I watched all 3 games this weekend, as UF opened their season with a sweep of the Marshall Thundering Herd. Won 9-2, 10-0, 15-8. Marshall swings the bats pretty good, but their pitchihg is horrible and they're picked #10 in Conference USA. But from what I saw, it seems Florida is better than last year. The opening game lineup was:
cf - Jud Fabian
lf - Austin Langworthy
3b - Kirby McMullen
2b - Cory Acton
rf - Kendrick Calilao
dh - Nathan Hickey
1b - Kris Armstrong
ss - Josh Rivera
c - Cal Greenfield
p - Tommy Mace
I listened to the Gator announcers all 3 games, plus heard an interview Kevin O'Sullivan gave Steve Russell last Thursday. There was strong competition at 3b between McMullen, Brady Smith and Hickey and Mullen won the job. Kris Armstrong came in as a 2-way player but supposedly improved tremendously with the bat over the summer and fall and is going to be given every chance to earn a spot. Greenfield is a smooth, excellent catcher and has improved at the plate and if he hits anywhere decent, he'll be the catcher, with Hickey giving him rest. Smith & Calilao are also in the running at 1b. Sully said he will play a lot of guys early and hopes a set lineup will emerge before SEC play. There is a lot more depth in the pitching staff with freshmen Hunter Barco & Brandon Sproat big time prospects that will be on the mound a lot - either mid-week starts, potential Sunday starters or prominent relievers.
For the Friday game Mace went 6 innings, gave up 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 walk and 6 K's. Soph. Ben Specht threw 1.2 innings of perfect ball and freshman walk-on Nick Ficarotta tossed 1.1 innings and gave up nothing. Fabian, Acton & Hickey had 2 hits each, Armstrong hit a 3-run HR and Rivera had a solo blast.
Saturday, Jack Leftwich was great on the mound. He went 6 innings, gave up no runs, 3 hits, no walks and 8 K's. David Leuthje, Barco and Sproat each threw an inning giving up nothing. Greenfield was the only Gator with 2 hits, but Fabian had a HR and 3 RBI's and Calilao had a 2-run double.
Sunday was ugly. Nick Pogue got the start and gave up 6 hits and 5 runs in 2 innings. Christian Scott went 2.2 innings and gave up nothing and was the winning pitcher. Leuthje and Jordan Butler gave up 3 runs before Justin Alintoff and freshmen Ryan Cabarcas and Tyler Nesbitt finished out the game. Langworthy had 3 hits, a HR and 3 RBI's, Brady Smith (1b) and 2 HR and 5 RBI's, McMullen had 3 hits and 2 RBI's, Acton had 2 hits, including a HR, and Hickey had 2 hits.
McMullen finished the weekend hitting .625 with 5 hits, 5 walks, 3 RBI's and 5 runs scored. Hickey is at .500, Greenfiedl .429, Acton .427, Fabian .357, Langworthy .333. The lineup is more dangerous than last year and O'Sullivan has an enviable job of finding playing time for all the good players. Brady Smith only started Sunday, but he is firey, hits well and will find his way into the starting lineup at some point. Jacob Young had the best batting average on the team last year, I think, and he only played Sunday and hit the ball well. McMullen had a great weekend and is on his way to locking up 3B. Calilao rested Sunday, but he's an everyday player, where in RF or 1b.
The Gators play a home & home against Jacksonville Tuesday & Wednesday and then have 3 games in Coral Gables against Miami. This season could be fun.
cf - Jud Fabian
lf - Austin Langworthy
3b - Kirby McMullen
2b - Cory Acton
rf - Kendrick Calilao
dh - Nathan Hickey
1b - Kris Armstrong
ss - Josh Rivera
c - Cal Greenfield
p - Tommy Mace
I listened to the Gator announcers all 3 games, plus heard an interview Kevin O'Sullivan gave Steve Russell last Thursday. There was strong competition at 3b between McMullen, Brady Smith and Hickey and Mullen won the job. Kris Armstrong came in as a 2-way player but supposedly improved tremendously with the bat over the summer and fall and is going to be given every chance to earn a spot. Greenfield is a smooth, excellent catcher and has improved at the plate and if he hits anywhere decent, he'll be the catcher, with Hickey giving him rest. Smith & Calilao are also in the running at 1b. Sully said he will play a lot of guys early and hopes a set lineup will emerge before SEC play. There is a lot more depth in the pitching staff with freshmen Hunter Barco & Brandon Sproat big time prospects that will be on the mound a lot - either mid-week starts, potential Sunday starters or prominent relievers.
For the Friday game Mace went 6 innings, gave up 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 walk and 6 K's. Soph. Ben Specht threw 1.2 innings of perfect ball and freshman walk-on Nick Ficarotta tossed 1.1 innings and gave up nothing. Fabian, Acton & Hickey had 2 hits each, Armstrong hit a 3-run HR and Rivera had a solo blast.
Saturday, Jack Leftwich was great on the mound. He went 6 innings, gave up no runs, 3 hits, no walks and 8 K's. David Leuthje, Barco and Sproat each threw an inning giving up nothing. Greenfield was the only Gator with 2 hits, but Fabian had a HR and 3 RBI's and Calilao had a 2-run double.
Sunday was ugly. Nick Pogue got the start and gave up 6 hits and 5 runs in 2 innings. Christian Scott went 2.2 innings and gave up nothing and was the winning pitcher. Leuthje and Jordan Butler gave up 3 runs before Justin Alintoff and freshmen Ryan Cabarcas and Tyler Nesbitt finished out the game. Langworthy had 3 hits, a HR and 3 RBI's, Brady Smith (1b) and 2 HR and 5 RBI's, McMullen had 3 hits and 2 RBI's, Acton had 2 hits, including a HR, and Hickey had 2 hits.
McMullen finished the weekend hitting .625 with 5 hits, 5 walks, 3 RBI's and 5 runs scored. Hickey is at .500, Greenfiedl .429, Acton .427, Fabian .357, Langworthy .333. The lineup is more dangerous than last year and O'Sullivan has an enviable job of finding playing time for all the good players. Brady Smith only started Sunday, but he is firey, hits well and will find his way into the starting lineup at some point. Jacob Young had the best batting average on the team last year, I think, and he only played Sunday and hit the ball well. McMullen had a great weekend and is on his way to locking up 3B. Calilao rested Sunday, but he's an everyday player, where in RF or 1b.
The Gators play a home & home against Jacksonville Tuesday & Wednesday and then have 3 games in Coral Gables against Miami. This season could be fun.
