Here’s yet another example of just how young and unknown this Florida baseball team is in 2013:
The
winning pitcher in Saturday’s victory over Duke walked up to the media
after the game and felt like he needed to introduce himself.
“Hi,
I’m Parker Danciu,” the true freshman left-hander from Delray Beach said
following the Gators’ 4-2 victory over the Blue Devils before 3,890 at
McKethan Stadium.
Danciu pitched 3.2 scoreless innings in relief to pick up a victory in his first college game.
“I’m happy and excited about it,” he said.
Danciu’s
performance wasn’t the only one by a young player that has the Gators
feeling good about their future, and about the possibilities as UF moves
forward into the season.
True freshman starter Tucker Simpson
made an impressive debut, pitching four innings and giving up only two
hits, two runs and striking out three.
Danciu shut down the Blue Devils over the next 3.2 innings, giving up only two hits and striking out two.
True
sophomore second baseman Casey Turgeon hit a three-run home run in the
first inning that took away the sting of Friday’s opening night loss and
took the pressure off the freshman pitchers and everyone else on the
field and in the UF dugout.
Sophomore Johnny Magliozzi retired all four batters he faced in his debut as the closer.
True
freshman shortstop Richie Martin made a tag on a critical double play
in the eighth inning that killed a potential Duke rally.
“This is
still a work in progress,” UF coach Kevin O’Sullivan said of his 1-1
team. “But I do feel good about where I think we’re going to end up.
“With
such a young team, getting the first win is important. Everyone can
kind of take a deep breath and say they got their first win out of the
way.”
The two true freshman pitchers were pretty much in control
during their time on the mound, combining for a strong 7.2 innings and
setting up Magliozzi for the opportunity to pick up his first collegiate
save.
“The pitching was really good,” O’Sullivan said. “The two
freshmen out there. … I thought Tucker was good and Danciu came in and
did a really nice job. Mags threw the ball really well. He threw all his
pitches for strikes. I’m really pleased with the pitching.
“I’m
really encouraged (by the performance of the two freshmen). At any point
during the season you can throw two freshmen out there and give up only
two runs through almost eight innings, you’ve got to feel good about
it.”
What made the young pitchers (and probably everyone else)
feel good was Turgeon’s home run — a line drive off the right-field foul
pole — that gave the Gators a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
“I
think momentum is huge in college athletics, regardless of the sport,”
O’Sullivan said. “Coming off last night’s loss, the (early) three-run
homer was huge for us to kind of relax.”
Turgeon said he went to the plate looking for a pitch to drive, and that’s what he got.
“The
pitcher (Drew Van Orden) was struggling and trying to throw strikes,”
Turgeon said. “I went up there with one thing in mind: look for that
pitch down the middle.
“He gave it to me and I put a good swing on it.”
An
insurance run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Cody Dent also
took some the pressure off, giving the Gators a 4-2 lead.
When
there was potential for the young Gators to grow tight in the eighth
inning, senior first baseman Vickash Ramjit and Martin turned a crucial
double play to get Danciu out of trouble.
Ramjit cleanly gloved a
sharp ground ball and stepped on the base for the first out, then threw
to Martin, who fielded a low throw at second base and made a nice tag
for the second out.
Magliozzi took care of things from there, getting four consecutive outs to end the game.
“I
got myself in a hole there,” Danciu said. “I made a good pitch, and
Vickash made a big play behind me. Turning that double play was real
nice.”
The Gators will try to win the series today in a noon game.
“Our
pitching is intact (after using only three Saturday night),” O’Sullivan
said. “Our whole bullpen is left. I feel good about what we have left
on the mound.”
