Florida
Team Capsule
Posted: Thursday May 28, 1998 06:28 PM
Coach: Andy Lopez (4th year)
Nickname: Gators
Record and conference finish: 46-16, SEC East -- 1st
Region and Seed: South I, 1st
Total NCAA appearances: 17
NCAA Tournament Record: 38-28
College World Series Appearance: 4th
CWS Record: 5-6
Last CWS appearance: 1996, beat Florida State, 5-2; lost to LSU, 9-4;
beat Florida State, 6-3; lost to LSU, 2-1
Top Finish: Tied 3rd (1996)
Probable Starting Lineup
------------------------
C -- David Ross (.320, 18 HR, 65 RBI)
1B -- Brad Wilkerson (.349, 23, 69)
2B -- Ty Martin (.296, 7, 39)
3B -- Matt Siegel (.357, 4, 26)
SS -- Mark Ellis (.335, 13, 49)
LF -- Casey Smith (.394, 11, 62)
CF -- Greg Catalanotte (.360, 12, 49)
RF -- Derek Nicholson (.365, 15, 66)
DH -- Jason Dill (.278, 15, 49)
SP -- Brad Wilkerson (10-4, 4.45 ERA)
SP -- Matt McClendon (9-4, 6.04)
SP -- Tommy Bond (5-1, 3.51)
RP -- Josh Fogg (13 saves, 2.05)
Outlook: Florida, the College World Series' top seed, is making
its fourth appearance in Omaha, third this decade and second in
three years. The Southeastern Conference regular-season
champion Gators were seeded first in the South I Region and
played at their home in Gainesville, Florida, but needed to
sweep a pair of games Saturday to avoid elimination before
topping Illinois, 7-6, in 11 innings on Sunday to advance.
Junior P/LF fielder Brad Wilkerson is Florida's first three-time
All-American an one of three finalists for the Rotary Smith
Player of the Year Award. On the mound, he went 10-4 with a
4.45 ERA this season, striking out 133 and walking 64 in 119
1.3 innings. Wilkerson (.349, 23 HR, 69 RBI) is the first
person in NCAA history to hit 20 homers, steal 20 bases and win
10 games in the same season. RHP's Matt McClendon (9-4, 6.09)
and Tommy Bond (5-1, 3.51) are the other top starters. RHP
Josh Fogg is one of the best closers in the country, compiling
13 saves to go along with a 7-2 record and a 2.05 ERA. The
Gators scored a school-record 595 runs this season, including a
record 32 against Kentucky on April 4th. On the other hand,
they have allowed 10 or more runs on 12 occassions, losing nine
of those games. The team also has set records for homers (127),
doubles (155) and RBI (524). Florida has seven players who hit
10 or more homers, a first in school history. C David Ross (18)
RF Derek Nicholson (16) and DH Jason Dill (15) follow
Wilkerson's team-leading 23. LF Casey Smith hit a team-best
.394 and is vying to become only the fifth player in school
history to hit .400 in a season. The school record is held by
former Detroit Tiger SS Alan Trammell, who hit .425 in 1965.
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