Kevin O’Sullivan’s lineup adjustments nearly cost the Gators Thursday’s game. But, in the end, the coach’s fine-tuning saved No. 4 UF (41-14).
O’Sullivan used a combined nine players at third, first and the corner outfield spots in Florida’s 5-4 victory over No. 15 Arkansas (40-18) in the loser’s bracket of the Southeastern Conference Tournament at Regions Park Stadium.
“Our goal coming into this tournament was to win it but also find out the different pieces of the puzzle that’s going to help us the following weekend,” O’Sullivan said, referring to the NCAA Regional that starts June 4.
Making his sixth career start at right field, sophomore Preston Tucker’s inability to locate the ball led to a pair of Arkansas runs, and he was lucky the total was not higher.
With two on and two down in the fifth, Razorbacks center fielder Collin Kuhn hit a high popup to right. Tucker, who was selected for the All-SEC Defensive Team for his play at first base, lost the ball in the sun as both base runners scored and Kuhn reached third.
Because the ball did not hit Tucker, he was not credited with an error and UF starter Alex Panteliodis was punished with two earned runs.
“I was a little mad,” Panteliodis said, "but you have to take the sun into factor. That type of stuff happens all the time. I wasn’t happy with it, but we got out of the inning.”
Panteliodis again found himself in a jam in the seventh at the misguided hands of Tucker, who fumbled a fly ball. Arkansas failed to capitalize in the inning, which proved to be the difference in a one-run game.
Tucker was moved back to first in the eighth inning and freshman Austin Maddox was moved to third, where he struggled on Wednesday against LSU. With a runner on first against the Tigers, Maddox failed to reach a ground ball hit his way.
Maddox’s lack of mobility prevented a potential double play, and LSU eventually plated five in the inning. The Tigers won the contest by four.
“The game might have been a totally different ball game if we turn a double play there,” O’Sullivan said.
O’Sullivan chose Cody Dent to replace Maddox at the hot corner Thursday. The game marked Dent’s fifth start of the season, but the freshman played well when tested by the Razorbacks.
When Arkansas shortstop Tim Carver hit a high chopper to third, Dent made a leaping catch and quickly whipped the ball across the diamond for the putout.
Dent also went 1 for 2 from the plate, but his day was done when Tucker returned to first and Maddox took over at third.
And, with Tucker removed from the outfield, O’Sullivan replaced the sophomore at right with Jonathan Pigott, who became the team’s unlikely hero in the ninth.
With runners on the corners and one out, Arkansas catcher James McCann hit a hard line drive to right-center field. Pigott made a diving catch to his right, leaped to his feet and threw the ball to second baseman Josh Adams, who then relayed the ball to first for a game-ending double play.
“Honestly, when the ball left the bat I didn’t think (Pigott) was going to get to it,” O’Sullivan said. “I thought it was going to be a gapper and we were going to keep playing. I thought the game was tied at that point. But JP made a heck of a play.”
Pigott may have earned himself the starting role for the remained of the season.
And his brother, Daniel, could join him. Daniel Pigott stayed in at left field after pinch-hitting in the sixth for Tyler Thompson, who misplayed what appeared to be a catchable foul ball earlier in the game.
Regardless of who is on the field for the rest of the season, O’Sullivan said the Gators have to be more consistent with the leather.
“We have to shore up our defense,” he said. “That would be a heck of a thing to lose a game down the stretch because of our defense.”
