Daniel Gibson knew he would have a bigger role this year. It wouldn’t be a hard feat to accomplish.
As a freshman, Gibson took the mound just 14 times for a total of 10.1 innings. He tried to alter his throwing motion, and the result was an ERA of 13.06 and the helplessness that comes with watching opposing hitters bat .442.
Looking for an answer, Gibson swapped back to his high school delivery for his sophomore season and altered how he pitches from the stretch after learning in the Cape Cod League that he was tipping off his pitches.
“I feel a lot better, a lot more comfortable,” the left-hander said. “I get more tempo and can stay back a lot better.”
As No. 1 Florida (15-1) enters what is expected to be a bullpen duel with No. 7 Florida State (14-1) tonight at 7 at McKethan Stadium, Gibson is no longer a weakness. He is now one of the numerous strengths in a bullpen that is putting up big-time numbers.
Gibson has already gotten the ball seven times, tied with junior Austin Maddox and senior Greg Larson for the most appearances on the staff. In eight innings of work, he holds a perfect 0.00 ERA and has given up just one hit. On Sunday, he picked up his first win since
February of last year when he worked 2.1 hitless innings with four strikeouts in a 3-2 victory against Florida Gulf Coast.
“That’s probably the best he’s thrown since he’s been a Gator,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said after the game. “Awfully proud of him.”
Gibson and the rest of the bullpen have given O’Sullivan plenty of reasons to be happy as of late. During the Gators’ current 13-game winning streak, relief pitchers have combined to throw 52.1 innings with just six earned runs, a 1.03 ERA and 63 strikeouts compared to 11 walks. They have allowed just five extra-base hits during that span and have not given up a run in the eighth or ninth inning all season.
The strength in the pen will almost certainly come in handy during tonight’s rivalry showdown.
In the four meetings between Florida and Florida State last season, each team used a total of 22 pitchers. The Gators only had a pitcher last longer than 3.2 innings once, and only two Seminole pitchers passed that mark. In UF’s only win in the 2011 series — a 10-inning affair on March 15 — the teams combined to use 15 pitchers, six of which failed to register a full inning of work.
With freshman Bobby Poyner getting only his second career start against a team that is averaging eight runs per game, Gibson and friends will be on call.
“We have a lot of strong guys up front,” Gibson said. “Sully said from the beginning that I’m going to have a big role this year for us to be successful. I like it. I’m ready for it.”
As usual, the Seminoles will have answers of their own. During the same 13-game span, FSU’s bullpen has allowed just 15 earned runs and struck out 51.
Whether or not that is enough to match a line of pitchers that also happens to include Maddox’s 14.1 scoreless innings, 21 strikeouts and five saves (already the same total as last year’s team high) will be decided tonight. Neither bullpen has given up a lead all season.
Let the pitching changes begin.
In eight innings of work for Florida this season, left-handed reliever Daniel Gibson has allowed just a single hit and zero earned runs.
