Florida named No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament

Florida Gators baseball was awarded the No. 1 overall national seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament on Monday as the bracket was released for the event. It is the first time in school history that the Gators have received the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.

Hosting one of 16 regional sites for the event, Florida will take on Bethune-Cookman in the first game of the Gainesville Regional on Friday at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville, FL. Georgia Tech and College of Charleston will also play in Gainesville in the first portion of the event.

Should the Gators advance past the regional stage, they will take on the winner of the Raleigh Regional featuring North Carolina State, Vanderbilt, UNC-Wilmington and Sacred Heart. The winner of that series would advance to the College World Series.

Florida is 2-0 this season against Bethune-Cookman with victories on Feb. 21 (8-6) and April 25 (10-1). Georgia Tech is coming off a victory in the 2012 ACC Tournament and is on a five-game winning streak heading into action in Gainesville on Friday.

The Gators are making their 28th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament with the program still looking to win its first national championship. Florida has reached the College World Series seven times and played for the national title twice (2005, 2011).