Gainesville, Fla. – The No. 2 Florida Gators are set to open the 110th campaign in team history this Friday with the first installment of a three-game series against St John’s of the Big East Conference.
All three matchups air on SEC Network+ beginning with Friday night’s 6:30 p.m. opener. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. on Sunday.
Coming off the program’s 16th SEC Championship and a trip to the College World Series Finals, head coach Kevin O’Sullivan enters his 17th season at the helm. He commands a Gators squad that has won 14 of its last 15 games at Condron Family Ballpark and posted a 36-7 overall record at home in 2023. Florida is fresh off its winningest season (54-17) in team history.
As it relates to the matchup, the Gators are 1-0 all-time vs. the Red Storm. The lone meeting came in Coral Gables, Fla. on May 22, 1997, with Florida posting a 4-3 victory.
Since the start of O’Sullivan’s tenure at Florida in 2008, the Gators are 15-1 (.938) in season openers while featuring a 41-7 record (.854) in the first series of the year. The Orange & Blue has claimed victories in 10-straight games to open the campaign dating back through 2014. Across the history of the program, Florida is 69-41-1 all-time in openers, featuring a 49-21-1 mark at home.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: LHP Cade Fisher (6-0, 3.10 ERA) vs. RHP Xavier Kolhosser (3-0, 2.56 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Liam Peterson (DNP) vs. LHP Joe Mascio (3-3, 4.68 ERA)
Sunday: LHP Jac Caglianone (7-4, 4.34 ERA) vs. RHP Mario Pesca (1-5, 6.65 ERA)
SCOUTING THE RED STORM
St. John’s Friday night starter Xaiver Kolhosser made nine appearances for the Red Storm in 2023, posting a 2.56 ERA across 31.2 innings pitched. His best outing came against UConn, a team Florida played in the Gainesville Regional last season. The 6’5, 175-pound right hander tossed six scoreless innings while striking out six against the Huskies. Kolhosser struck out 30 batters and walked just 10 in 2023. Holhosser allowed just one home run in his first season on the mound (redshirted in 2022).
Saturday’s starter Joe Mascio pitched 65.1 innings a season ago, posting an ERA of 4.68 while working to a 3-3 record. The junior left hander has appeared in 34 games in his career with St. John’s including 19 starts, 13 of which came a season ago. Mascio struck out 62 batters in 2023 while walking 26. The 6’0, 195-pound New Jersey native earned BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week after six shutout innings, striking out five and allowing two hits in a victory over Marshall in 2023. Mascio also struck out 10 batter against Tulane across just 4.2 innings of work.
Sunday starter Mario Pesca made 21 appearances in his freshman campaign a year ago, nine of which were starts. In 46 innings of work, Pesca posted a 6.65 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 21 walks, allowing five home runs in the process. Pesca stands tall on the mound at 6’8, 225 pounds.
In 2023, St. John’s posted a record of 28-25 (8-12 Big East), finishing 6th out of 8 teams in their conference. The Red Storm avoided a sweep by UConn on the final game of a three-game series, defeating the Huskies 9-7, who would later go on to be a two seed in the Gainesville Regional.
Offensively, the Red Storm posted a team batting average of .296 and an on base percentage of .401, both of which were higher than Florida’s 2023 squad numbers, albeit the talent level in the Big East is inferior. St. John’s didn’t possess much power a season ago, launching a total of 53 home runs, 93 less than Florida blasted in 2023 (146).
The Red Storm worked to a 5.19 team ERA in 2023 while striking out 416 batters across 463.1 innings pitched. St John’s averaged 4.5 walks per nine innings.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
One of St John’s best returning starters is outfielder Paul Orbon, who started in 35 games in 2023 and posted a batting average of .338, which ranked 4th on his team among players with 50+ at bats.
Sophomore catcher Jimmy Keenan is another player to keep an eye on as the 6’3, 225 pounder hit .346 with six home runs and 11 doubles in just 24 starts as a true freshman.
Infielder Marty Higgins started 48 games a season ago for the Red Storm. Higgins slashed .310/.369/.462 and totaled five home runs, 32 RBI, and 32 runs scored.
Junior outfielder Jackson Tucker slashed .294/.388/.425 while ranking 3rd in the Big East in stolen bases (25) in 2023.