Weather forces start time change for Friday game between Florida, Kentucky

Anticipated weather in the area has forced a change in the game time between Florida and No. 3 Kentucky on Friday.

Originally scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. ET first pitch in the series, the two teams will now get underway at 1 p.m. ET on Friday. Saturday and Sunday’s game times remain unchanged, with both contests set to begin at 12 p.m. ET.

Florida is looking for results in a must-have closing stretch to the season, while Kentucky finds itself in much more comfortable position.

In his latest projections of the NCAA Tournament Field of 64, On3’s Jonathan Wagner had Florida among the “First Four Out.” He wrote about his projection:

“Florida did not win a single SEC series in the month of April, but they were able to win a game in each of their last three weekends. For a team that’s hovering around .500, that is important. Unfortunately for the Gators, we just don’t expect them to have a good enough record to get in. They are currently 10-14 in SEC play and finish with weekends vs. Kentucky and at Georgia. If Florida can find a way to steal one of those series, they might be on the right side of the bubble. But it’s going to be a tough road.”

Kentucky, meanwhile, is projected as a national seed and a host at this point.

Writes Wagner:

“Kentucky soared up to the No. 2 overall host in this week’s projected NCAA Tournament after winning a series over Arkansas. At 35-10, Kentucky also currently leads the SEC at 18-6 and sit at No. 2 in RPI. The Wildcats finish at Florida and vs. Vanderbilt, two series they will be favored to win.”

The end result should be some thoroughly compelling baseball with a lot on the line … assuming the weather plays nice.