Hoping something changes w weather. Even if it slowed up a little and didn’t arrive until later but right now looks an hour before game time.
It's already raining in Ocala & Gainesville. Supposed to let up from around noon - 3 pm and then start again by 4 pm and rain the rest of the night. Over an inch expected.
Alabama comes in to the series with Florida at 12-6, 12 -2 at home. The only ranked team they have played is Texas in Austin and they got swept 1-0, 2-0, 6-1. They also have losses to UT-Martin, North Alabama & Southern Miss. Team Batting average is .306, led by OF Tommy Seidl at .422. They have 187 hits and 22 HR in 18 games, with 111 K's, 52 walks and 16 HBP. Their fielding at .986, with a team ERA of 3.02. Pitchers have given up 124 hits with 15 HR, 48 walks, 9 HBP and 165 K's. Pitching is Alabama's strength and the Gators will need to get quality pitching and be very disciplined at the plate to win this series, IMO.
And given the season long batting averages taking into account having to hit against Texas for three games it is apparent that they can rake.
RHP Garrett Earl McMillan, 6'4" 230 lb. is their Friday night starter. He's not gone less than 6 innings and not given up more than 4 hits in an outing. ERA is 1.80 and he shut out Texas & Murray State in his 6 innings, only giving up 3 hits to each. He has 22 K's on the season in 25 innings, with only 4 walks and 15 hits. By contrast, Hunter Barco has an ERA of 1.93 in 4 starts, 23.1 innings pitched, 13 hits, 2 walks and 34 K's. On paper, tonight's game will be low scoring, but who know? It's the SEC opener.
The fact that Texas is better than Miami should give us pause. Gators need to be patient at the plate and make him throw lots of pitches. Eight pitch at bats with an out will be a good at bat. Looking forward to an awesome game from a former pitcher's perspective.
Worth a shot but he only has 4 walks in 25 inn, so might be behind in the count a lot with that strategy. Of course 2 of the walks were vs Texas, so maybe get some runners on base and let him stress a bit. At least don't swing at the bad ones. His control in juco ball last year wasnt nearly as good, so yea. ( I was bored so I looked it up)
Analysis for win vs Bama. great win to open SEC play with several highlights. Major theme would be not forgetting to cross T’s and dotting I’s. Both Halter and Fabian made late mistakes. Halter not responding quickly and Deric not moving forward on a ball and getting the out at first. Jud- big game Rivera- big game Riopelle- Huge game Barco- dominant performance. ***^We have seen this before with a great start and then a very lackadaisical or lethargic finish. Tomorrow will be key. Do we pounce and finish or do we allow Alabama to take the moment I’m from the ninth inning and win?? Hoping not a repeat of Seton Hall. Finish was worrisome. Pitching was fine. Infielders need to make plays.
Gator baseball won their first game at Alabama 6-4, although the ending was pretty scary. Hunter Barco was dominant in 8 innings of pitching, giving up only 4 hits, no walks with 10 K's. He yielded a solo HR in the 8th. The Gators scored 4 runs in the 2nd innings on a 2-run single from Derec Fabian and a 2-run HR from Jud Fabian. B.T. Riopelle added a solo HR in the 3rd and then Florida added another run in the 7th on a error after a walk and a single. The Gators had 12 hits on the night, with every starter getting a hit, led by Riopelle with 3 and Josh Rivera with 2. But in the 9th inning, with the Gators coasting 6-1, Nick Facarrotta gave up a single to lead off the inning, then hit a batter. After getting a pop up out, he gave up 2 more singles, followed by a throwing error from Colby Halter trying to cut down a runner at home. Blake Purnell relieved, hit a batter and then gave up a run charged to Nick Fic on a fielder's choice that loaded the bases with still only 1 out. He got a ground out double play to end the gave and earn the save. Too close for comfort, but a road win in the SEC is big. The question is becoming - Wjo is going to be consistently relaible coming out of the bullpen and can anyone else give us a quality start as a weekend starter. Sproat has an opportunity. Saturday.
