# 2018 Florida Gators baseball team

The 2018 Florida Gators baseball team represented the University of Florida in the sport of baseball during the 2018 college baseball season. The Gators competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They played their home games at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The team was coached by Kevin O'Sullivan in his eleventh season as Florida head coach. The Gators entered the season as the defending national champions, having defeated LSU two games to none in the championship series of the 2017 College World Series.

## Schedule

Legend :
| | Florida win |
| | Florida loss |
| | Postponement |
| Bold | Florida team member |
2018 Florida Gators baseball game log :
Regular season :
February
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall RecordSEC Record
February 16SienaNo. 1McKethan Stadium Gainesville, FL7–1Singer (1–0)White (0–1)None5,2701–0–
February 17SienaNo. 1McKethan Stadium10–2Kowar (1–0)Miller (0–1)None4,3062–0–
February 18SienaNo. 1McKethan Stadium19–2Dyson (1–0)Nolan (0–1)None3,9553–0–
February 20Florida AtlanticNo. 1McKethan Stadium6–1Leftwich (1–0)Prather (0–1)None2,9444–0–
February 21Bethune–CookmanNo. 1McKethan Stadium7–4Long (1–0)Krull (0–1)Byrne (1)3,2495–0–
February 23at No. 24 Miami (FL) RivalryNo. 1Alex Rodriguez Park Coral Gables, FL7–3Singer (2–0)Bargfeldt (1–1)Mace (1)3,5966–0–
February 24at No. 24 Miami (FL) RivalryNo. 1Alex Rodriguez Park8–2Kowar (2–0)Veliz (0–1)Leftwich (1)4,1567–0–
February 25at No. 24 Miami (FL) RivalryNo. 1Alex Rodriguez Park0–2McKendry (1–1)Dyson (1–1)Cabezas (2)3,3887–1–
February 27at North FloridaNo. 1Harmon Stadium Jacksonville, FL4–0Butler (1–0)German (0–1)None1,6718–1–
February 28North FloridaNo. 1McKethan Stadium8–3Baker (1–0)Norkus (2–1)None3,3389–1– :
March
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall RecordSEC Record
March 2Stony BrookNo. 1McKethan Stadium12–5Singer (3–0)Creighton (1–1)Byrne (2)3,36610–1–
March 3Stony BrookNo. 1McKethan Stadium8–0Kowar (3–0)Clarke (1–1)None3,92511–1–
March 4Stony BrookNo. 1McKethan Stadium3–1Dyson (2–1)Herrmann (2–1)Byrne (3)3,67512–1–
March 6at UCFNo. 1John Euliano Park Orlando, FL7–9Montgomery (2–0)Leftwich (1–1)Westberg (1)4,01612–2–
March 7UCFNo. 1McKethan Stadium2–4Sheridan (2–0)Butler (1–1)Westberg (2)3,25312–3–
March 9Rhode IslandNo. 1McKethan Stadium9–0Singer (4–0)Wilson (0–3)None3,07513–3–
March 10 (1)Rhode IslandNo. 1McKethan Stadium9–2Dyson (3–1)Jangols (1–2)None3,12114–3–
March 10 (2)Rhode IslandNo. 1McKethan Stadium3–2Leftwich (2–1)Johnson (0–2)None3,44615–3–
March 13No. 7 Florida State RivalryNo. 2McKethan Stadium12–6Mace (1–0)Karp (3–1)None6,04216–3–
March 16at South CarolinaNo. 2Founders Park Columbia, SC7–3Singer (5–0)Hill (2–2)Byrne (4)7,03417–31–0
March 17at South CarolinaNo. 2Founders Park7–15Morris (4–1)Kowar (3–1)None7,20717–41–1
March 18at South CarolinaNo. 2Founders Park3–2Dyson (4–1)Chapman (1–2)Byrne (5)7,11318–42–1
March 20JacksonvilleNo. 2McKethan StadiumPostponed (rain) Makeup: March 21
