Junior center fielder Matt den Dekker had always been a do-it-all player in his first two seasons at UF, but coach Kevin O'Sullivan has managed to find new ways for the preseason All-American to make an impact on the team.
O'Sullivan moved den Dekker into the leadoff spot in the batting order on March 18 against Central Florida, and the junior will remain the table setter tonight in UF's (15-8, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) 6:30 matchup with Alabama (16-7, 3-3 SEC).
"Moving him to the leadoff spot has consciously changed his approach to using the whole field," O'Sullivan said.
Den Dekker has had a hit in each of his games since moving to the top of the lineup and is hitting .400 while setting the pace for the Gators' offense.
Although leadoff hitters are usually thought of as speedy singles hitters, den Dekker, who leads the team with five stolen bases and has yet to get caught stealing, still provides power.
The outfielder leads the team with four home runs, and his .536 slugging percentage is second to senior Avery Barnes, who, ironically, started the season as the team's leadoff hitter.
Twice in the last week, den Dekker has taken an opposing left-handed pitcher deep over the right-field wall in close games.
"He's been more aggressive, not taking pitches in hitter's counts," junior catcher Buddy Munroe said.
UF will need all the offensive production den Dekker can muster with the Crimson Tide coming to town for a weekend series.
Alabama is averaging just fewer than 10 runs per game and showcases one of the best hitters in the nation. Senior outfielder Kent Matthes comes into tonight's game hitting .424 with a .500 on-base percentage, but his power numbers are startling.
The senior is slugging 1.059 with 41 RBIs and 15 home runs, matching the total for UF's entire team.
Matthes is far from the only offensive talent on the Crimson Tide's roster, and O'Sullivan isn't counting on any weak spots in their lineup.
"Probably their best attribute is they got an older club. They've got veterans all over the field and on the pitching side of things," he said. "They're very well-balanced, they're very well coached, and they have a confident swagger about them."
Junior Jeff Barfield (2-0, 1.17 ERA) will get the start for the Gators tonight and attempt to set the tone for the rest of the series.
Barfield was thought to be the leading candidate for the closer's role before the season started, but has emerged as UF's most dependable starter.
"I expected him to be good but I don't know if you ever expect people to be as good as they are or as bad as they are," O'Sullivan said. "But the one thing he is, he's a competitor."
Munroe said the right-hander had a rough fall on the mound, but his hard-breaking slider has helped him turn it around.
"He wasn't exactly lights out," Munroe. "He's turned it on and been really good for us."
