For left-handed reliever Steven “Paco” Rodriguez, being the No. 1 team in the nation means more than just a 22-2 record and national acclaim.
As one of 29 native Floridians who suits up for the Gators, Rodriguez said being the best in the country always reverts back to being the best in the state, where UF holds rivalries with No. 12 Miami and No. 4 Florida State.
“It’s us against them,” Rodriguez said. “We’re on the top right now, so it’s basically we’ve got to go out there and show them we’re the best.”
So far this year, the Gators have done just that. They swept an early-season series at Miami before handling FSU 9-2 two weeks ago at McKethan Stadium. The latter isn’t unusual for Florida. Since coach Kevin O’Sullivan took over the program following the 2006-07 season, the Gators have gone 5-0 against the Seminoles at The Mac.
But tonight’s game isn’t being played on Stadium Road. It will take place at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville at 7, and if the past five seasons hold true, that may not bode well for the Gators.
While Florida is 5-0 against FSU at home under O’Sullivan, it is 1-11 when the game is played elsewhere. The series of midweek games has generally rotated between Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Tampa when not in Gainesville. Two of those losses eliminated the Gators from postseason play, as the Seminoles knocked them out in the 2008 Tallahassee Regional and the 2010 College World Series.
Florida State has doubled up Florida in those 11 defeats, outscoring the Gators by a total of 75-37.
The benefits of playing at home are obvious, but the Gators generally enjoy their greatest home-field advantage when the Seminoles are in town. The first meeting between the two teams this season registered a sellout and set a McKethan Stadium attendance record (6,005).
“We don’t usually get too caught up in that, but we really appreciate the support,” junior shortstop Nolan Fontana said.
Fontana admitted there’s not too much to the contrast between playing FSU at home and on the road but did hint that the current confidence Florida is playing with should help the team survive the bus trips.
“We’ll just try to do what we did tonight and just execute the small things because they turn into big things and big innings,” he said after the first meeting. “As long as we do that as a team, we’ll be alright.”
What the Gators did to handily take Game 1 was fairly standard and in line with why they have been so good all season. The bullpen gave up only two hits during 6.1 innings of work, allowing the bats to build up nine unanswered runs after Florida fell behind 2-0 in the third inning. UF’s offense scored runs in five of the last six innings. The effort was led by the Nos. 1-4 hitters, who drove in all nine runs.
Etc.: Despite speculation that sophomore Karsten Whitson might make his return from arm soreness tonight, right-hander Greg Larson will get the start for Florida. The righty hasn’t pitched since throwing less than an inning Feb. 26 against William & Mary.
Preston Tucker (25) slides past FSU catcher Stephen McGee during UF’s home win March 13. The two top-five teams meet again tonight at 7 at The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
