For someone who had not pitched in a game in close to two years, Justin Poovey showed very little rust.
The redshirt freshman threw four shutout innings and allowed only two hits in No. 24 UF's 12-0 win at home against Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, and he only left the game early due to the pitch limit UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan set before the game - Poovey tossed 57 pitches.
Poovey's success came from relying more on his defense to get the outs rather than on overpowering hitters.
"I pitch to contact, and our defense played great," Poovey said. "We've had good defense all year, so I just kept pouring in strikes and let our defense work behind me."
Although he had reached his limit, Poovey felt he still had at least another inning of work in him.
O'Sullivan expects Poovey's pitch count to go up for his next outing and is willing to use him this weekend, but O'Sullivan was pleased with Poovey's short debut.
"They all want to go one more, but that is a good sign of a competitor," O'Sullivan said. "As a coach, you want someone who wants to go one more."
Poovey exited the game with a 9-run advantage, and O'Sullivan used the large lead to get other young arms experience.
Freshman Will Jolin got two innings of work in his second appearance of the season, and fellow freshman Greg Larson made his season debut in the ninth.
Junior lefty Tony Davis, who O'Sullivan expects to be a go-to guy in his bullpen, pitched the seventh inning, and junior Chas Spottswood threw in a game for the first time in his UF career.
The bullpen combined for no runs over five innings and allowed just two hits. Only one hit all game for the Eagles made it to the outfield.
O'Sullivan wants to get game experience for as many people as possible in his bullpen so they will be ready when needed in more pressure-filled situations.
"There is nothing a coach can do for a player that experience will give them," O'Sullivan said. "Until they get out here when it means something, there really is no way a coach can teach that."
While the pitchers needed only 1 run of support, the batters did not want to be shown up. Five Gators came through with at least two hits each, and another five had two RBIs each. Senior left fielder Avery Barnes led the way with three hits and two RBIs in just five innings.
UF now has totaled 31 runs in the first four games, but the Gators have yet to record a home run this season.
Just like the pitching staff, young hitters got a chance to see the field for an extended period of time. Freshmen Tyler Thompson, Jerico Weitzel, Daniel Pigott and Ben McMahan took the field for the Gators late in the game.
Pigott and Weitzel both recorded their first hits, and Pigott finished with two RBIs to add to his two hits.
UF will finish its two-game series against Eastern Michigan tonight at 6:30. Freshman Anthony DeSclafani will get the nod on the mound, and he will also be limited to 50-60 pitches in his first start.
