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On the last weekend of the regular season, the No. 2 Florida Gators (38-15, 16-11 SEC) hope a late rally on Tuesday signals the arrival of some much-needed offensive production.
In their final regular-season home series, the Gators faced Mississippi State and struggled at the plate all weekend. MSU ace Chris Stratton entered Friday's game undefeated (9-0). Stratton and Florida's Hudson Randall were locked in a pitchers duel for much of the night. The Bulldog hurler returned for the eighth inning, despite having thrown 106 pitches, and the Gators took advantage. A two-run home run by Daniel Pigott increased UF's lead to 4-1 and proved too much for the Bulldogs to overcome in the ninth.
The Bulldogs bounced back strong for Saturday's game two. Kendall Graveman tossed seven and two-thirds scoreless frames. Jonathan Holder finished off the Gators for MSU's 2-0 win. The loss was Florida's first shutout defeat at home since March 8, 2011 (7-0 to Georgia Southern). UF was held to three hits in game two.
The series finale proved to be another tense, low-scoring affair. Karsten Whitson handed off to the Florida bullpen after a rough three and one-third innings in which he walked five. The UF relievers managed four and two-thirds scoreless frames as the Gators and Bulldogs were deadlocked in a 1-1 tie. Mike Zunino broke the tie with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, putting Florida ahead 2-1. Austin Maddox retired the Bulldogs in order in the ninth to complete a two and one-third inning save.
Florida took the series, despite only managing three hits for the second consecutive game.
However, UF dipped to 2-2 for the week after a 12-7 beat down by Samford in the final midweek game of the year.
Freshman Johnny Magliozzi was battered for five earned runs and seven hits in a start that lasted less than two innings. The Gators scored in four of the final five innings, but it was too little to late.
In an up-and-down week, two Gators stood out as top performers.
Top Performer on the Mound
Steven Rodriguez
The top lefty out of the UF bullpen is proving too difficult to hit, in multiple situations. With closer Austin Maddox still dealing with tendinitis, Rodriguez played the roles of set-up man and closer in Friday's 4-1 win. Rodriguez tossed two scoreless frames and notched four strikeouts for his third save of the season. The junior southpaw from Miami returned to his role of middle relief in Sunday's 2-1 win. Rodriguez looked sharp as ever, going for two more scoreless innings and another three strikeouts.
Top Performer at the Plate
Mike Zunino
It's been a rough week for Gator hitters, Mike Zunino included. Somehow, even when he's slumping, the Florida catcher contributes. Zunino's solo homer proved the difference maker in a 2-1 win on Sunday that tilted the series in the Gators favor.
In the final midweek game, it was Zunino's three-run homer in the seventh that seemed to spark the offense. UF scored two more in the ninth, but it was not enough to overcome the substantial 12-5 deficit.
Stat of the Week
13 left on base
The Bulldogs' inability to come up with the hits necessary to bring home runners on base proved a deciding factor in a close series. Whether it was solid pitching by UF relievers, putrid hitting by MSU, or some of both, one state decided the series finale.
On Deck
Auburn (29-24, 12-15 SEC)
Hudson Randall (6-1, 3.29) has won his last three starts (Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State). The junior right-hander will face Auburn senior Jon Luke Jacobs (5-2, 3.10) in Thursday's series opener. UF lefty Brian Johnson (5-4, 4.29) returns to the rotation after missing last Saturday due to a hamstring injury. Johnson will oppose AU freshman Daniel Koger (3-4, 2.76) on Friday. Karsten Whitson (3-0, 3.33) will be on the mound for Florida in Saturday's series finale. The Tigers have yet to announce a game-three starter. Florida is 5-1 against Auburn, including 2-1 at Plainsman Park, in the Kevin O'Sullivan era. The Tigers sport a league-leading .305 average in SEC play. Florida's team ERA is 2.85 against conference competition. Auburn has struggled against Eastern Division opponents, going 4-8 in four series (Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia). The Gators are under .500 against the SEC West, with a 5-7 record in four series (Ole Miss, LSU, Arkansas and Mississippi State). The UF-Auburn series will not be televised.This and That
Preston Tucker's next hit will give him the all-time record at UF. Tucker currently sits at 319 career hits, tied with current LA Dodger Mark Ellis for the most in school history. The Gators (16-11 SEC) enter the final weekend trailing Kentucky (18-9) by two games for the conference title. The Wildcats end the regular season at Mississippi State. Florida has claimed all the way back up to No. 2 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll. USA Today/ESPN and Baseball America both have the Gators at No. 3. College Baseball ranks UF No. 5 in the country. Mike Zunino was named a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, an honor recognizing the top catcher in college baseball.With the top RPI and high rankings in the four major polls, the Gators are a virtual lock to host an NCAA Regional. Projections by both Perfect Game and SEBaseball.com have UF as a national seed, meaning Florida would also host a Super Regional if it won the hypothetical Gainesville Regional. Following in the footsteps of the Harvard baseball team and the UF softball team, the Florida baseball team has posted a Call Me Maybe video to YouTube. The video features Hudson Randall lip syncing to the Carly Rae Jespen pop song during a bus ride, presumably to Tuesday's game against Samford in Birmingham. The video can be viewed HERE.