Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
UF is top-ranked and on every opponent’s target list as they prepare to defend title.
Gators racking up wins with power offense
GAINESVILLE — Coach Kevin O’Sullivan is here once again, sitting on a winning hand, his Gators standing in a familiar position with a month remaining in the regular season.
O’Sullivan’s baseball juggernaut is steamrolling toward yet another deep postseason run a season after finally capturing the ultimate prize.
All signs point to a repeat during June’s College World Series, other than past heartbreaks for O’Sullivan squads that looked pretty unbeatable themselves.
“I think I’ll hold off to evaluate this team until end of the year,” O’Sullivan said following Tuesday’s 8-4 loss to Jacksonville University. “Unfortunately that’s what you’re evaluated on, is how you finish. But up until this point I’ve been very pleased with how we’re playing.”
These 2018 Gators have posted staggering numbers and shown no weaknesses, other than the bullseye on their backs.
On this night, there was no joy in Gainesville. The loss to JU was a combination of bad timing, cold bats and the challenge of midweek, in-state opponents.
“We saw some pretty good arms tonight,” O’Sullivan said. “They get excited — and rightfully so.”
Top-ranked UF (32-7, 12-3 SEC) visits No. 9 Kentucky (25-12, 7-8) for a threegame series (Games 1, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, SEC Network) looking to maintain a three-game edge in the SEC standings.
The Gators, consequently, did not send out their top pitchers Tuesday. JU capitalized with 13 hits, including two home runs.
Meanwhile, UF’s cold bats stranded 13 runners and left the bases loaded in consecutive innings. The Gators had a costly baserunning gaffe. A missed signal between pitcher Jack Leftwich and catcher JJ Schwarz led to a key hit.
“We have to clean up some mistakes,” O’Sullivan said.
Most days, O’Sullivan’s squad has been on point.
Tuesday’s loss was just the second in 15 games — a span of 26 days — and the third defeat in 26 home games all season.
The Gators feature the nation’s top three-man pitching rotation, led by possible No. 1 pick Brady Singer, the nation’s best closer; Orlando’s Michael Byrne; and the nation’s hottest player, third baseman Jonathan India, who is riding a 24-game hit streak.
UF ranks in the Top 10 nationally in earned-run average, fielding percentage, runs, slugging percentage and home runs. The Gators’ 58 home runs are 31 more at this point than last season’s CWS winners and the biggest difference in this season’s team.
“Offensively, I hear football coaches talk about it all the time — your philosophy changes with the players you have,” O’Sullivan said. “We’re not bunting as much because we can hit a threerun homer.”
India, a junior and projected first-round MLB draft pick in June, said he could see the pieces falling in place before the season began.
“We could tell we had a good team,” he said.
India also realizes talent is not always enough to win at the rate the Gators have so far this season.
“We have a lot of heart, show a lot of grit when we’re out there,” he said. “We’re a team that battles. We don’t just give up.”
Midweek struggles aside, the Gators have won each of their nine weekend series. Along the way, UF handed Vanderbilt its first sweep since 2012.
Therein, lies the challenge.
O’Sullivan’s top-ranked 2016 squad reached 40 wins faster than any in school history, but its run petered out with two two one-run losses to open the CWS.
UF is going to be a tough out in two months. On Tuesday, O’Sullivan could not see beyond 6-foot-11 right-hander Sean Hjelle, the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year and Thursday night’s starter for Kentucky.
O’Sullivan had little doubt his Gators would be ready, based on the unhappy dugout he had left moments ago.
“I would expect this team to act that way,” the 49-year-old said. “I would expect no one in the locker room smiling, laughing, giggling, carrying on. But by the same token, we have to put it behind and get ready.”