GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The UF baseball team is dealing with its first dose of adversity on the young season.

The No. 7-ranked Gators (12-2), who host Harvard at Condron Ballpark on Friday and Saturday (doubleheader), have endured injuries and their first two losses, back-to-back defeats to Miami and UCF in which the Gators surrendered 26 runs.

First, left-handed starter Pierce Coppola left his outing last weekend against Miami after 2 2/3 innings, and in the same game, second baseman Cade Kurland dislocated his shoulder. Meanwhile, center fielder Kyle Jones (shoulder) is likely out for the season according to head coach Kevin O’Sullivan after getting hurt against the Hurricanes.

It’s not an ideal situation for the Gators as they enter their final nonconference series, but it might sound worse than it is if the versatile roster continues to produce.

In the three games since Kurland’s injury, Florida has started Bobby Boser, Justin Nadeau and Brendan Lawson at second base instead of Kurland. Nadeau has also filled in for Jones in center field, Boser is UF’s starter at third base, and Lawson is the starting first baseman.

“We’ve got about another week or so and we’ve got to figure this thing out and solidify our lineup a little bit more,” O’Sullivan said after Wednesday night’s 4-2 home win over FAU. “But I said before the season, it was going to be like that, we’re going to play a bunch of people. It’s a good thing we did.”

 

No. 7 Florida welcomes Harvard of the Ivy League to Condron in its final non-con series of the season.

• Friday – 6:30 p.m. ET – SECN+

• Saturday – 3 p.m. ET – SECN+

• Sunday – 1 p.m. ET – SECN+

PREVIEW > https://t.co/l15eKef810 pic.twitter.com/OCbpdtJ8mb

— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) March 7, 2025

While Jones, a transfer from Stetson, is not expected back this season, Kurland will return sometime during the Southeastern Conference portion of the schedule.

The Gators don’t have a timeline.

“It’s just a matter of how quickly he can strengthen his shoulder and stabilize that joint,” O’Sullivan said. “He’ll get out there as soon as he possibly can. It’s just going to take some time.”

With Jones out, Nadeau, Hayden Yost and Ashton Wilson can all play center. Right fielder Ty Evans is another player who can provide a boost once he heats up. Evans missed Florida’s run to the College World Series last season with a broken wrist. He has started slow in his return to the lineup but had a pair of hits Wednesday.

“He’s going to have to be a part of this thing,” O’Sullivan said.

Texas Tech transfer Landon Stripling is another option at third base, first and second.

“We’re still trying to figure out how to get Stripling in there more often,” O’Sullivan said. “I tell you, every time he comes to the plate, he just really gives you a quality at-bat.”

Of course, the biggest question concerns Coppola, who is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts (12 2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 23 SO).

Coppola will not pitch against Harvard on Saturday, with freshman Aidan King slated to make his first career start in Coppola’s spot. Right-hander Jake Clemente is expected to start the second game of Saturday’s weather-altered doubleheader.

Coppola’s injury-marred career is again on hold following a promising start in 2025.

“They’re still meeting with doctors and getting second opinions,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s a little premature for [any conclusion].”

If Coppola is out for an extended period or does not return, look for Matthew Jenkins and Christian Rodriguez to take on more significant roles. O’Sullivan was pleased with the way they pitched in Florida’s midweek games.