For the third consecutive week to open the season, a Gator has won an SEC weekly award. On Monday, third-year sophomore right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat was tabbed the SEC Pitcher of the Week.
He joins Hunter Barco (week one SEC Pitcher of the Week) and Colby Halter (week two SEC Co-Player of the Week) as the Gators’ weekly award winners this season.
In his first career weekend start, Sproat fired a career-high 6 1/3 shutout innings against then-No. 22 Miami on Saturday. He gave up just four hits and two walks and tied his career high with eight strikeouts. His dominant performance helped the Gators even the series and eventually go on to win the series.
The Pace, Florida, native also started the Tuesday game at North Florida and threw two shutout innings with one hit and two strikeouts.
For the week, Sproat didn’t give up a run in 8 1/3 innings with five hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts. Opponents hit just .167 against him.
He is now 2-1 on the season with a 1.17 ERA. He figures to start on Saturday again this weekend against Seton Hall.
The No. 11 Gators will play five games this week, all at Florida Ballpark. They’ll play Jacksonville on Tuesday and Wednesday prior to that weekend series against Seton Hall.