March 21JacksonvilleNo. 2McKethan Stadium10–3Baker (2–0)Stockton (1–3)None3,20119–4–
March 23No. 4 ArkansasNo. 2McKethan Stadium3–6Knight (4–0)Singer (5–1)Cronin (4)5,02519–52–2
March 24No. 4 ArkansasNo. 2McKethan Stadium17–2Kowar (4–1)Campbell (2–3)None4,81520–53–2
March 25No. 4 ArkansasNo. 2McKethan Stadium5–4Byrne (1–0)Murphy (3–1)None4,51021–54–2
March 27vs. No. 5 Florida State RivalryNo. 2Baseball Grounds Jacksonville, FL1–0Leftwich (3–1)Karp (4–2)Byrne (6)9,61322–5–
March 30No. 8 VanderbiltNo. 2McKethan Stadium8–4Singer (6–1)Fellows (4–1)Byrne (7)3,78123–55–2
March 31No. 8 VanderbiltNo. 2McKethan Stadium10–2Kowar (5–1)Raby (2–4)None4,83524–56–2
Rescheduled from March 11 due to the threat of rain. :
April
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall RecordSEC Record
April 1No. 8 VanderbiltNo. 2McKethan Stadium8–2Butler (2–1)Hickman (5–1)Leftwich (2)3,73625–57–2
April 3Florida Gulf CoastNo. 1McKethan Stadium8–4Mace (2–0)Lumbert (4–1)None3,49326–5–
April 6at TennesseeNo. 1Lindsey Nelson Stadium Knoxville, TNPostponed (rain) Makeup: April 8 as a single-admission, 7-inning doubleheader
April 7at TennesseeNo. 1Lindsey Nelson Stadium22–6Singer (7–1)Crochet (2–4)None1,81927–58–2
April 8 (1)at TennesseeNo. 1Lindsey Nelson Stadium6–4$^{11}$Butler (3–1)Lingenfelter (2–3)None2,63928–59–2
April 8 (2)at TennesseeNo. 1Lindsey Nelson Stadium4–6$^7$Neely (4–1)Dyson (4–2)None2,63928–69–3
April 10at No. 10 Florida State RivalryNo. 1Dick Howser Stadium Tallahassee, FL6–3Mace (3–0)Karp (5–3)Byrne (8)5,97929–6–
April 13MissouriNo. 1McKethan Stadium3–1Butler (4–1)Sikkema (2–3)Byrne (9)6,21430–610–3
April 14 (1)MissouriNo. 1McKethan Stadium10–2Kowar (6–1)LaPlante (4–2)None5,82031–611–3
April 14 (2)MissouriNo. 1McKethan Stadium7–2Dyson (5–2)Plassmeyer (4–1)Byrne (10)3,95532–612–3
April 17JacksonvilleNo. 1McKethan Stadium4–8Meyer (1–0)Langworthy (0–1)None3,47832–7–
April 19at No. 9 KentuckyNo. 1Cliff Hagan Stadium Lexington, KY11–2Singer (8–1)Hazelwood (0–1)None3,64633–713–3
April 20at No. 9 KentuckyNo. 1Cliff Hagan Stadium9–4Kowar (7–1)Hjelle (5–3)None4,17434–714–3
April 21at No. 9 KentuckyNo. 1Cliff Hagan Stadium2–3Lewis (7–2)Dyson (5–3)Machamer (7)4,46134–814–4
April 24MercerNo. 1McKethan Stadium4–6Broom (8–1)Churchill (0–1)None3,13334–9–
April 26No. 22 AuburnNo. 1McKethan Stadium3–1Singer (9–1)Mize (8–2)Byrne (11)3,93135–915–4
April 27No. 22 AuburnNo. 1McKethan Stadium5–11Greenhill (3–1)Kowar (7–2)None4,40435–1015–5
April 28No. 22 AuburnNo. 1McKethan Stadium12–3Leftwich (4–1)Mitchell (0–1)None4,01836–1016–5
Rescheduled from April 15 due to the threat of rain. :
May
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall RecordSEC Record
May 4at No. 18 Texas A&MNo. 1Olsen Field College Station, TX9–0Singer (10–1)Kilkenny (8–2)None5,01237–1017–5
May 5at No. 18 Texas A&MNo. 1Olsen Field6–1Kowar (8–2)Doxakis (6–3)None6,78938–1018–5
May 6at No. 18 Texas A&MNo. 1Olsen Field3–7Kolek (5–4)Leftwich (4–2)Hoffman (10)5,25938–1118–6
