Coming into this weekend, Nelson Maldonado could count the number of hits he had recorded this year on one hand.
In fact, he could do it with just two fingers.
But following an offensive outburst from the freshman in a series sweep of Harvard, Maldonado now needs both hands.
The Tampa native broke out of his 2-for-26 slump to start the season, going 4-for-11 at the dish with four runs scored and five RBIs.
For Maldonado, it was a sigh of relief.
"I did need this," he said. "I started off with a slump, but you know, we always get past those."
Maldonado, whose average more than doubled to its current .162 mark, didn’t waste his hits either. Both hits on Saturday were game changing.
In Florida’s 9-2 win in game one of its doubleheader on Saturday, Maldonado crushed his first career home run — a three-run shot in the sixth inning that broke open a 2-1 game and gave UF breathing room.
Then in the Gators’ ensuing 3-1 win to close out the series and complete its sweep, Maldonado cracked a scoreless game in the seventh inning with a two-run double.
Maldonado said all he did prior to the series was move away from the plate a little because he was getting jammed, and that made the difference.
But the slump was still mostly in his head, Maldonado said.
"It’s harder for a hitter to think, ‘Oh, what am I doing wrong?’ or ‘What do I need to fix?’" he said. "But it’s all mental. You just gotta keep going out there every day."
UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said it’s common for first-year players go through stretches like Maldonado’s.
"I just think as freshmen, they kind of get in their own way sometimes and maybe overthink some things," he said.
O’Sullivan is now tasked with deciding who will start in left field with a big week ahead of him in Florida State on Tuesday and Missouri this coming weekend to open Southeastern Conference play.
With outfielder Ryan Larson also in a funk to begin the season, Maldonado looks to be running away with the job. He started all three games this weekend.
O’Sullivan said he and his staff wanted to get an extended look at Maldonado this weekend, rather than seeing him off the bench or in spot starts.
The ninth-year coach liked what he saw.
"There’s some intangibles that he brings," he said.
"He plays hard. He’s got one gear. He sprints on and off the field. He always gives you a good effort down the line."
Despite being impressed by him, O’Sullivan wouldn’t say if Maldonado had taken over left field for himself.
"It’s a long season," O’Sullivan said, "but he had a great weekend."
Contact Patrick Pinak at ppinak@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @pinakk12.
Nelson Maldonado bats during Florida's 5-4 win against North Florida on March 9, 2016, at McKethan Stadium.
