It has not been the start the Florida Gators wanted nine games into SEC play. Sitting at 1-8 in the SEC and after being swept by Tennessee and Georgia, the Gators clearly need to make adjustments to salvage their season.
Injuries, particularly in the pitching staff, have been UF’s biggest issue. With junior southpaw Pierce Coppolla and sophomore ace Liam Peterson sidelined, the Gators have had to dig deep into their depth to find arms for the mound.
Freshman Aidan King has been a revelation, leading the team in innings pitched, but his last two starts against Georgia and Ole Miss have been his worst of the season. He surrendered five runs in four innings in the Georgia matchup on March 21. Against Ole Miss, he walked four batters and allowed three runs in just over three frames.
Behind King, the rotation has struggled. Redshirt junior Billy Barlow has been reliable in relief but has struggled as a starter. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore Jake Clemente has allowed four or more runs in over half of his appearances this season.
The Gators’ bullpen also took a major hit when sophomore reliever Frank Menendez was shut down for the season with an elbow injury, forcing UF to rely more heavily on sophomore Luke McNeillie to anchor the relief staff. However, the rest of the bullpen has struggled to fill Menendez’s void, with 10 pitchers currently holding ERAs over seven.
Following the Georgia series, Florida Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan addressed the pitching concerns, making it clear that improvements are necessary.
“We’re going to have to figure out the starting pitching,” O’Sullivan said. “I know we’re a little banged up on the mound … but at the same time, some other guys need to step up. Bottom line.”
Offensively, the Gators have been more consistent but mostly unspectacular. The lineup also took a hit when junior second baseman Cade Kurland dislocated his shoulder on March 1. He has slowly returned but has yet to record a hit in three appearances since his return.
Junior shortstop Colby Shelton leads the team in batting average and hits, but he has just three extra-base hits in his last seven games. Junior designated hitter Brody Donay, despite leading UF in OPS and home runs, has only two RBIs in his past nine outings.
Arguably, the Gators’ most consistent hitter has been freshman utility man Brendan Lawson, who has started 29 games and leads the team with 33 RBIs. Senior first baseman Bobby Boser has also shined, tying for the team lead with eight home runs and 30 RBIs this season.
However, the hottest bat in the lineup right now belongs to junior catcher Luke Heyman. In UF’s most recent series against Ole Miss, Heyman recorded eight hits, including three home runs, while driving in four runs.
“It was probably the best weekend he’s [Luke] had all year long,” O’Sullivan said following the series.
As a team, hitting .304 through 30 games is not a major concern, but the slowdown in offensive production against stronger SEC pitching is something to watch.
It’s also worth noting that Tennessee is 25-2 and ranked No. 1 in the country, while Georgia, at 28-2, sits just behind at No. 3.
But the SEC is the top conference in the nation for a reason. UF’s next series is against No. 14 Vanderbilt, followed by matchups with unranked Missouri and Mississippi State. However, their final opponent in April, Arkansas, is ranked No. 2 in the nation.
“The bottom line is, we’re going to have to figure this thing out, and we have to figure it out in a hurry,” O’Sullivan said. “They’re going to have to pick each other up, and they’re going to have to hold each other accountable.”
Now, the Gators’ depth must answer the call. Without Peterson and Coppolla, can King step up as a true ace? Who will emerge deeper in the rotation and in the bullpen? And can UF’s dynamic lineup find its rhythm? Florida needs answers soon, or the Gators might find themselves in a tough spot come late May.
