Gainesville, FL (U-WIRE) -- In case the baseball players forgot what happened on Wednesday night, they got a reminder at practice yesterday.

The scoreboard was turned on, still showing the final score from the 8-5 loss to UNC-Asheville. UF hopes for different results against Michigan State this weekend.

"This isn't a program for everybody," Coach Pat McMahon said. "The demand that we put on players is that we want self-starters and [players who] understand that hard work is how we get better.

"We'll have guys hitting early in the morning or late at night, at 1 or 2 a.m.," McMahon said. "I'm a big believer that you work yourself out of problems and you get better when no one's watching. You need to have the confidence and a working plan to do that."

The No. 6 Gators (12-4) did not have much information about UNC-Asheville prior to the two-game series, and face a similar situation against the Spartans.

"I don't know if we have much [information] on Michigan State, either," UF junior pitcher Darren O'Day said after Wednesday's loss. "You've got to refocus. This game counts just as much as a loss to Miami. Every game you have to treat as a big game."

Unranked Michigan State (5-3) will face the Gators for the first time since 1965, when each team won a game in a Miami tournament. It was the only time the schools have met.

Michigan State has not announced who its starting pitchers will be. Junior right-hander Tim Day (2-0, 3.75 ERA), junior left-hander Chris Malec (1-0, 4.22 ERA), sophomore right-hander Craig Brookes (0-0, 5.00 ERA) and freshman Mark Sorensen (0-0, 6.75 ERA) each have two starts this season.

Junior right-hander Bryan Ball (3-0) will start tonight for UF, in place of Alan Horne. Horne had started every Friday night game this season, but will rest him arm and possibly start on Sunday.

Ball has been the Gators' most potent starting pitcher, posting an impressive 1.40 ERA in 25.2 innings.

"I think with Bryan Ball, his goal is to establish consistency," McMahon said. "He's a competitive young man. He's worked so hard on pitching, pitching to all parts of the plate, and controlling runners. I'm anxious to see how he continues that quest."

Senior right-hander Tommy Boss (2-0, 5.09 ERA in 17.2 innings) will start for the Gators on Saturday. UF has not determined who will start on Sunday.

Sophomore first baseman Matt LaPorta leads the team with six home runs but is overdue for his next round-tripper. The slugger has not hit a home run since Feb. 26, going six games without showing the power that earned him honors as SEC Player of the Week on Feb. 21.

Sophomore Gavin Dickey seems to have earned a return to the starting lineup, while Stephen Barton may move to third base if junior shortstop Justin Tordi can play this weekend. Tordi missed Wednesday's game with lower back spasms. It was the first time in the last 96 games he did not start for the Gators.

(C) 2004 Independent Florida Alligator via U-WIRE