AP Sports Preview: Florida at Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. (Interstat) — The Southeastern Conference series between Florida and Oklahoma shifts to L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park on Saturday for a pivotal afternoon matchup.

The Gators (29-16, 11-10 SEC) send right-hander Joshua Whritenour to the mound after his mixed recent outings, including a 3.2-inning start Sunday against Texas A&M in which he allowed one earned run on one hit with two strikeouts in a 5-1 loss. Over his last six appearances, Whritenour has a 5.06 ERA across 11.1 innings, striking out 13 while allowing eight earned runs.

Oklahoma (29-14, 10-8) counters with a lineup featuring Nolan Stevens, who went 1 for 2 with a home run and an RBI in a 14-4 loss at Auburn on Sunday. Stevens is hitting .286 over his last seven games with two homers and three RBIs.

The Sooners won Friday’s series opener 1-0, a pitchers’ duel that saw Oklahoma’s staff limit Florida to four hits. Overall, Oklahoma holds a one-game lead in the series.

Weather could be a factor: The forecast calls for rain and 63 degrees at first pitch.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 Oklahoma victory.

Florida’s recent struggles include losing four of its last five games, including a three-game sweep by Texas A&M last weekend. The Gators have dropped six of their last eight overall.

Oklahoma has alternated wins and losses over its last six games, including a series loss at Auburn.

After Saturday’s contest, the teams conclude the three-game series Sunday afternoon.

Florida’s next 10 games include a midweek matchup against North Florida before hosting Kentucky for a three-game set. Oklahoma travels to Arkansas next weekend before a neutral-site series against Tennessee in Oklahoma City.

This is the first season these programs have met as SEC opponents after conference realignment.