Karsten Whitson waited nearly two years to get back on the mound, but his return did not last long.
The redshirt junior right-hander lasted only two innings in his season debut against Maryland on Sunday.
Whitson gave up three runs in his first inning back to college baseball, but No. 23 Florida’s (2-1) bats bailed him out in the rubber game of its three-game series against Maryland, securing an 8-5 win.
“We’re going to keep running him out there,” coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He’ll figure this thing out.”
Whitson struggled the moment the game began. He fell behind the first batter he faced, going to a 3-0 count before issuing a five-pitch walk. A sacrifice bunt and a single later, the 6-foot-4 pitcher was already pitching from behind.
“If he bounces a breaking ball there, he probably gets out of the inning,” O’Sullivan said.
Terrapins shortstop Blake Schmit roped a double, and Whitson walked another batter.
His saving grace came when Maryland designated hitter Mike Rescigno’s crushed double bounced over the right-center field wall, preventing a fourth run from scoring in the inning.
However, Whitson returned after a 30-pitch first inning and performed marginally better. He gave up a contested infield single, which O’Sullivan argued should have been called a groundout, and put runners on the corners after a wild pitch on a strikeout.
The seasoned pitcher worked out of the jam, striking out first baseman LaMonte Wade and getting an infield grounder to end the inning.
O’Sullivan thought that was enough for his first outing back.
“It was a combination of things,” O’Sullivan said. “It was a long bottom of the second, he had a really good second inning. I wanted him to leave on a good note. He was at 50 pitches. How much more is he going to go? It’s his first outing.”
Eric Hanhold replaced Whitson, and the right-hander carried the team while the offense took the lead. The sophomore pitched three innings of scoreless ball to give the Gators a chance to build their lead.
After Whitson tossed his last pitch, Florida’s offense made sure he would not be greeted with a loss.
After scoring a run on a Taylor Gushue sacrifice fly in the first inning, the Gators took advantage of walks from first baseman Zack Powers and center fielder Buddy Reed and a single by right fielder Braden Mattson.
Martin drove in the first run of the second inning on a sacrifice fly, and Mattson scored when a pitch hit second baseman Casey Turgeon. Gushue drove in the third and fourth runs of the inning on a single to left.
“I knew we were going to get our chances to score,” said Gushue, who finished with three RBIs. “We capitalized on pretty much every single opportunity we got.”
The Gators added the winning runs in the fifth inning. The rally began when Mattson walked and freshman A.J. Puk laced a double to right, scoring Mattson for the freshman’s first career RBI.
Martin followed with a double, bringing Mattson around before Martin produced his own run on the basepaths.
The sophomore shortstop stole third while left fielder Ryan Larson was batting, and the ball careened off the third baseman’s glove, allowing Martin to score the final run of the game.
“I was pleased with how we swung the bats [Sunday],” O’Sullivan said. “We have a lot of room to grow, obviously. We need to get better at some things, but you get a series win this early in the year, you’ve got to feel good about it.”
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Taylor Gushue bats during Florida’s 9-7 loss against Maryland on Saturday at McKethan Stadium. Gushue drove in three runs in UF’s 8-5 win on Sunday.