Sunday was an occasion that deserved a celebration for UF freshman Kendrick Calilao.
The first baseman from Kissimmee, Florida, went 3 for 4, hitting an RBI single in the first inning, a solo shot in the sixth and ending his day with a double to left center in the eighth.
Not a bad way to perform on your 19th birthday.
Calilao’s two RBIs helped lead the Gators to their second-straight victory and fifth-straight series win over the Miami Hurricanes, winning 4-1 at a muggy Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.
Calilao continues to have an impressive debut season, currently hitting .435. He went 7 for 12 over the weekend, driving in six RBIs.
“It’s just part of the game, people just get into grooves, and you continue to hit the ball and feel good at the plate,” Calilao said. “You play your best when you aren’t thinking at all, and I’m kind of in that stage right now.”
For a player competing in his first year of college ball, Calilao has eased into the pace of play well.
“He’s always hit,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Obviously he had a great weekend stat-wise, but he’s using the whole field. I thought he did a really nice job making in-game adjustments.”
Florida’s four runs on 10 hits were enough thanks to UF’s Sunday starter, Jack Leftwich.
Leftwich picked up his second win in as many outings after pitching five innings, giving up just five hits and one earned run. The right-hander struck out seven and limited his walks to two.
“I thought Jack (Leftwich) was good today,” O’Sullivan said. “Miami did a nice job of getting his pitch count up early. He got in a bit of trouble in the third, walking the eight and nine hole hitters, but other than that I thought he was great.”
Jordan Butler relieved his starter in the sixth, pitching three scoreless innings to set up freshman closer Nolan Crisp for his fourth save of the season.
He continues to show maturity on the mound beyond his age.
“He’s supposed to be a high-school senior, and he already has four saves,” O’Sullivan said, referring to Crisp. “He’s really competitive… he’s just a bulldog. There’s a lot to be learned, hopefully some of our older guys are watching him.”
UF’s lackadaisical week prior to this series seems to be behind it, as the Gators took two of three from their in-state rival.
“I think (Wil) Dalton’s at-bat in the seventh on Saturday (a bases clearing, go-ahead triple) changed the complexity of the whole weekend,” O’Sullivan said. “To bounce back and win a series after a difficult loss on Friday…it says a lot about our team’s character and fight, and these types of series are certainly going to help us moving forward.”
Follow Evan Lepak on Twitter @evanmplepak and contact him at elepak@alligator.org.
Sunday starter Jack Leftwich pitched five innings during Florida's 4-1 win over Miami at home, allowing five hits, one run and two walks. He struck out seven.
