Ongoing UF Baseball Commentary

Series Preview: Gators baseball travels to Missouri for weekend series

This article projects Deric F. back at 3rd, Thompson to RF, Halter to 2b and either Evans or Jac DH. Kind of hope that's wrong.

 

These two Gators are projected 2022 MLB draft first round picks

 

Lineups have been posted and D. Fabian is NOT starting. Thompson is at 2nd, Evans in RF, Jac Cag DH, Halter at 3rd and Calilao at 1b. Their starting pitcher is a lefty who has thrown 49 innings, 3-2 record, 5.29 ERA, 53 K's, 24 walks and 12 HR's.

 

UF baseball blasted Missouri 13-1 to open their series in a big way. Brandon Sproat gave up a 1st inning HR, but was dominant in the 6.2 innings he pitched, throwing 91 pitches, allowing only 3 hits, 1 walk and 7 K's. Anthony Ursitti pitched 2.1 innings, allowing no hits, a walk with 3 K's. Gator bats scored 2 in the 2nd, 2 in the 3rd, 3 in the 4th, 5 in the 5th and 1 in the 6th, with 10 hits, 7 walks, 3 HBP and 4 HR's. Every starter except Kendrick Calilao had at least 1 hit. Colby Halter had a 2-run HR in the 2nd, Josh Rivera had a 2-run HR in the 3rd, Jac Caglionone had a 2-run HR in the 5th and Wyatt Langford had a solo HR in the 6th. BT Riopelle went 2-3 with 2 RBI and Jud Fabian and Sterlin Thompson each had an RBI. Solid performance for the Gators as they moved to 31-18, 12-13 in the SEC.

 

Gator baseball just couldn't make plays when they needed them all day and lost to Missouri 5-3 in a game where we stranded 9 baserunners. Brandon Neeley pitched 4.2 innings, but didn't quite have his stuff today, getting behind most batters before finally hanging a curve and giving up a 3-run HR in the bottom of the 5th that put Missouri ahead 4-3. MO scored their first run in the 4th when Ty Evans just couldn't make a running catch with 2 outs on a ball down the RF line that hit his glove in fair territory before hitting the ground in foul territory, allowing a runner to score. They added another un in the bottom of the 8th when Ryan Slater relieved Blake Purnell with 2 outs and nobody on and surrendered a double a walk and an RBI base on a ball that a diving Sterlin Thompson got his glove on at 2B, but just couldn't control enough to keep the runner from scoring. Jameson, Ficarrotta, Abner & Purnell didn't pitch cleanly, but didn't allow any runs. On offense B.T. Riopelle went 2-3 with a sac. fly and had all 3 RBI for the Gators. Wyatt Langford went 2-4 and Thompson wet 3-4, Josh Rivera walked 3 times and Kris Armstrong had a single, with Jud Fabian, Jac Caglionone, Ty Evans and Colby Halter doing nothing at the plate, with Halter & Jac stranding 4 runners each. This loss hurt, but the Gators need to regroup and win the series Sunday at 2 pm.

 

Florida baseball improved to 32-19, 13-14 in the SEC by edging Missouri 4-3 in a rain-delayed game Sunday afternoon. Nick Pogue pitched well, going 6.2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits, no walks with 8 K's. He threw a perfect 3 innings, but gave up back to back HR's and a double to lead off the bottom of the 4th, putting the Gators in a 2-0 hold. He settled down and got out of that inning and Josh Rivera tied the game with a 2 run HR in the top of the 5th. Kris Armstrong, who went 3-4 on the day, put Florida up 4-2 with a 2-out, bases loaded bloop single in the top of the 6th, but that was all the Gators would score. The Tigers got their 3rd when when Pogue hit a batter with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th, then surrendered back to back singles, brining in Blake Purnell from the bullpen. Purnell got a ground out on the first pitch, but he was relieved by Ryan Slater when he gave up back to back 2 out singles in the 8th. Slater got out of that inning and then picked up his 4th save by giving up only a walk in the 9th. The normally reliable top of the batting order didn't do much for the Gators today, as 6 of their 9 hits and all 4 RBI came from the 7-9 hitters. Jud Fabian continued to struggle, going 0-5 with 4 K's. Ty Evans and Sterlin Thompson went hitless and Wyatt Langford only went 1-5 and BT Riopelle 1-4. But a win is a win, as the Gators now sit in the middle of the SEC pack, have qualified for the SEC tournament and head to the final 4 games of the regular season in solid shape to make an NCAA Regional and with an outside chance to even host, considering their RPI and SOS. They do face a hot FSU team Tuesday night in Gainesville. The Noles are 32-18, having won 6 of their last 7 games, taking 2 of 3 from Miami this weekend. Big game for both teams.

 

Gators Host Florida State in Decisive Game Three - Florida Gators