Weekend Open Thread: Gators competing for titles

This weekend, three Florida Gators teams are competing for championship titles. Florida’s women’s golf and tennis teams are in SEC Tournament play, while the Gator gymnastics team is in St. Louis for the NCAA Championships. Meanwhile, Florida’s baseball and softball teams are on the road themselves in weekend SEC series.

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

Friday, April 20

Women’s golf
SEC Tournament, All Day: Florida has been competing in Birmingham at the SEC championships since Tuesday and enters the final day of stroke play on Friday. Should the Gators be in the top eight after those rounds, they will advance to this weekend’s match play.

Women’s tennis
Florida vs. LSU (SEC Tournament), 9:00 a.m.: This game occurred earlier this morning and was won by the Gators, 4-2, allowing Florida to advance to Saturday’s semifinals. The Gators started their run at the tournament on Friday in the quarterfinals, as the result of earning a first and second round bye as the No. 2 seed.

Gymnastics
NCAA Championships Semifinals, 7:00 p.m.: Florida seeks its fourth NCAA title this weekend in St. Louis. The Gators will participate in the second semifinal on Friday, which also features Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, California, and Kentucky. The top three teams from each semifinal will advance to Saturday’s Super Six competition.

Softball
Florida vs. Mississippi State, 7:00 p.m.: The No. 5 Gators are on the road this weekend, visiting the No. 19 Bulldogs in Starkville for a three-game series. Florida has won their past three meetings with Mississippi State, with their last meeting prior to this weekend occurring in Gainesville in 2016.

Baseball
Florida vs. Kentucky, 7:30 p.m.: The top-ranked Gators started their three-game weekend series a day earlier than usual this week, cruising to an 11-2 victory over No. 9 Kentucky on Thursday night. Florida takes the field again Friday for game two, and will face 2017 SEC Pitcher of the Year Sean Hjelle on the mound.

Saturday, April 21

Women’s golf
SEC Tournament, All Day: Should Florida be one of the top eight teams after the opening three rounds of play, the Gators will advance to match play. Saturday will feature both the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Women’s tennis
Florida vs. Arkansas or South Carolina, SEC Tournament, 10:00 a.m.: The Gators advanced to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal match between Arkansas and South Carolina with a trip to the championship match on the line.

Baseball
Florida vs. Kentucky, 1:00 p.m.: The No. 1 Gators and No. 9 Wildcats return to action for the series finale. Florida will be hosting at home all of next week - with a Tuesday night tilt against Mercer and a series with Auburn.

Lacrosse
Florida vs. Denver, 2:00 p.m.: UF will compete in their final regular-season road game of the 2018 season against the Pioneers. The Gators enter the game on a 29-game winning streak against Big East opponents which dates back to 2015.

Softball
Florida vs. Mississippi State, 2:00 p.m.: The Gators continue their weekend series with the Bulldogs. Coming into the weekend, Florida has 25 shutouts on the season - which ranks first in the nation.

Gymnastics
NCAA Championships (Super Six Finals), 7:00 p.m.: Should Florida emerge as one of the top-three teams from its Friday night semifinal, the Gators will participate in the Super Six for a shot at the 2018 NCAA title.

Sunday, April 22

Women’s golf
SEC Tournament, All Day: The last day of the SEC Tournament will feature match play for the championship, which will be televised on the SEC Network. Florida will be a part of the finals if they advance after Saturday’s rounds of match play. Last season, the Gators won the SEC Tournament title.

Softball
Florida vs. Mississippi State, 1:00 p.m.: The Gators conclude their weekend series in Starkville with the Bulldogs. Prior to this weekend, Florida held a 33-19 all-time record against Mississippi State.

Women’s tennis
SEC Tournament Final, 2:30 p.m.: Should Florida advance into the championship match, the Gators will play on Sunday in a title tilt televised on the SEC Network. The Gators have advanced to the SEC Tournament final 26 times in the 30-year history of the event.

And here are your schedule tables for this weekend’s events.