13-1 Gator loss. Their freshman pitcher goes 5.1 innings, 4 hits (solo HR from Acton), no walks and 12 strikeouts. Our freshman starter, Scott, goes 3.2 innings, gives up 5 runs on 6 hits 3 walks with 1 strikeout. Freshman reliever Ben Specht then goes 1.1 innings and gives up 5 runs on 7 hits, 1 walk and no K's. JC transfer Nick Blasucci comes in and goes 1.2 innings, giving up 3 runs (none earned thanks to back to back errors by Blake Reese) on 2 hits, 1 walk and 4 k's. Langworthy threw the last 1.1 innings and looked good, giving up only 1 hit. Our pitching was terrible, theirs was excellent (including the reliever than threw the final 3.2 innings) .
I just don't buy the excuse that our pitching staff is young. There are freshmen all over the country, including the guy that shut us down tonight, who are doing great. Logan Shore was our Friday night starter as a freshman and was excellent. We had the #2 recruiting class in the country last year and I just think guys either have it or they don't coming out of high school into college. Some of our highly touted pitchers, to me, just ain't got it. Some posters early in the season said, "Oh the season is young, these young guys will get better as they mature in the program and we'll be fine by year's end." This is the worst pitching staff in the SEC and the defense isn't much better. We're still a good team and we'll still probably make the NCAA tournament. But our pitching simply isn't good enough to go very far in the post season. Still pulling for them, still watching them every chance I get. In all kinds of weather, but this is a subpar year for both our baseball and softball programs.. At least by the high quality standards set by Tim Walton & Kevin O'Sullivan.