | 3–7 | 0–0 |
| KEN | 12–18 | 2–1 | . | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | . | 0–3 | 1–2 | . | 1–2 | KEN | E6 | 3–7 | 1–2 |
| LSU | 13–17 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | . | 2–1 | | 1–2 | . | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | LSU | W4 | 5–5 | 0–2 |
| MSU | 20–10 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 3–0 | . | . | 3–0 | 2–1 | | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | 3–0 | 1–2 | MSU | W2 | 7–3 | 4–1 |
| MIZZ | 8–22 | 0–3 | . | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | . | 2–1 | | . | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | MIZZ | E7 | 2–8 | 0–4 |
| MISS | 18–12 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | . | | 3–0 | . | 1–2 | 2–1 | MISS | W3 | 5–5 | 3–0 |
| SCAR | 16–14 | . | 1–2 | . | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | | 1–2 | . | 1–2 | SCAR | E4 | 5–5 | 2–1 |
| TENN | 20–10 | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | . | 3–0 | . | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 1–2 | TENN | E1 | 8–2 | 2–0 |
| TAMU | 9–21 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | . | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | 1–2 | | . | TAMU | W7 | 2–8 | 0–3 |
| VAN | 19–10 | 2–0 | . | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | | VAN | E2 | 7–3 | 2–0 |
| Team | W–L | ALA | ARK | AUB | FLA | UGA | KEN | LSU | MSU | MIZZ | MISS | SCAR | TENN | TAMU | VAN | Team | Div | SR | SW |
Updated for entire regular season.

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Final |
| Coaches' | 1 (24) | 1 (24)* | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 (2) | 13 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 13* | 13* | 25 |
| Baseball America | 1 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 10 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12* | 12* | 19 |
| Collegiate Baseball^ | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 12 | — | — | — |
| NCBWA† | 1 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 25 | 25* | 23 |
| D1Baseball | 1 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 14* | 14* | — |
^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season. † NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season. * A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

## 2021 MLB draft

| Player | Position | Round | Overall | MLB Team |
| Jud Fabian | OF | 2 | 40 | Boston Red Sox |
| Tommy Mace | RHP | B | 69 | Cleveland Indians |
| Nathan Hickey | C | 5 | 136 | Boston Red Sox |
| Christian Scott | RHP | 5 | 142 | New York Mets |
| Jack Leftwich | RHP | 7 | 216 | Cleveland Indians |
| Franco Aleman | RHP | 10 | 306 | Cleveland Indians |
Fabian did not sign with the Red Sox and returned to Florida.