May 8South FloridaNo. 1McKethan Stadium11–8Butler (5–1)King (4–2)Byrne (12)3,48439–11–
May 11No. 15 GeorgiaNo. 1McKethan Stadium7–6Byrne (2–0)Kristofak (3–2)None5,27940–1119–6
May 12No. 15 GeorgiaNo. 1McKethan Stadium9–3Kowar (9–2)Hancock (6–4)None4,62141–1120–6
May 13No. 15 GeorgiaNo. 1McKethan Stadium1–4Smith (7–1)Leftwich (4–3)Schunk (8)4,13541–1220–7
May 17at Mississippi StateNo. 1Dudy Noble Field Starkville, MS3–6Self (3–0)Byrne (2–1)None5,10041–1320–8
May 18at Mississippi StateNo. 1Dudy Noble Field4–12France (4–3)Leftwich (4–4)None5,90141–1420–9
May 19at Mississippi StateNo. 1Dudy Noble Field6–13Smith (4–0)Kowar (9–3)Gordon (3)6,29141–1520–10 :
Postseason :
SEC Tournament
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall RecordSECT Record
May 23vs. (8) LSUNo. 3 (1)Metropolitan Stadium Hoover, AL 4–3Mace (4–0)Hilliard (9–5)Byrne (13)6,71042–151–0
May 24vs. No. 7 (4) ArkansasNo. 3 (1)Metropolitan StadiumPostponed (rain) Makeup: May 25
May 25 (1)vs. No. 7 (4) ArkansasNo. 3 (1)Metropolitan Stadium2–8Knight (10–0)Kowar (9–4)Cronin (11)1,38442–161–1
May 25 (2)vs. (8) LSUNo. 3 (1)Metropolitan Stadium0–11$^7$Beck (3–1)Leftwich (4–5)None8,94542–171–2
The game was suspended during the sixth inning due to heavy fog and continued at 11:00 a.m. on May 26 prior to the start of the session scheduled for that day. :
NCAA tournament: Gainesville Regional
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall RecordRegional Record
June 1(4) ColumbiaNo. 1 (1)McKethan Stadium13–5Butler (6–1)Wiest (2–5)None2,82343–171–0
June 2(2) JacksonvilleNo. 1 (1)McKethan Stadium3–2Singer (11–1)Stockton (8–6)Byrne (14)3,87444–172–0
June 3(3) Florida AtlanticNo. 1 (1)McKethan StadiumPostponed (rain) Makeup: June 4
June 4 (1)(3) Florida AtlanticNo. 1 (1)McKethan Stadium4–7Schneider (7–1)Kowar (9–5)Peden (4)2,88344–182–1
June 4 (2)(3) Florida AtlanticNo. 1 (1)McKethan Stadium5–2Mace (5–0)Poore (2–2)Byrne (15)2,03345–183–1 :
NCAA tournament: Gainesville Super Regional
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall RecordSuper Reg. Record
June 9No. 19 AuburnNo. 1 (1)McKethan Stadium8–2Singer (12–1)Mize (10–6)None4,61046–181–0
June 10No. 19 AuburnNo. 1 (1)McKethan Stadium2–3Greenhill (6–2)Butler (6–2)None4,53746–191–1
June 11No. 19 AuburnNo. 1 (1)McKethan Stadium3–2$^{11}$Byrne (3–1)Greenhill (6–3)None5,95847–192–1 :
NCAA tournament: College World Series
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverall RecordCWS Record
June 17vs. No. 11 (9) Texas TechNo. 1 (1)TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, NE3–6Shetter (6–0)Singer (12–2)None19,10047–200–1
June 19vs. No. 16 (13) TexasNo. 1 (1)TD Ameritrade Park6–1Kowar (10–5)Henley (6–7)None16,62048–201–1
June 21vs. No. 11 (9) Texas TechNo. 1 (1)TD Ameritrade Park9–6Leftwich (5–5)Kilian (9–3)Byrne (16)24,80649–202–1
June 22vs. No. 6 (3) ArkansasNo. 1 (1)TD Ameritrade Park2–5Campbell (5–6)Singer (12–3)Cronin (13)25,01649–212–2 :
Rankings from USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches' baseball poll. All times Eastern. Parentheses indicate tournament seedings. Retrieved from FloridaGators.com

