Kevin O’Sullivan went into Florida’s series against Missouri searching for an answer.
He needed to find an anchor in his bullpen to solidify an already strong pitching staff.
Someone who could become the closer for the rest of the season as the Gators began their run in Southeastern Conference play.
His answer was Shaun Anderson.
The junior righty was electric out of the pen against the Tigers. He threw 3.1 scoreless innings, striking out six batters, allowing just one hit and picking up his third win of the season to go along with two saves.
"It’s funny how things work out to where (you’re) still trying to figure out who’s the guy at the end and you play three games in the weekend and now you’re thinking, ‘Boy, I think we found our guy,’" O’Sullivan said after Sunday’s game. "I think Shaun was really, really special this weekend."
His defining moment of the season came during Friday’s game. After the Gators blew a 3-0 lead in the series opener to bring the game to extra innings, O’Sullivan called on Anderson to pitch the 10th inning. The Coral Springs native blew Missouri away, striking out the side on just 12 pitches.
Florida went on to win the game 4-3 in the bottom half of the frame on a Peter Alonso walk-off single.
"I kind of just knew I needed to focus on every single pitch I was throwing because any mistake I made, I knew they were going to capitalize on it," Anderson said.
But those who are around him aren’t surprised by his success. Anderson is 3-0 with a 1.15 ERA and three saves, and it’s a credit to the work he puts in during the off days.
"He works really hard," UF starting pitcher Alex Faedo said. "He’s always doing extra workouts, he’s always in the weight room the longest. … I’m glad he’s getting a good shot out there, and I think three games in a row closing them out, it’s really impressive."
After closing the door on Missouri, No. 1 Florida (21-1) takes a break from SEC play to host Florida Atlantic tonight at 7. UF faced FAU twice last year, winning both games by a combined three runs.
In the second matchup, the Owls (15-3) pushed Florida to its limit in the Gainesville Regional before losing 2-1.
If the game is that close tonight, O’Sullivan might call on Anderson to close out the game if he needs to.
Anderson waited two years for this.
And now, the junior has seized the opportunity, and he’s thriving.
"I think it’s a great learning experience for a lot of players in our program that are maybe not playing as much as they want right now, or pitching as much as they want," O’Sullivan said. "If you stay the course and you continue to work hard … then at some point the tide will turn. And for Shaun, it’s turning now."
Contact Luis Torres at ltorres@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.
Florida pitcher Shaun Anderson.
