Latest news with #TyEvans
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
College World Series home run record-holder, former Gator Ty Evans retires from baseball
A storied baseball career came to an end for former Florida Gators outfielder Ty Evans. On Saturday, the 22-year-old from Winter Haven, Florida, decided it was time to explore other avenues in life, announcing his decision to hang up the cleats on his social media account. Having used up his collegiate eligibility while going unselected in the most recent draft, the young man finally reached the end of his road. "Gator Nation, thank you for the four most amazing years of my life. I spent my childhood dreaming of playing Division I baseball, and being able to play at the University of Florida has made that dream come true," Evans' social media post begins. "Being able to wear the orange and blue is something that I will cherish forever. The support that I have gotten from all of you over my time here has been a true blessing. I wouldn't trade any of these moments for the world." He continues, "To the staff, I can't thank you all enough for everything that y'all have done for me. You guys helped me not only become a better baseball player, but also a better man. Through the ups and downs, y'all stuck with me through it all, and I am forever grateful for that. "To my teammates, it has been a blessing to play with you all over the last four years. I couldn't imagine going through the grind with any other group of guys. I can't thank y'all enough for all of the amazing memories and for the life-long friendships that were made. "With that being said, I have decided to move on from my playing career. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have started and finished my career at the University of Florida. Words can't express what this place has meant to my family and me. I can truly say that I gave everything I had to this program and am leaving with no regrets. It's been one hell of a ride." Ty Evans' accomplishments at Florida Prior to his arrival in Gainesville, Evans was drafted out of Lakeland Christian School by the Atlanta Braves in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft. His decision to enroll in college rather than starting his professional career in the minor leagues proved to be fortuitous for the Gators. Evans primarily played right field, batting .270 with 31 home runs and 128 RBIs over the course of his four-year career, which stretched across 174 total appearances. He played in 49 games during his sophomore campaign and hit a record five home runs while making the Men's College World Series All-Tournament Team at the 2023 CWS, which foreshadowed his breakout in 2024. For his junior season, Evans once again appeared in 49 matchups, batting a career-high .316 while also slashing a .406 on-base percentage and a .580 slugging percentage, adding up to a robust .987 OPS. He tallied 61 hits, 13 home runs, 10 doubles, 44 runs scored and 43 runs batted in. Unfortunately, an arm injury in the 2024 MCWS ended his breakout effort and may have contributed to his senior decline. In 2025, Evans played in 41 games but saw his slash line regress to .263/.322/.451, though he did set his career high in doubles with 11. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida prevails over South Carolina, advances in SEC Baseball Tournament
Florida prevails over South Carolina, advances in SEC Baseball Tournament The 10th-seeded Florida Gators defeated the 15th-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks in the first round of the 2025 SEC Baseball Tournament on Tuesday evening, 11-3. Florida trailed 1-0 after the first inning but a three-run second inning rally turned the tables on South Carolina, resulting in four straight frames with a runner crossing the plate while the 'Cocks laid gooseeggs on the scoreboard until the eighth. Kevin O'Sullivan's team responded to the late push by their opponent by plating four more runners, leading to the eventual final score. The Orange and Blue left USC's pitching staff black and blue with its offensive assault, seeing seven players get at least one hit while five notched multiple-hit games. Most notable from that pack was designated hitter Ty Evans, who went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a pair of doubles. Shortstop Bobby Boser brought the boom with a three-run dinger as one of his two hits in four at-bats, which included a walk as well. Aside from Evans and Boser, Florida's multi-hit performances also came from first baseman Brendan Lawson (2-for-5, 2 RBI), catcher Brody Donay (2-for-4, HR, BB) and right fielder Hayden Yost (2-for-4, 2B, HR, BB). Starting pitcher Billy Barlow got into some trouble in the opening frame but rebounded to throw 3 2/3 innings, allowing just an early run on four hits and three walks while striking out two. Blaine Rowland relieved him and gave another 3 2/3, surrendering a pair of runs on six hits — but no walks — and two Ks. Christian Rodriguez tossed the final 1 2/3 frames, keeping the 'Cocks scoreless on just a hit and no walks while striking out two. By the time he came in, the save opportunity was long gone. Next up for Florida baseball The Gators will take on the 7th-seeded Ole Miss Rebels on Wednesday, May 21, at 9 p.m. ET inside Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama, for the second round of the 2025 SEC Baseball Tournament. Note that the time has been pushed back to accommodate postponements due to inclement weather. The game will once again be broadcast on the SEC Network and heard on ESPN 98.1FM/850AM WRUF. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
16-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida baseball can't prevent sweep against Tennessee Volunteers
Florida baseball can't prevent sweep against Tennessee Volunteers Florida could not hold off Tennessee on the baseball diamond Sunday as the Volunteers completed the weekend series sweep with a 7-4 win and advance to 20-0 on the season. While a sweep is deflating, there's no reason to believe that Florida is anything but a top-10 program after this weekend. Tennessee has all but solidified itself as the top team in the country and is playing like a club with its sights on back-to-back national championships. Florida had opportunities to pull ahead in all three games this weekend, but Tennessee got to the bullpen repeatedly. The Gators took their first lead of the weekend in the fourth inning on Sunday, with a four-run outburst. Ty Evans doubled down the left-field line to drive in two and take the lead, and Luke Heyman blooped one into right field for another RBI. The final Gators run of the day came on a first-and-third play where Heyman took off and got in a rundown long enough for Evans to score from third. Playing with a lead was refreshing after a rough first two games, but Tennessee started chipping away at the three-run margin immediately. Florida starter Jake Clemente left the game in the bottom of the fourth after hitting the first batter of the inning and walking the next. Midweek starter Billy Barlow came out for some high-leverage relief and walked the first two batters he saw, the second of which scored the second Vols run of the day; the first came off the bat of Dean Curely the inning prior on a groundout to third that scored Jay Abernathy. Gavin Kilen homered to right field in the bottom of the fifth to give Tennessee three straight innings with a run, and Cannon Peebles gave the Vols the lead in the sixth with a two-run double for the first crooked number for Tennessee on the day. Reese Chapman hit a two-run homer off Alex Philpott in the eighth after a quiet seventh. The three-run lead was more than enough to put away a Florida team that only had one hit over the final four innings. The Gators had a chance to tie things up in the ninth with two on and no outs, but the wind killed a Landon Stripling fly ball to right, and Heyman and Hayden Yost struck out swinging to end the game. It looked like Yost might have held up, but the umpires were not kind to Florida all weekend. Clemente's start is a bright spot in the loss, even if he gave up two runs — remember, one of those is on two walks from the relief man. Florida's Sunday starter looked solid in his return from injury, though, striking out three and walking one over three innings. The Gators get two midweek games against Jacksonville and Florida A&M to get right before a three-game series at home against another top-5-ranked SEC program, the Georgia Bulldogs. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
