The Gators completed their second series sweep in Sunday’s 8-0 victory against Florida A&M. They look to carry that momentum into Tuesday’s showdown against Georgia State.
Georgia State is the third unranked opponent Florida faces this season. That’s good news for the Gators. Florida has only fallen to ranked opponents in its three losses this season.
The series against Florida A&M showcased a crucial cog in the Gators’ machine that the team missed in the first couple weeks: dominant pitching.
In both games of Friday’s doubleheader, the starting pitchers remained in the game well beyond the five innings needed to earn a decision.
In game one, right-hander Tommy Mace threw a complete seven innings. He gave up just four hits and two earned runs. Game two’s starter, Jack Leftwich, stayed on the mound for eight innings, and gave up four hits and one earned run.
The relief staff also improved vastly over the weekend. Sunday’s staff comprised of Timmy Manning, Jordan Carrion, Christian Scott and Franco Aleman finished off the no-run game starter Hunter Barco handed off to them.
A major key for Florida, as it prepares for another midweek battle, is the continued success on the mound. The biggest struggle for Florida early on can be the reason for their prowess as the season persists.
At the plate, the Gators don’t leave much room for improvement.
While the pressure of breaking a record no longer resides within Jacob Young, the left fielder remains a key force for the Gators’ offense. As one of the more consistent members of the team, Young’s .393 batting average is as impressive as his 30-game hit-streak.
Nathan Hickey is one to watch in Tuesday’s matchup. The catcher started out as one of the strongest hitters on the team, but over the weekend, that strength was missed in the Florida lineup.
Hickey went just 3-10 at the plate over the weekend. His batting average, which once reached .556, fell to .283 after the weekend. Hickey’s climb back to power is another key for the Gators heading into this week.
The Gators will take on Georgia State Tuesday at home. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
Contact Sara Kate Dyson at skatedyson@alligator.org or follow her on Twitter at @sarakatedyson
