Mike Zunino’s solo home run against Mississippi State in the eighth inning on Sunday was more than just another game-winning hit for Florida. It provided a sense of relief.
The Gators pitching staff held the Bulldogs in check, giving Florida the luxury of needing only two runs for a victory. However, UF has lacked consistent offensive production since April.
“We haven’t swung the bat how we’ve wanted to, but it’s just a work in progress,” Zunino said. “We’re battling every game, trying to get it turned around.”
During the season’s first two months, the Gators hit at a .294 clip and averaged 6.9 runs per game en route to a 24-3 record. In April, Florida batted .271 and averaged five runs per contest while splitting 18 games.
May has not been much better. UF is 5-2 in its first seven games of the month, but the offense has only scored 21 runs, including a paltry six in last weekend’s series win against MSU.
The Gators are batting .244 in May, and Florida stranded 24 combined runners in back-to-back games against Kentucky and North Florida.
“There’s nothing you can say or do other than encourage, keep working at it,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said.
“At some point, we have talent, it’s going to turn around. It is what it is.”
The offense has sputtered largely because of slumping at the top of the order. Leadoff hitter Nolan Fontana is hitting .154 in May with three runs scored compared to four strikeouts. Preston Tucker and Zunino, have not fared much better, each batting .231.
Zunino has had some clutch hits recently, contributing a walkoff RBI double against North Florida and the go-ahead run on his solo homer Sunday. However, Tucker has just one hit and one RBI in his last 15 at-bats.
“We won two out of three against a very good Mississippi State team … without our best guys swinging the bat as well as we all know they’re going to at some point,” O’Sullivan said. “That’s what I’m looking at moving forward.”
The Gators bullpen has helped keep the team afloat despite closer Austin Maddox missing six games with tendinitis. Florida’s relievers have posted a 0.98 WHIP and a 0.29 ERA in 30.2 innings with a 3.1-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Steven Rodriguez took on an increased workload in Maddox’s absence, earning three saves while serving as the closer. In UF’s last seven games, Rodriguez has logged 11 scoreless frames in relief.
“Not much fazes [the bullpen],” Zunino said. “They’re just (as tough as) nails. Every time we go to them, they step up.”
Florida (38-14) will look to get its pitchers some help at the plate on the road against Samford (33-19) tonight at 7:30.
The Gators defeated the Bulldogs 5-3 in Gainesville, on March 20, recording 11 hits and stranding seven on base.
“Hitting’s contagious,” Zunino said. “So, once one guy starts getting hot, hopefully everyone can heat up and then we can go from there.”
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org.
Mike Zunino hits a homerun against against Georgia on April 22. Zunino has hit .231 during the month of May with one home run.
