Florida Gators athletics enjoyed a standout Thursday, highlighted by a big baseball win and a major gymnastics milestone. The baseball team toppled Auburn’s top-ranked pitching staff to claim the opening game of their three-game series, while the gymnastics squad secured a place in the 2026 NCAA National Championships final, where they will face LSU.
After falling short in last year’s semifinals, Florida’s gymnastics team returned with determination and delivered. Competing in Fort Worth against LSU, Georgia, and Stanford, the Gators posted consistent scores across all rotations — 49.4625 (beam), 49.4375 (floor), 49.2250 (vault), and an impressive 49.6625 (bars).
The bars rotation proved decisive, with Riley McCusker nearly perfect at 9.9875, setting a new school semifinal record. She was backed by strong routines from Selena Harris-Miranda (9.9250) and Skye Blakely (9.9750). Florida finished atop the group with a total of 197.7875, advancing to the finals alongside Oklahoma, LSU, and Minnesota.
The national championship final is set for Saturday, April 18.
Aidan King leads baseball past Auburn
On the diamond, Aidan King delivered another dominant outing, guiding the No. 7/20 Gators to a 6-3 victory over the No. 6/13 Auburn Tigers. King pitched six strong innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits, while striking out eight and lowering his ERA to 1.71 as he earned his sixth win of the season.
Offensively, Florida saw contributions throughout the lineup. Ethan Surowiec went 2-for-5 with a run scored, Kyle Jones drove in two runs, and Brendan Lawson added a hit and scored twice. Karson Bowen chipped in an RBI, while Blake Cyr powered the offense with a decisive three-run homer.
With the win, Florida continues its strong SEC form, having claimed nine of its last eleven conference series and sitting just one game behind Georgia in the standings. The series against Auburn resumes Friday, with Liam Peterson set to face Jake Marciano on the mound.
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