Florida bunted its way to its first victory since its series finale against Miami last Sunday, which, after two lifeless performances since, seemed like an eternity ago.
Perfectly executed squeeze plays by Ryan Larson and Zack Powers, hitting seventh and eighth respectively, were all the Gators (6-5) needed offensively in a 4-0 win against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (6-6) on Saturday night in McKethan Stadium.
“(Third base coach) Craig (Bell) called a couple pushes there with a runner on third. We talked about it as a staff obviously Thursday night we left three opportunities with runners on third and less than two outs,” Gators coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We tried to do something different. It was nice to get a lead. To be honest with you it was a different feeling.”
Right-handers Karsten Whitson and Aaron Rhodes combined for the three-hit shutout. Whitson earned his first win of 2014 after five innings of work for his longest outing this year. Rhodes, with four innings of relief, recorded the first save of his career.
Tight ballgames on the scoreboard have translated into tight play on the field. With two early runs, the Gators could finally have fun on Saturday. It showed during and after the game.
Florida, playing with a two-run lead, chased Florida Gulf Coast starter Nick Deckert on the third time through the order. Rhodes and catcher Braden Mattson chest-bumped after Rhodes converted the save two innings later. Laughter and smiles could be heard and seen in Florida’s dugout during a post-game meeting.
The Gators entered Saturday having scored one run in their last 23 innings. Florida’s juniors batted .179 the previous two games. O’Sullivan vowed to shake up the lineup after Florida fell to Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday.
He asked more from his upperclassmen. They delivered.
Third baseman Josh Tobias, in his first action at the plate in four games, notched his first two hits of 2014. Casey Turgeon and Taylor Gushue picked up RBIs on back-to-back doubles in the seventh inning for the all-important insurance runs. Collectively as a group, five juniors had half of Florida’s 10 hits.
“We have all of the confidence in the world in those guys. We know they’re clutch hitters for us,” Whitson said. “I think for them to come through some two-out RBIs right there is huge for our team. It’s huge for their confidence I’m sure too.”
O’Sullivan expected to extend Whitson after the junior pitched two and three innings during his first two starts.
An efficient start would be a huge lift for scuffling Florida, O’Sullivan said following Friday night’s 6-0 loss to Illinois. Whitson did that and then some. He displayed a four-seam fastball that hit 95 mph and showed better command of his two-seam fastballs and sliders.
“Karsten started it off. He filled it up. He threw strikes and was really effective,” Turgeon said. “He pitched his butt off. I loved it.”
Rhodes pitched a dominant four innings in relief. Forty-one of his 54 pitches were strikes. The redshirt sophomore has transformed himself going from a seldom-used submarine pitcher, due to various arm injuries, to a key cog in Florida’s bullpen.
His fastball, topping out in the mid-90s, set up a wicked slider. Infield singles in by FGCU’s Zack Tillery and Blake Berger in the seventh inning and a throwing error by shortstop Richie Martin marked the only base runners allowed by Rhodes.
“He’s definitely capable of doing what he did tonight. I hope he didn’t shoot himself in the foot tonight, because now we’re all looking at him, ‘Hey man, you got to come out and do that every night now,’” Whitson said. “It was great to see him out there. It was great to see him competing. When he’s on, that’s the type of pitcher that he is.”
Florida’s coaching staff had the players show up five hours before game time. They needed this game badly.
“We came to field and we were on a mission to come out here and get the win,” Turgeon said. “We got the win, so everyone is happy.”
Freshman A.J. Puk gets his first-career start on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Illinois and its No. 2 starter in right-hander Drasen Johnson. The game completes the three-team round robin tournament. The first two matchups didn’t go as planned for Florida.
Saturday proved different. Puk, rated Perfect Game’s No. 23 overall prospect out of high school, has the task of starting a new streak for Florida—one that involves wins.
“I just want to see him compete and throw strikes. He’s got dynamite stuff,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s a very talented young man. He’s got a great arm. For us, we don’t have a chance to work with kids that talented to be honest with you.”
Follow Adam Pincus on Twitter @adamDpincus
Ryan Larson stands at the plate during No. 20 Florida's 9-7 loss against Maryland on Feb. 15.
