Another game means another problem for the young Gators.
Something new emerges with each loss. Base running did in No. 17 Florida (3-4) during its 8-3 loss Saturday against Florida Gulf Coast.
Florida, scuffling at the plate, had two innings end on the bases.
The Gators needed a victory to even up the series. They pressed the issue early.
Richie Martin got thrown out following a headfirst slide at home following a Zack Powers comebacker to the pitcher in the first inning.
Eagles left-hander Brandon Bixler then caught Powers in a run down to end the inning after he tried to advance on a first-and-third play two pitches later.
Josh Tobias thought about stretching a single into a double but was thrown out after straying too far off first.
“We are trying to do some things offensively,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Try to put guys in motion, hit and runs and that type of thing. We haven’t been able to string along quality at-bats. It is as simple as that.”
A common theme emerges with each loss.
Against Duke in the season opener, Florida had trouble with command on the mound.
Against Georgia Southern, Florida couldn’t capitalize on three chances to win the game.
The bullpen, base running and a lack of quality at-bats have set Florida back this weekend.
“That’s just baseball,” Powers said. “I don’t think being young has anything to do with it. We just need to come out here and compete better than we have the last two days.”
The Gators started the game looking to put Friday’s loss behind them. Freshman right-hander Tucker Simpson took the hill.
Simpson tossed a career-high 4.2 innings and showed poise while preventing runs from scoring when runners twice reached third.
“Down in the bullpen I felt like I had a good feel of everything,” Simpson said. “I told Sully he could call whatever he wanted and we can mix in whatever.”
The freshman surrendered a game-tying double to No. 9 hitter Alex Diaz. O’Sullivan pulled Simpson for Daniel Gibson a batter later to take advantage of two-straight left-on-left matchups.
Gibson gave up an RBI single to his first batter. Four relievers were responsible for six earned runs.
Nothing went right for Florida. It took 28 at-bats before Florida got back-to-back hits. Powers, Vickash Ramjit and Taylor Gushue went 0 for 7 at the plate.
Florida has its worst record through seven games since 2007.
“We got some work to do,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s as simple as that. Teams go through periods where they don’t play well. It’s disappointing we are not playing well right now. There’s nothing we can do about yesterday or today. We got to come out and play tomorrow.”
Contact Adam Pincus at apincus@alligator.org.
Coach Kevin O’Sullivan talks to his team following a loss to LSU in 2012. Texas A&M knocked off O'Sullivan's Gators 6-3 in the first round of the SEC Tournament on Tuesday in Hoover, Ala.
