No.4 Florida (2-1) defeated UNF 13-4 on Wednesday night inside Condron Ballpark, completing the midweek series sweep against the Ospreys. The Gators improved to 21-5 against UNF under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan, including a 16-3 mark at home.
Philpott makes first start, earns win
True freshman RHP Alex Philpott made his first collegiate start on Wednesday night, tossing three scoreless innings while earning the victory in the contest. The Tampa, Florida native allowed two hits and two walks while striking out two across 11 batters faced.
“I felt good coming out of the pen, got through my innings and did my job,” Philpott said on his outing.”
“The slider definitely got me the ground balls I needed and stuff. Changeup was working, didn’t throw it too much. Felt like my fastball was not great tonight, but it happens, have to figure out to make a pitch, what’s working, and go through it,” Philpott added.
Philpott has now made two appearances this season including one out of the bullpen against St. John’s.
“There’s not one I prefer,” Philpott said on whether he would rather start or come out of the bullpen. “I’m going to do anything that I can to help the team win, and if my name is called, I’m going to perform.”
Philpott has now tossed 4.2 innings this season, allowing 0 runs, 2 hits, and 4 walks. Command has been a slight issue for Philpott so far, but he has shown the ability to pitch through high pressured situations. After only tossing 49 pitches against UNF, do not be surprised if you see Philpott this weekend against Columbia out of the bullpen.
Star of the game: Michael Robertson
Starting center fielder and nine-hole hitter Michael Robertson was the star of the night for the Gators, recording four hits and three RBIs against UNF, both of which are single game career highs for the redshirt sophomore. Robertson also added two doubles, a stolen base, and scored a run in the contest.
“Michael [Robertson] had a great night at the plate, four hits, went the other way, had some timely hits with runners in scoring position,” Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan said on Robertson postgame.
All four of Robertson’s hits were to the left side of the field, despite multiple unique defensive alignments for the Ospreys, which favored the right side of the field.
“I like to think I try to hit it where it’s pitched,” Robertson said postgame. “I think the majority of my career has been a little bit played that way, but more than anything I’m trying to hit it where it’s pitched.”
“It’s a little interesting,” Robertson said on UNF using a shift against him. “I think they shifted the majority of our guys for whatever reason, I guess they maybe were trying to slow the ball down and have us hit to wherever they set up.”
Robertson is now 7-13 (.528) at the plate this season, seeing time as the leadoff and nine-hole hitter through three games of the 2024 season.
“Keeping everything real simple, working hard in the weight room, just going back to the roots and having fun playing the game,” Robertson said on his offseason. “More than anything just mentality stuff, they harp on that a lot here.”
Robertson’s early season success is a great sign for the bottom half of Florida’s lineup.
Great Defense
Defense was a question mark going into the season for Florida, but they were phenomenal against UNF on Wednesday night. The Gators didn’t record an error while first baseman Jac Caglianone made a trio of terrific plays.
“We played really good defensive behind him, Jac made three really great plays tonight, turned the double play on a 3-6, over the shoulder catch, and a diving play on the 3-1. We played great defense,” O’Sullivan said postgame.
Everyone knows Caglianone as the superstar two-way player, but the most underrated part of his game is his defensive ability.
“He’s always been a good defensive first baseman,” O’Sullivan said on Caglianone.
The Bullpen
Florida’s pitching staff found great outings from relivers Robert Satin, Ryan Slater, and Brandon Neely, who made his 2024 debut in the contest.
True freshman LHP Robert Satin was the first call to the bullpen, tossing two scoreless frames while allowing two hits and one walk.
RHP Ryan Slater pitched 1.2 innings, allowing no runs and one hit while striking out two batters.
Florida’s star closer Brandon Neely was as good as advertised in his 2024 debut, recording a 1-2-3 inning while striking out two in the 9th inning. Although it was a nine-run lead, O’Sullivan wanted to get Neely some work in before Florida’s weekend series against Columbia.
Relief pitchers Hunter Jones and Blake Purnell struggled in the middle innings of the game, combining for four earned runs allowed in 1.1 innings pitched.
NOTABLES
- Making his starting pitching debut, Philpott tossed three scoreless innings on two hits and two whiles while striking out two to earn the win in a controlled start.
- Robertson notched a career-high four hits and three RBI.
- Satin threw two scoreless innings on two hits and one walk while fanning one.
- Florida scored in 11 of 15 innings against North Florida across the last two games.
- Dating back to last season, Florida is 24-4 in regular season non-conference games and has won 15 of its last 16 such contests.
- The Gators have now won 11-straight midweek contests dating back to last season.
- Florida improved to 21-7 all-time against North Florida including 5-3 on the road
- The Gators rise to 16-3 vs. the Ospreys under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan featuring a 16-4 mark at home.
- Florida has won 16 of the last 17 meetings in the series vs. UNF including an active eight-game winning streak.