Gators pass first test of season

By Josh Benton

The Florida baseball team (6-0) got their first real challenge of the season against Boston College (2-3) on Friday night in front of 4,222 fans.

The Eagles tied the game at three in the top of the seventh inning, the deepest into a game the Gators have been tied so far this season.  The Gators struck back with three runs in the bottom of the seventh and a further three runs in the eighth to win 9-3.

Boston College shortstop Brad Zapenas was a key player in the contest. Zapenas hit a two-run triple with two out to tie the game in the seventh, but was immediately embarrassed by the Gators defense, who picked him off with the hidden ball trick to end the inning.

“They do (the hidden ball trick) all the time in practice,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.  “The impressive thing was that it was two freshmen.  You had (Daniel) Gibson on the mound and (Zack) Powers (at third) and they pulled it off.  I’m sure it’ll be on everybody’s scouting report now, but it changed the momentum of the game.  All of a sudden you gave up two runs, and it’s a tie ballgame, 3-3.  The next thing you know you pull the hidden ball and everybody’s fired up.  Gibson was extremely fired up.  Obviously it’s not going to happen very often, but it certainly changed the momentum of the game.”

Gibson (1-0) was awarded the win in relief.  Though he gave up the two-run triple, the runs were charged to Nick Maronde and Greg Larson, the pitchers who preceded him.  Gibson threw only 14 pitches, eight of which were strikes.  He walked one batter and struck out another, giving up two hits in one inning plus.

UF starting pitcher Hudson Randall (1-0) was pulled after the fifth inning.  He gave up four hits and one run, which was earned.  He struck out four and allowed no bases on balls.

“I felt better (today) than I did the first time,” Randall said of his performance.  “I was trying to pump the fastball today.  I was feeling good, it was working for me so I stuck with it the first couple of batters.  I got some strikeouts so it turned out good for me.”

Randall laid down the first nine batters in order before giving up a single to Zapenas in the top of the fourth inning.  He was the second Gator starter in as many days to go unscathed the first time through the batting order, though Brian Johnson’s perfect game bid Thursday night went a full eight outs better.

“Brian and I are always competing,” Randall said.  “We’re good buddies in the locker room and off the field, too.  I’m trying to do what he does, he’s trying to do what I do.  We keep each other competitive.”

Florida pitcher Alex Panteliodis pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to end the game, striking out the last two batters he faced.  Righty Tommy Toledo came in to get the final two outs of the eighth inning, preserving Gibson’s lead.

“As long as (O’Sullivan) has confidence in me to put me in those situations, that shows a lot.  I thank Coach  (O’Sullivan) a lot for that (opportunity).  Hopefully I can just throw strikes and do good for the team.  I’m just trying to throw strikes.  I don’t want to walk anybody.  That’s pretty much what the coaches have been harping on the last three years I’ve been here, so that’s pretty much what I’ve been working on, just trying to throw strikes in those situations.  That’s the only thing you really can do.”

Offensively, the Gators pounded out 14 hits.  Left fielder Daniel Pigott ran out two infield hits on the evening.  Designated hitter Brian Johnson and right fielder Preston Tucker each collected three hits.  One of Tucker’s knocks was a solo homer into the bleachers in right-center off BC starting pitcher Eric Stevens (ND, 0-0).

“It was a changeup away,” Tucker said of the home run pitch.  “I was just looking for a pitch I could drive, and he left it up a little bit so I put a good swing on it.”

Stevens had a respectable, if rocky, first start.  In five innings, he gave up seven hits and two runs, both earned.  He walked one batter and struck out none.  The loss went to Kyle Prohovich (0-1).  In an inning and a third, Prohovich allowed four runs, all earned, on two hits and walked three batters.

The series will go on hiatus Saturday while Boston College plays an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, then resume Sunday at 1 p.m. at

McKethan Stadium.  Florida freshman Karsten Whitson (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will take the mound against BC senior John Leonard (1-0, 0.00) in the series finale.