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Karsten Whitson's maturation
process took another step forward Sunday afternoon at McKethan
Stadium.
For the second straight weekend, the well-poised freshman with
electric stuff tossed at least six shutout innings, leading the No.
4 Gators to a 7-2 win and series sweep over Mississippi.
The flame-throwing righty hurdled over his five-inning barrier a
week ago against Alabama, and on Sunday, he nearly matched his best
start of the season while facing a lineup he was unaccustomed to
seeing.
"He had a great start," coach Kevin OSullivan said. "I'm awfully
proud of the way he pitched. It was a tough lineup to throw to with
six left-handers. He hasn't had that look very often. In high
school you're never going to see a lineup with six left-handers.
Karsten used his secondary pitches and made some pitches when he
had to."
Whitson has yet to lose a decision in his brief Florida career,
moving his record to 6-0 after six scoreless innings with four
strikeouts.
The Gators (34-10, 17-4 Southeastern Conference) got on the board
early and scored two runs in the first, one off a sacrifice fly by
Nolan Fontana, and the other, on an RBI single from Preston
Tucker.
UF's bats continued its recent surge, throttling Rebels pitching
for 11 hits and seven runs, including a career-best 4 for 4 day
from catcher Mike Zunino.
The sophomore thrashed Ole Miss (24-20, 9-12 SEC) all weekend,
going 7-12 with eight RBIs and four extra-base hits. Zunino knocked
three doubles and four RBIs in the series finale, plating four of
Florida's five runs in the third and fifth innings.
"I saw the ball well this weekend," he said. "I got some pitches up
and was able to put some good swings on them."
But as usual, the game's direction was dominated by Florida's
starting pitching.
Whitson scattered three hits and two walks, and for his second
consecutive start, O'Sullivan let his freshman pitcher escape
self-induced trouble.
"It shows he has confidence in me," Whitson said. "If I get guys on
I'm just going to continue to go after them."
After a one-out five-pitch walk in the sixth, Florida's manager
made a trip to the mound.
"He was telling me to just stay focused and pick it back up,"
Whitson said of the brief meeting. "I just grabbed the ball and let
my defense work behind me."
The freshman promptly induced a weak flyout to center before
striking out the final batter of his afternoon.
"I'm starting to go a little deeper into games, and it feels good,"
he said.
In Whitson's last two starts, the right-hander has thrown 12.2
innings with 11 strikeouts while allowing just one run.
"He's found his zone and how to attack hitters," Zunino said. "He's
got a better feel for all his pitches. He's been spot on
lately."
Etc.: Tucker went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. ...
Steven "Paco" Rodriguez allowed an unearned run in the seventh
following a Daniel Pigott error in left. ... Anthony DeSclafani
pitched the eighth, surrendering a laser homerun to right for the
Rebels second run.
