Gators win a thriller in SEC Tournament opener
On a night where both starters deserved to win the game, neither would factor into the decision. Baseball can be cruel, and it was cruelest to South Carolina catcher Talmadge LeCroy, who dropped the ball on a tag at home that would have sent the game to the 11th, instead it sent the Gators into a frenzy after a 2-1, walk-off win.
Third base coach Craig Bell decided not to send freshman Ty Evans on a Kendrick Calilao single. The throw, which Bell couldn’t have anticipated at the time of his stop sign, sailed high and to the backstop. It would have allowed Evans to score easily. Bell was seen on a replay telling Evans, “my bad.” Colby Halter picked his coach up with a sacrifice fly to center field that gave the Gators a 2-1 win.
The Gators sent Brandon Sproat to the mound for the elimination game. The third-year pitcher was at his best. Sproat has been playing the best baseball of his career but took it up a notch in Hoover. Sproat allowed the leadoff batter to reach on an error but erased that with a double play. He then retired the next 12 batters he faced before allowing a walk. He wouldn’t allow a hit until Josiah Sightler singled with one out in the seventh inning.
On the other side of the field, Carolina starter Will Sanders was equally sensational. The sophomore was struck by a Wyatt Langford line drive on his second pitch of the game but shook off his coaches and trainers. He retired the next seven Gators he faced.
Gators strike first
With Sanders was cruising. The right-hander had struck out four batters heading into the fourth inning, where he quickly retired the first two batters he faced. Josh Rivera took an 0-1 offering down the right-field line for a double. The third-year shortstop then completely manufactured a run with hustle. Freshman Jac Caglianone hit a slow roller to shortstop and beat it out for a single. Rivera started running when the ball was hit and never thought about stopping. The shortstop caught the Gamecocks off guard and slid in safely for the first run of the game.
Sproat was given the opportunity to finish what he started
Brandon Sproat walked off the mound in the eighth inning having thrown 96 pitches. The third-year pitcher had baffled the Gamecocks all night but was throwing on short rest. Kevin O’Sullivan had a decision to make. He’s been establishing roles on the team and this was a clear opportunity to get closer Ryan Slater into the game.
O’Sullivan chose to dance with the one that brought him there.
In hindsight, the decision didn’t work out. Sproat retired the first batter he faced but surrendered back-to-back singles before being lifted for Slater. Results be damned, O’Sullivan made the right decision.
Brandon Sproat earned the opportunity to close the game. He had thrown eight scoreless innings, struck out seven, and allowed just two hits. It was his game to win or lose. Unfortunately for Sproat, he couldn’t get out of the ninth and the Gamecocks were able to push across the tying run.
New Wednesday schedule
Rain on Tuesday delayed the Gators’ first game by more than five hours. It also only allowed three games to be played in Hoover, rather than the scheduled four. That pushed Auburn and Kentucky’s single-elimination game to 10:30 am on Wednesday. Arkansas and Alabama will play in a double-elimination game 30 minutes after the completion of the first game. The Gators will play against Texas A&M, with a first pitch scheduled for 5:30 pm ET.
The Aggies will be the home team. It will be the first time the Gators and Aggies play this season. Florida will send freshman Brandon Neely to the mound to face off against junior righty Micah Dallas.
Box Score
