Hope this thread will suffice for all 5 games we play out there, 2 of them Thursday night. Cal-Stae Fullerton at 8 pm, then Long Beach State 30 minutes after the first game is completed. Here's a link to a summary. No. 13 Gators Prepped for Judi Garman Classic - Florida Gators
Here are some details about today's opponents: Cal State Fullerton - They are 9-6 and play Michigan today before meeting the Gators tonight. Their wins are against Colorado State (2), Illinois-Chicago, Pacific, Memphis, Arizona State, Loyola Marymount, Tennessee and Seattle. Losses have been to California, BYU, Grand Canyon, Missouri, Mississippi State and Nebraska. Team Batting average is .322, 7 HR, 26 BB, 62 K's, 34-41 in SB, slugging .430. Their fielding is .971 with 12 errors in 15 games. Team ERA is 2.37, WHIP 1.06, 7 HR, 26 BB, 81 K's, .213 BA against. Long Beach State - They are 2-13 and play Texas A&M this afternoon before playing the Gators tonight. Their wins are against BYU and Michigan (last night), with losses to Nebraska, Oklahoma, Duke, Iowa State, Arizona (2), Arkansas, Omaha (2), Oregon, Wisconsin, California and Fresno State. Brutal schedule! Team batting average is .196, 9 HR, 49 BB, 57 K's, 11-14 SB, slugging .257. Fielding is .971 with 12 errors in 15 games. Team ERA is 6.71, WHIP 1.89, 25 HR, 49 BB, 42 K's, .333 BA against.
Here's information on the other 3 teams we play out West: UCLA - Even though they are only 7-5, this is a talented team that is always good. They have beaten Maryland, San Diego, FSU, Nebraska, Northwestern, Illinois & Tennessee, with losses to Texas (2), Oklahoma State, Georgia and Baylor. They play Michigan Friday just before facing the Gators. Team BA is .283, 11 HR, 39 BB, 57 K's, 2-3 SB, slugging .459. Fielding is .954 with 15 errors in 12 games. Team ERA is 4.76, WHIP 1.86, 19 HR, 44 BB, 78 K's, .301 BA against. DePaul - They are 3-11, with wins over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Tennessee Tech & Memphis. They have lost to Furman, UNC-Wilmington, Queens U-Charlotte, Northern Kentucky, North Dakota St., Michigan St., Kansas City, Boise St., Texas-Arlington, Tennessee Tech and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Florida is their next game on Friday. Team BA is .255, 10 HR, 28 BB, 56 K's, 23-29 SB and slugging .395. Fielding is .938 with 25 errors in 14 games. Team ERA is 4.54, WHIP 1.66, 14 HR, 39 BB, 43 K's, .293 BA against. This is a BAD team! Michigan - Michigan is 10-5, with wins over Illinois St., Bethune-Cookman, Florida, Oregon St., Seton Hall, Maine, Northern Colorado (2), Sacramento St., & UC-Santa Barbara. Their losses are to USF, Louisville, Florida Atlantic, Sacramento St. and Long Beach St. They have games with Texas A&M, Cal St.-Fullerton, Oregon St. & UCLA before playing the Gators. Team BA is .240, 11 HR, 32 BB, 46 K's, 10-17 SB and .379 slugging. Fielding is .977 with 9 errors in 15 games. Team ERA is 1.50, WHIP 1.05, 5 HR, 32 BB, 92 K's, .205 BA against. Their strength, obviously is pitching.
For comparison purposes, here are some Gator stats: Gators are 15-2 with wins over Oregon St., Illinois St., Bethune-Cookman, USF, Jacksonville (2), Georgia Southern, Loyola-Maryland, North Florida (2), Colgate (2), Lafayette (2) & Illinois-Chicago, losses to Michigan and Oklahoma St. Team BA is .388, 24 HR, 84 BB, 45 K's, 42-44 SB, slugging .656. Fielding is .986 with 6 errors in 17 games. Team ERA is 0.48, WHIP 0.60, 3 HR, 24 BB, 97 K's, .111 BA against.
Coach Hutch might have to come back. We saw her in Tampa. She was very nice and smiling. She said go Blue, and we responded Go Orange and Blue. She said that is not blue, it's Bluh. Saw her after the game and gave her a fist bump
It's now 5-1 bottom of the 6th. Fullerton's pitcher is Haley Rainey, who came into this game 2-3 2.95 ERA. The Gators are probably going to see their #1 pitcher, Staci Chambers, a lefty junior who is 5-2 with a 2.12 ERA and a .185 BA against.
Florida game is going to start later than 8 pm. Texas A&M/Long Beach State is only in the Top of the 4th, TAM ahead 10-7.
CS Fullerton used to be known as Orange Coast College before the Cal State system rebranded in the late 60s. My undergraduate degree was from Fresno State College, and my MA was from California State University, Fresno. Same school
brings up my number 1 pet peeve, trying to shoehorn games into a time frame, no accounting for extra innings or a slugfest, this happens in all sports, gam,es cannot be put in a 2 or 3 hour box, yet it never changes.
It's Great To Be A Florida Gator. We have some demons to exorcise from last year's west coast trip before SEC play. Going for a 5 nil clean sweep. It's time.
Am I remembering right? Cal State Fullerton has the iconic "F" that no other college or university has anything remotely the same as in design. Just like UF. It was BS when the Madison Avenue ad guys convinced the UF marketing team of that, and it still is. I don't, and never will, own anything with the leaning "F" on it. And yes, I want you to get off my lawn!
Perhaps a little earlier but it isn't on tv and I'll be cutting logs by that time. Gator twitter is showing an 8:30 start for our game.