There were two playoff games, and then it was over.
Two losses put an end to Florida baseball’s 2014 season, one that saw UF surpass outside expectations only to stumble in the games that mattered the most.
But this year, the expectations are higher and the personnel has improved, especially on the mound.
2014 Perfect Game National Freshman of the Year Logan Shore is now a sophomore, and after boasting a 2.16 ERA as a freshman, even he has set higher standards for the team and himself.
Shore went 7-4 last season and became Florida’s Friday-night starter midway through the season, but gave up 16 hits and 7 runs in the last two games he played, both postseason losses.
"It’s obviously pretty cool to see how last year ended out," Shore said.
"But, personally, I didn’t finish the best last year."
Each player agrees — UF not only thinks it can finish better than last year, but it expects to.
And maybe the biggest determinant of Florida’s success this season will be its 17-player pitching rotation, complete with almost as many lefties as righties.
"I mean, we’re loaded," said senior left-hander Bobby Poyner, who finished last season with a 5-4 record and posted a 3.47 ERA. "We got (A.J.) Puk, (Scott) Moss … Danny Young, Kirby Snead, myself, Logan Browning. We feel comfortable with all those guys around out there in any situation."
The Gators have only added two new arms — freshmen Alex Faedo and Browning — but the consensus among the pitchers is experience plays a bigger role than quantity in the bullpen.
"We were deep last year, but you almost feel as if we’re a lot deeper in pitching this year just because of experience," Shore said.
"We have a bunch of guys that are coming back through last year and have made huge strides. It feels really good, especially to have six or seven lefties and six or seven righties out of the pen to come in behind me and some of the other starters."
So far, UF’s depth on the mound has been noticeable in scrimmages, where players like junior outfielder Harrison Bader have been impressed with the Gators’ pitching arsenal.
"You’ll face one guy and you’ll get him out and then the next guy will come in. And you’re like, ah, here we go again," Bader said of UF’s pitchers. "We have a lot of arms, a lot of guys who are as talented as can be."
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Logan Shore pitches during Florida's 3-2 loss to the College of Charleston on May 30 at McKethan Stadium.
