While the top-ranked Gators won’t admit they have a nemesis, their adversary from Tallahassee has certainly stepped into that role.
The Florida-Florida State baseball rivalry has been particularly one-sided lately, as the Seminoles have won five of the last six meetings — including four straight — and nine of the last 13.
Before No. 1 UF takes on No. 4 FSU tonight at 7 in McKethan Stadium, coach Kevin O’Sullivan will address the team as usual. But he doesn’t know exactly how it will go.
“If you guys have any suggestions, I don’t know what to say,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve got to play better.
“Florida State has played better than we have. It’s as simple as that.”
Earlier this month, the Seminoles (15-1) captured a 5-3 victory in their annual showdown with the Gators (14-2) in Tampa. In the loss, a familiar issue plagued Florida: its starting pitcher couldn’t slow down the FSU lineup.
In its last five losses against FSU, UF’s pitching staff has sported a 5.60 ERA, but the starters have been putting the team in deep holes.
In the March 1 showdown, senior right-hander Tommy Toledo went just 2.1 innings, allowing three runs and five baserunners.
Highlighted by Anthony DeSclafani’s wretched start on March 2, 2010, when he didn’t escape the first inning, Florida starters have combined to toss just nine innings with a 15.00 ERA in the five defeats.
Tonight, in the second of four meetings this year between the in-state rivals, lefty Alex Panteliodis (1-0, 4.66 ERA) will toe the rubber for his second start of the season.
The junior came on in relief two weeks ago against Florida State, throwing 2.2 innings and allowing two runs.
“We’ve just got to play better. There’s nothing more to it,” O’Sullivan said. “We’ve got to play a whole lot better than we have in the past.”
Although the Seminoles ended the Gators’ season in last year’s College World Series, slugger Preston Tucker said their recent struggles aren’t in the players’ heads.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a mental hump,” Tucker said. “We need to put things together. We need to perform the way we know we can. We’ve got a really good team, and I think timely hitting, good pitching and good defense is going to win you ball games.”
