HOOVER, Ala. – The Gators were just looking to avoid elimination at the start of Friday’s game, but by the end of it they just wanted to avoid wasting their pitchers.
With its three weekend starters already used up in the first three games of the Southeastern Conference Tournament, No. 4 Florida (42-14) will rely on its bullpen the rest of the way.
In Friday’s 5-2 win over No. 24 Vanderbilt (41-17), UF helped its own cause as Greg Larson and Steven Rodriguez were the only relief pitchers used.
But the Gators will still have to be cautious with their arms.
They run the risk of playing two games against Alabama today, so they will have to designate two starting pitchers.
Tommy Toledo, who has not seen action in the tournament yet, will get the start in the early game. Coach Kevin O’Sullivan only plans to use the right-hander for a maximum of four innings.
“I was a little nervous because if (Vanderbilt) would have come back, we would not have been able to use him in this tournament and we need to use him,” he said. “He needs to get some innings under his belt.”
If Toledo leads UF past the Crimson Tide in the first game, it will face Alabama again in the evening. The starting pitcher for that game has yet to be determined.
Larson and Rodriguez are the only two bullpen pitchers to have thrown twice during the tournament, which will probably force O’Sullivan to deem them unavailable today.
Still, the Gators will have eight other relievers available, including first-team All-SEC closer Kevin Chapman.
Out of that group, sophomore Nick Maronde is the most likely candidate to start the possible nightcap contest. He has not appeared in a game this week and started 11 times last season.
However, O’Sullivan won’t hold back because of the possible doubleheader.
“You play each game like it’s your last one. You can’t save anybody because if you lose, you’re done,” he said. “We’ll do everything we can to win the first one, and if we are fortunate to win that one, then we’ll worry about the next one. But I’m not saving anybody.”
