Florida Baseball 2012 Schedule Released

The Florida baseball team should be preseason number one, but they will be tested early and often. Thursday morning, the Gators released their schedule for the 2012 schedule. It's going to be a tough one, with exactly half of their 56 game schedule against teams who made it to the NCAA Tournament last year. Florida will host 35 games in the friendly confines of McKethan Stadium. The Gators went 34-7 last year at the Mac. UF head coach and 2011 Coach of the Year Kevin O'Sullivan on this years schedule (via GatorZone):

We've put together a very challenging 2012 schedule. This schedule should hopefully prepare us for another postseason run. We are looking forward to the upcoming season and are counting on our Gator fans' continued support.

Florida starts the season at home for the 12th straight year and for the 24th time in 26 years. It won't be an easy start, however, with college baseball powerhouse Cal State Fullerton traveling across the nation to play the Gators in the opening series. Also highlighting the Gators schedule are mid-week games with Florida State - one in Gainesville, one in Tallahassee, and one in Jacksonville. Florida also plays North Florida in a mid-week home and home series. Here's the full schedule (via GatorZone):

The Gators return 2011 SEC Player of the Year Mike Zunino, 2011 Freshman Pitcher of the year Karsten Whitson, All-SEC selections Nolan Fontana, Brian Johnson, Hudson Randall, and Preston Tucker. O'Sullivan also brings in his fourth straight top-10 recruiting class, filled with 13 new Gators. 

After the final out in last year's College World Series Final, where Florida lost to SEC foe South Carolina, many predicted this years teams to win 60-plus games. The Gators have the talent to do it, but will definitely be tested in and out of conference.