Defense, bullpen doom Gators in first loss of the season

On3 imageby:Nick de la Torre02/22/23

delatorre

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For 15 years Kevin O’Sullivan has preached pitching and defense. The Florida Gators have flourished under that mindset. Wednesday night both let the Gators down in a 10-9 loss to the USF Bulls.

The Gators made it through the opening weekend without committing an error but botched four plays over the last two games, including three on Wednesday night.

The third, and most critical error came in the ninth inning. USF right fielder Drew Brutcher led the frame off with a home run to make it a 9-4. Blake Purnell induced a lazy pop fly to right field but Ty Evans misplayed it allowing Bobby Boser to advance all the way to third. Purnell walked the next batter before being replaced by Jameson Fisher. The sophomore wasn’t able to put the fire out, giving up a single and a majestic three-run home run that knotted the score at nine apiece. When all was told and the dust settled, the Gators used three pitchers in the final frame and gave up seven runs.

“The bottom line is, on the mound, we need to get some help from some other guys, especially in the midweek games. You got to play clean, that’s the bottom line,” Kevin O’Sullivan said after the game. “We had a double play we didn’t turn, dropped a ball there in right. It’s disappointing the way it ended, but the bottom line is we didn’t deserve to win and South Florida took advantage of our mistakes.”

The Gators have established a closer in Brandon Neely. Neely threw against USF on Tuesday, earning his first save of the season. When the game Bulls drew close in the ninth inning, Neely remained in the Gators dugout.

“We used [Brandon] Neely and [Ryan] Slater yesterday. It’s too early in the year to go back-to-back days with them. We just didn’t play very good defense, that’s the bottom line, which is very uncharacteristic of the way it’s been in the preseason and first four games or so. It’s a lot to learn. We are just going to have to get some help from some other guys on the mound, but defensively we didn’t help ourselves.”

Gators offense

The pitching wasn’t all bad. Freshman Yoel Tejada earned his first career start and threw three innings. He allowed two runs, both earned, but his defense didn’t do him any favors. Sophomore Nick Ficarrotta came into the game in the fourth inning and dominated. The right-hander scattered four hits over three and a third and struck out seven.

Florida’s bats continue to rake in the early going. Jac Caglianone launched his second home run of the season. He was 3-3 with two intentional walks, reaching base safely five times. Caglianone is the second Gators player to reach base safely five times in a game this season.

Notables

  • Florida has collected double-digit hits in four of five games this season, finishing with a season-high 17 hits on Wednesday.
    • The Gators have 62 hits through five games (12.4 hits/game).
  • Of the 10 Gators hurlers to throw at least one inning, eight have struck out more than one batter per inning.
  • Through five games, Florida has six pitchers who have struck out at least five batters.
  • Ficarrotta struck out a career-high seven batters across 3 2/3 innings of relief.
  • Caglianone tied his career high with three hits for the second-straight game.
    • Caglianone went 3-for-3 with two walks, becoming the second Gator this season to reach base safely in all five plate appearances (Rivera, Feb. 17 vs. Charleston Southern).
  • Making his first-career start, Tejeda Jr. allowed two earned runs across three innings. He allowed four hits and two walks while striking out one.
  • The Gators drop to 64-28 all-time against the Bulls including 43-12 at home.
    • Florida has won 26 of the last 31 against USF.

You may also like