University of Florida designated
hitter/catcher Taylor Gushue (Boca Raton, Fla.) was chosen as the initial
Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for the 2012 season on Monday
after a memorable opening weekend.
Having
enrolled at Florida in January after graduating from Calvary Christian Academy
a semester early, Gushue homered on the first pitch he saw as a collegian
Friday night in the Gators’ opener against No. 16 Cal State Fullerton. With a
solo shot with two down in the second inning off CSF ace Dylan Floro, Gushue became
the first UF player to homer on his first swing since Chris Freshcorn
accomplished the feat on March 5, 2008, against Campbell. Current junior Austin
Maddox (Jacksonville, Fla.) homered in his collegiate at bat against USF on
Feb. 19, 2010.
Gushue
was one of three freshmen to start on Opening Night for head coach Kevin
O’Sullivan’s club, joining third baseman Josh Tobias (Greensboro,
N.C.) and second baseman Casey Turgeon (Palm Harbor, Fla.). Gushue moved
Florida in front on Saturday with a two-run triple in the fourth inning of an
eventual 5-2 win and batted .286 (2-for-7) with three RBI, two runs and a 1.000
slugging percentage in the two games he played.
