Alex Panteliodis is starting to return to form.
Last season’s ace got off to a rocky start this year following offseason hip surgery, but the southpaw recorded his best outing of the season Wednesday as No. 1 UF (20-2, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) blanked Winthrop (9-11, 2-1 Big South) 10-0, completing a two-game midweek sweep.
“I’ve improved a lot after the surgery and everything, just trying to get back out there,” Panteliodis said. “It’s just one step at a time. … I’m very close to where I was last year.”
Panteliodis (2-0) lasted six scoreless innings against the Eagles, giving up three hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 61 pitches.
The lefty worked efficiently all night, throwing no more than 12 pitches in any inning. He threw nine in each the third, fourth and fifth innings.
While Panteliodis was effective hitting his spots, he also got some help from his defense, particularly in the fourth. Left fielder Daniel Pigott robbed Winthrop’s Patrick Gamblin of a home run to lead off the inning. Three batters later, shortstop Nolan Fontana made a diving stop on a ground ball up the middle and tagged second to end one of the Eagles’ few scoring opportunities.
“[My confidence] is going through the roof, just being able to hit my spots,” Panteliodis said. “The defense behind me, of course, they’re going to make plays for me, so I just got to let them do that.”
Pigott not only flashed his glove in left for Florida, he also got the night started on offense. After reaching on a fielder’s choice in the first, Pigott scored the opening run of the game when Winthrop shortstop Adam Gliebe committed an error on an Austin Maddox grounder.
Florida added another run in each of the next two innings before Winthrop starter Matt Pierpont found a groove and retired 10 straight Gators.
Junior Preston Tucker ended Florida’s drought at the plate in the sixth when he belted a solo shot off the scoreboard in right to push UF’s lead to 4-0.
Tucker’s fifth round-tripper of the season sparked a seven-run inning for the Gators, as they sent 12 hitters to the plate.
Josh Adams and Tucker recorded multiple RBIs in the inning, and Tucker blooped an RBI double down the third-base line, becoming the first Gator to have two hits in an inning since Tyler Thompson against Oregon State last June.
“Our hitters had a tough time adjusting the first two times around,” Tucker said. “But I think when our bats are hot, hitting is contagious. When I put a good swing on it, a few other guys rallied behind me and things worked out from there.”