## Record vs. conference opponents

Last two do not qualify for conf. tourn. Blank are not scheduled. Blue are home games, otherwise away.
2018 SEC baseball recordsvte
Source: 2018 SEC baseball game results :
| Team | W–L | ALA | ARK | AUB | FLA | UGA | KEN | LSU | MSU | MIZZ | MISS | SCAR | TENN | TAMU | VAN | Team | Div | SR | SW |
| ALA | 8–22 | | 0–3 | 0–3 | . | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | 0–3 | 0–3 | . | ALA | W7 | 2–8 | 0–4 |
| ARK | 18–12 | 3–0 | | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–3 | . | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | 3–0 | . | ARK | W2 | 5–5 | 4–1 |
| AUB | 15–15 | 3–0 | 0–3 | | 1–2 | . | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | . | . | 2–1 | 3–0 | AUB | W3 | 5–5 | 2–2 |
| FLA | 20–10 | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | 0–3 | 3–0 | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | FLA | E1 | 9–1 | 2–1 |
| UGA | 18–12 | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | 1–2 | | 1–2 | . | . | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | UGA | E2 | 6–4 | 2–0 |
| KEN | 13–17 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | 0–3 | KEN | E5 | 5–5 | 0–2 |
| LSU | 15–15 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | . | . | | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | LSU | W4 | 5–5 | 1–1 |
| MSU | 15–15 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | . | 1–2 | 0–3 | MSU | W5 | 4–6 | 2–1 |
| MIZZ | 12–18 | 1–2 | . | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | | . | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | MIZZ | E6 | 4–6 | 0–2 |
| MISS | 18–12 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | . | 2–1 | . | 2–1 | 1–2 | . | | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | MISS | W1 | 7–3 | 1–0 |
| SCAR | 17–13 | . | 1–2 | . | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–0 | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | SCAR | E3 | 6–4 | 2–1 |
| TENN | 12–18 | 3–0 | . | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 1–2 | TENN | E7 | 3–7 | 1–2 |
| TAMU | 13–17 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | . | 2–1 | 2–1 | . | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | . | TAMU | W6 | 3–7 | 1–1 |
| VAN | 16–14 | . | . | 0–3 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | . | | VAN | E4 | 6–4 | 2–2 |
| 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 ( ) = 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 (26) | 1 (26)* | 1 (26)* | 1 (19) | 2 (3) | 2 | 2 (2) | 1 (26) | 1 (29) | 1 (30) | 1 (19) | 1 (19) | 1 (19) | 1 (30) | 3 (12) | 1 (15) | 1 (15)* | 1(15)* | 3 |
| Baseball America | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1* | 1* | 3 |
| Collegiate Baseball^ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| NCBWA† | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2* | 3 |
^ 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.