Weekend Open Thread: Gobs of Gators and games

Spring sports are off and running and there is quite a healthy dose of Gator athletics available for consumption this weekend. Florida baseball and softball both open home play, with baseball taking the field for the first time this season altogether. The Gators’ swimming and diving men and women continue to compete at the SEC Championships as well.

Below you’ll find what is happening in Gator sports this weekend, as well as how to follow along.

Friday, February 17

Swimming and diving
SEC Championships, All Day (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Stats): The Gators have been competing all week at the SEC Championships in Knoxville, and have already collected some titles. Events scheduled today include the 200 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, 400 medley relay, and women’s platform.

Track and field
Tiger Tuneup, 3:15 p.m., (Stats): Three Gators will be competing at the event at Clemson today, with preliminaries for the first Florida event beginning at 3:15 p.m.. Ryan Clark and Michael Timpson, Jr. will compete in the men’s 60 meters and 200 meters, while Destinee Gause will compete in the women’s 200 meters.

Softball
Florida vs. Florida A&M, 3:45 p.m. (Listen, Stats): The Gators host the Aquafina Invitational this weekend and will be playing at home at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium for the first time in the 2017 season. Florida currently holds a 13-0 record against the Rattlers.

Florida vs. Northwestern State, 6:00 p.m. (Listen, Stats): The Gators turn around and face their second opponent of the season. Florida has won the previous four match-ups with the Demons, outscoring them by a combined total of 34-1.

Baseball
Florida vs. William & Mary, 6:30 p.m. (SECNetwork+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators open their season at home with a three-game series against William & Mary. Florida leads the all time series with the Tribe, 5-0, including sweeping the last three-game series played between the two in 2012. The Gators return 16 players, including six starters, from last year's College World Series team that finished 52-16 - one win shy of a school record for wins in a season.

Gymnastics
Florida vs. Arkansas, 7:00 p.m. (SECNetwork/WatchESPN, Stats): The No. 3 Gators are in Fayetteville for Arkansas’ Pink Meet. It’s Florida’s third appearance in pink this season, as part of the SEC’s pink meet initiatives for breast cancer awareness.

Saturday, February 18

Men’s golf
Suntrust Gator Invitational, All Day (Stats): The Gators hope to win their first home tournament since 2011 this weekend. Florida is coming off of individual and team victories at the Sea Best Invitational, where the Gators swept the event and shot an 836, their best score of the year.

Swimming and diving
SEC Championships, All Day (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Stats): Florida competes in the final day of the SEC Championships. Events include men’s platform, 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 400 free relay.

Softball
Florida vs. Maryland, 11:15 a.m. (Listen, Stats): The Gators have played the Terrapins only once before, in 2014. Florida emerged from that Orlando meeting with a 16-0 win. The start time for both of the Gators’ games on Saturday were moved up because of potential weather affecting the Gainesville area in the evening.

Florida vs. Northwestern State, 1:30 p.m. (Listen, Stats): The Gators continue with their Saturday double-header, moved up because of potential weather.

Men’s basketball
Florida vs. Mississippi State, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators, winners of seven straight, take the show on the road to Starkville. All eyes will be on how Florida fares without John Egbunu, who is out for the season with an ACL injury.

Baseball
Florida vs. William & Mary, 4:00 p.m., (SECNetwork+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators return to action at McKethan Stadium for their second game of a three-game series with the Tribe.

Women’s tennis
Florida vs. Oklahoma State, 4:00 p.m.: The Gators host their first of two consecutive games against the previous season’s national finalists - something that no other Gator team in any sport has done before. First up for No. 1 Florida is the No. 6 ranked Cowboys. Another fun fact about these Gators: Florida women’s tennis has won 161 consecutive home matches - that is the longest active home win streak of any NCAA Division I team in any sport.

Sunday, February 19

Men’s golf
Suntrust Gator Invitational, All Day (Stats): The Gators’ two-day 54-hole tournament continues.

Women’s golf
Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship, All Day: The Gators begin play in New Orleans. The event continues through Tuesday, February 21.

Softball
Florida vs. Florida International University, 11:15 a.m. (Listen, Stats): This is the 17th meeting between Florida and the Panthers. The Gators hold a 13-3 all time advantage and have won 12 of the last 13 contests, including seven straight.

Women’s tennis
Florida vs. Stanford, 12:00 p.m.: The Gators continue their weekend of facing top competition with the No. 5 ranked Cardinal.

Baseball
Florida vs. William & Mary, 1:00 p.m. (SEC Network+/WatchESPN, Listen, Stats): The Gators end their three-game series with the Tribe.

Women’s basketball
Florida vs. Kentucky, 1:00 p.m. (SEC Network/WatchESPN Listen, Stats): The Gators travel to Lexington to play the first of their remaining three games before the SEC Tournament.

Soccer
Florida vs. North Florida, 6:00 p.m.: The Gators, coming off of their second consecutive SEC tournament title, open their spring season at home against the Ospreys.