The outcome of Florida’s series finale against South Carolina was not in doubt after the Gators exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on Saturday.
But the game could have been closer following the outburst if South Carolina had taken advantage of multiple earlier opportunities.
The eigth-ranked Gamecocks (27-10, 8-7 Southeastern Conference) struggled in key spots at the plate before the Gators (19-18, 8-7 SEC) pulled away for a 14-5 victory to complete the series sweep at McKethan Stadium.
“It wasn’t a good day,” USC coach Chad Holbrook said. “We didn’t play well.”
South Carolina loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second inning but came away with only one run. Center fielder Tanner English fouled out to third and Florida starter Jay Carmichael walked in a run. Left-hander Bobby Poyner then replaced Carmichael and forced third baseman Chase Vergason to fly out to center.
The Gamecocks left 32 runners on base during the series. UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said each of the stranded runners could be attributed to both his pitchers’ command and USC’s approach.
“Against teams like South Carolina, as aggressive as they are, we’re trying to throw first-pitch strikes and jump ahead,” O”Sullivan said. “Those things are going to happen.”
South Carolina failed to capitalize in the top of the fourth on Sunday when Graham Saiko doubled down the left-field line with one out. Vergason followed him with a groundout to the pitcher, Justin Shafer. O’Sullivan then decided to intentionally walk the Gamecocks’ home run leader, first baseman LB Dantzler, to get to their batting average leader, Brison Celek. The move paid off as Celek fouled out to first to end the threat.
USC squandered an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the sixth — just prior to Florida’s 10-run frame.
The Gamecocks loaded the bases with one out thanks to singles from shortstop Joey Pankake and Vergason and a walk by Saiko. UF reliever Daniel Gibson forced Dantzler to ground into a fielder’s choice, which plated USC’s only run in the inning. Gibson then got out of the inning as second baseman Max Schrock flew out to left.
Florida pitchers retired batters with one or two pitches seven times on Sunday, but South Carolina hitters also got four hits in at-bats of the same length. Holbrook said he was fine with his players showing aggression, but they have to maintain good plate discipline.
“You got to get good pitches to hit early in the count,” Holbrook said.
“We try to teach them, if you’re going to swing early, make sure it’s a good pitch. Sometimes that’s the best pitch you get.”
Contact Josh Jurnovoy at jjurnovoy@alligator.org.
Junior pitcher Daniel Gibson winds up for a pitch during Florida’s 14-5 win against South Carolina on Saturday at McKethan Stadium. Gibson allowed two home runs during the seventh inning in Florida's 9-2 loss to Georgia on Saturday.
