Even after Brian Johnson’s day on the mound was over, he still found a way to help his team.
The freshman pitcher not only had success with his arm in No. 8 Florida’s (20-6, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) 7-3 victory over No. 17 Vanderbilt (23-6, 4-4 SEC) Saturday, he beat the Commodores with his bat too.
UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan approached Johnson about the opportunity to hit and pitch in the same game just hours before start time, and the left-hander jumped on it.
“I just asked him at the pregame meal if he wanted to hit and pitch today, and his eyes lit up and he said, 'Yeah,'” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.
On the mound he lasted 5.2 innings while giving up just one run. And at the plate Johnson went a perfect 3 for 3 and drew a walk.
Since he was listed as the designated hitter in the batting order, he was able to hit even after he was done pitching. One of the hits and the free pass came after his start was over.
After going 1 for 6 to start the season, this game provided the freshman an opportunity to show what he could do at the plate.
“I didn’t see much live pitching, so going from the fall to this was a little bit of difference,” Johnson said. “But just the more pitching you see, the better off you are going to be.”
Left fielder Daniel Pigott smacked a 2-1 pitch for a two-run homer to right field in the second inning to give Johnson early run support.
“I was looking for a good pitch since I had a hitters count and I got one,” Pigott said.
In the next inning, first baseman Preston Tucker added to Florida’s 2-0 lead with an RBI double down the right-field line to drive in center fielder Matt den Dekker.
But the Gators finally broke the game open in the sixth with a three-run inning.
Freshman catcher Mike Zunino stung a two-run single to left field and broke out of his 1-for-30 slump in the frame. It was also his first hit in SEC play.
“It’s just a matter of time before he (Zunino) gets going offensively,” O’Sullivan said. “He does such a good job defensively, so anything that he gives us offensively is a plus.”
The Commodores never challenged Florida’s lead.
Sophomore Nick Maronde nailed down the win for the Gators after pitching a scoreless two innings without allowing a hit and striking out two.
UF will go for the sweep Sunday at 1 p.m. Freshman pitcher Hudson Randall will get the start.
