2021 Florida Gators baseball team explained

Mode:	baseball
Year:	2021
Team:	Florida Gators
Conference:	Southeastern Conference
Division:	Eastern Division
Short Conf:	SEC
Coachrank:	25
Record:	38–22
Conf Record:	17–13
Head Coach:	Kevin O'Sullivan
Hc Year:	14th
Asst Coach1:	Craig Bell
Asst Coach2:	Chuck Jeroloman
Stadium:	Florida Ballpark
Bowl:	Gainesville Regional, 0–2

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.

Preseason

SEC media poll

Personnel

Coaching staff

2021 Florida Gators coaching staff^[1]
Name	Position	Seasons at Florida	Alma Mater
	Head coach	14	Virginia (1991)
Craig Bell	Assistant coach	13	North Florida (1989)
Chuck Jeroloman	Assistant coach	2	Auburn (2005)
Lars Davis	Volunteer Assistant Coach	7	Illinois (2007)

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) 1,418 1–0 — No. 21 Miami (FL) Rivalry No. 1 Florida Ballpark 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 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 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. 6 Florida Ballpark L 2–3^10 M. Entenza (1–0) F. Aleman (0–1) None 1,626 6–3 – March 5 (1) No. 6 Florida Ballpark W 10–2 T. Mace (3–0) None 1,510 7–3 – 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 No. 5 Florida Ballpark W 5–1 G. Milchin (1–0) S. Clark (0–1) None 1,657 10–3 – March 10 No. 5 Florida Ballpark W 10–7 B. Sproat (2–0) N. Chiseri (0–1) None 1,680 11–3 – March 12 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 Tallahassee, FL L 2–10 C. Haney (2–0) G. Milchin (1–1) None 1,581 13–5 – March 18 No. 5 Florida Ballpark 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 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) 2,078 16–5 3–0 March 26 No. 5 Founders Park Columbia, SC 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 H. Barco (3–2) None 1,938 16–8 3–3 March 30 vs. No. 18 Florida State Rivalry 121 Financial Park Jacksonville, FL Canceled (COVID-19 pandemic)^[2] March 30 No. 15 Florida Ballpark Canceled (inclement weather)^[3] Rescheduled from March 6 due to the threat of rain.^[4]
April (12–5) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record SEC Record April 1 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 C. Centala (2–0) K. Wilson (1–4) None 2,042 20–9 – April 9 No. 12 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) 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 Rivalry No. 18 Florida Ballpark W 3–2^10 J. Leftwich (5–2) C. Kwiatkowski (1–2) None 2,972 22–11 – April 16 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 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 J. Carver (1–2) J. Carrion (1) 809 26–11 – April 23 at 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^[5] 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) 1,535 28–12 11–7 April 30 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.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8]
May (7–6) Date Opponent Rank Stadium Site Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record SEC Record May 1 No. 2 Vanderbilt Florida Ballpark 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 N. Long (0–1) C. Scott (2) 2,222 31–13 – May 6 No. 10 Kentucky Proud Park Lexington, KY L 5–7 D. Harper (3–0) 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) 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 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 No. 9 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 vs. (11) Kentucky First Round Hoover, AL W 4–1 T. Mace (6–1) 3,499 36–19 1–0 May 26 Second Round No. 13 (6) Hoover Metropolitan Stadium 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 (4) First round L 3–5 D. Burns (5–5) T. Mace (6–2) 3,581 38–21 0–1 June 5 (3) South Alabama No. 14 (1) Florida Ballpark None 3,673 38–22 0–2

Schedule Source:^[9] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll. Parentheses indicate tournament seedings.

Rankings

See main article: 2021 NCAA Division I baseball rankings.

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.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Official Baseball Roster. Florida Gators. June 9, 2020.
2. Web site: Florida, Florida State baseball game in Jacksonville off until 2022 . Barney . Justin . Pepper . Cole . January 21, 2021 . news4jax.com . . January 23, 2021.
3. Web site: Florida Baseball Against Mercer Tuesday Night is Canceled . Dirlam . Zachary . March 30, 2021 . floridagators.com . . March 30, 2021.
4. Web site: Florida Baseball Announces Schedule Change for Florida A&M Series . Dirlam . Zachary . March 5, 2021 . floridagators.com . . March 5, 2021 .
5. Web site: Weather Postpones Saturday's Baseball Game at Auburn . Parler . Denver . April 24, 2021 . floridagators.com . . April 24, 2021.
6. Web site: Ole Miss Game 1 Boxscore . April 1, 2021 . floridagators.com . . April 17, 2021 .
7. http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/BA22.pdf NCAA 2021 and 2022 Baseball Rules Book
8. Web site: Gators Down Missouri in Game 1 . Parler . Denver . April 17, 2021 . floridagators.com . . April 17, 2021 .
9. https://floridagators.com/sports/baseball/schedule floridagators.com