For
any team hoping to generate some late-season momentum, it usually
starts with strong starting pitching, a shutdown bullpen performance and
maybe a clutch, game-securing hit in the late innings.
The
No. 6 Florida Gators got all three Friday night in their critical 4-1
victory over No. 25 Mississippi State before 3,875 at McKethan Stadium.
Junior
ace Hudson Randall outdueled MSU pitching star Chris Stratton, reliever
Steven Rodriguez mastered the Bulldog hitters over the final two
innings and, on senior night, senior outfielder Daniel Pigott sealed the
victory with a two-run home run against Stratton that broke open a
one-run game.
It all adds up to momentum as the Gators (37-13 overall and 15-10 in the SEC) turn down the stretch.
“Coming
into the latter part of the season, we’re starting to hit our stride
collectively as a team,” Randall (6-1) said. “I’m feeling more
comfortable than ever. I feel pretty good. It felt good. It’s a good
team win, just using one guy out of the bullpen.”
Randall
not only looked comfortable and in control Friday night, he looked like
the same potentially dominant pitcher he was in helping lead the Gators
to the College World Series a year ago.
Going
deeper into an SEC game than he has all season, Randall pitched a
strong seven-plus innings, scattering five hits, striking out two and
walking none. Many of his outs came early in the count, mostly on ground
balls.
“The
bottom line is Randall matched (Stratton) pitch for pitch. He did what
he needed to do,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “He kept the ball off
the barrel, didn’t go to many three-ball counts. He was in control.
“He
just has a knack. He might be the best pitcher I’ve ever coached. I
know that’s a steep statement because I’ve coached a lot of good
pitchers along the way.
“He
just knows what he’s doing. He’s always has the count in his favor.
He’s got four pitches. He doesn’t throw 95 (miles per hour), but I would
not trade him for anybody.”
Randall
was going against one of the nation’s best pitchers in Stratton, an
almost certain first-round pro baseball draft pick who came into
Friday’s game 9-0.
Even
though the Gators struggled to make solid contact against Stratton,
they managed to build an early 2-0 lead. UF scored its first run when
Josh Tobias was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the second
inning. The Gators added another run in the third when Mike Zunino
scored on an error.
“(Stratton)
is really good. He’s got a really good arm. He’s poised,” O’Sullivan
said. “I can see him pitching for a very long time (in the majors). We
got help there (early in the game). We just put the ball in play.
“You don’t get many opportunities with him. We just hung in there.”
Stratton kept the Bulldogs (30-19 and 12-13) in the game, retiring nine Gators in a row at one point.
MSU made it a 2-1 game in the fifth with a run-scoring single by Matthew Britton.
Randall
was the first to exit the pitching duel, pulled by O’Sullivan in favor
of Rodriguez after Randall gave up a leadoff single in the eighth.
Rodriguez retired the Bulldogs in order to end the inning.
In
the bottom of the inning, Pigott put the game away, lining a Stratton
fastball over the left-field fence for a two-run home run after Brian
Johnson opened the inning reaching base on an error.
“(The home run) was huge,” O’Sullivan said. “You’ve got a 2-1 ball game at that point. It was huge.”
Before
the decisive pitch, Pigott appeared he was squaring to bunt. Then he
pulled back and got all of it on a fastball down the middle.
“That
just goes to show you, when you take a short, compact swing and keep
your nose on the ball, good things are going to happen,” O’Sullivan
said.
The big blow clinched a game that had a definite postseason feel to it.
“It’s
nice to have a little bit of insurance for your pitchers,” Pigott said.
“They were lights out. Huddy threw great and (Rodriguez) came in and
shut the door. We had a lot of confidence even being up only one run.
But it helps to get a little bit of insurance.”
And a little momentum heading down the stretch.
