Despite being the top-ranked team in the nation and getting off to the program’s best start since 1992, coach Kevin O’Sullivan has one concern about his squad heading into Southeastern Conference play.
When No. 1 Florida (15-2) travels to Baton Rouge, La., to open a three-game series against No. 8 LSU (16-1) tonight at 7, O’Sullivan hopes his team can overcome a problem that has plagued it the last two games: leaving runners on base.
Over the last two games — an 8-6 win against Rhode Island and a 5-4 extra-inning victory against FSU — Florida has stranded a combined 25 men, including a season-high 13 against the Seminoles.
“I don’t know how you work on it, to be honest with you,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s a frustrating thing. … I think if you did that 10 times in a row, you’ll probably lose nine out of the 10.”
While he might not know how to fix the problem, Florida’s skipper understands why his team is struggling to plate those runners.
He believes the Gators need to do a better job not falling behind in the count and getting quality at-bats in those situations.
Two times each against URI and FSU, UF ended an inning with the bases loaded.
Florida also stranded runners in scoring position in eight other innings.
In the bottom of the ninth against FSU, Brian Johnson singled to lead off the inning, and pinch runner Paul Wilson stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.
However, Florida squandered the opportunity, as the next three batters went down in order.
Those missed chances nearly cost the Gators against the Rams and the Seminoles.
Florida could have easily secured both games or put them out of reach with a couple of quality at-bats in those situations.
“If you ask any coach at any level, it’s one of those things,” O’Sullivan said. “Good teams hit with runners in scoring position.”
“They have a better approach. They don’t pull off. They’re aggressive early in the count.”
Second baseman Josh Adams said the only way to get over the hump is through repetition.
The Gators have recently been working on situational hitting in practice against their own pitchers, he added.
But the senior knows his team can’t continue to blow those scoring opportunities if it hopes to open SEC play with a big series win in Baton Rouge.
“We got lucky,” Adams said of the last two games. “Against really, really good teams, they’re going to take advantage of that.
“And we’d be lucky to come out with a win if we leave that many runners stranded again.”
